New Mexico AIDS Infonet

AIDS InfoNet www.aidsinfonet.org Fact Sheet Number 708 NATIVE AMERICAN TRADITIONAL HEALING

WHAT IS NATIVE AMERICAN WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM TRADITIONAL HEALING? TRADITIONAL HEALING? If you combine western medicine and Most Native American tribes have Traditional healing can be very traditional healing, let your physician traditions about health and illness. In powerful for Native Americans dealing know about any treatments you are this fact sheet, the term “Native with HIV. It can restore a sense of using. There might be interactions. American” is meant to include Native connection to their tribe and culture. Americans, Alaska Natives and Native This promotes spiritual, psychological, For example, a traditional healer might Hawaiians. These traditions are not emotional, and physical healing. use an herbal preparation to help you based on western science. Instead, sleep. In that case, your physician they come from the tribe’s beliefs about Some traditional healers only work with would probably not want you to take how individuals fit in the web of life. members of their own tribe, while some sleeping pills. Your healer might want This web includes the tribe, all healers will work with others. Some you to use herbs to cleanse your humanity, the earth, and the universe. people who are not Native American system. These might interact with Many healing traditions focus on believe that working with a traditional western medications that you are harmony. Healing occurs when healer has helped them. taking. Your physician might help you someone is restored to harmony and avoid negative interactions. connected to universal powers. Many people use the techniques of traditional healing. However, there is a Traditional healing is “holistic”. It does big difference between traditional not focus on symptoms or diseases. healing and using traditional THE BOTTOM LINE Instead, it deals with the total techniques. Participating in a sweat Native American traditional healing is a individual. Different people with HIV lodge might help someone for a holistic approach to health. Each tribe disease may get different treatments. particular health problem but not for has its own healing traditions. Healing focuses on the person and another. Also, the experience could be their environment, not only the illness. very different depending on who runs Traditional healers do not follow a the sweat lodge. standard procedure. Instead, they Certain people in each tribe are apply their skills to each person recognized as healers. They receive Traditional ceremonies usually involve individually. special teachings. Healing traditions much more than outsiders are aware are passed from one generation to the of. When you attend a ceremony, By themselves, techniques such as next through visions, stories, and show respect by asking about sweat lodges or vision quests are not dreams. People usually receive guidelines for observing or “traditional healing.” They have the traditional healing through community participating. most meaning as part of an overall or family referrals. healing tradition.

Healing does not follow written It is best if your care providers all know guidelines. Healers work differently HOW DOES TRADITIONAL about everything you are doing for your with each person they help. They use HEALING INTERACT WITH health. There may be interactions their herbs, ceremony and power in the among different techniques that you best way for each individual. Healers WESTERN MEDICINE? want to avoid. Inform the healers may be used for certain conditions. Healers have different views about working with you, both western and They might refer people to other combining their methods with western traditional, what medications, healers, if appropriate. medicine. Some do not see any value treatments and dietary patterns you in medical science or treatments. follow on a daily basis whether they are Healing might involve sweat lodges, Others believe that the systems deal prescribed or not. talking circles, drumming, ceremonial with different aspects of an individual smoking of tobacco, potlatch so there is no problem using both. ceremonies, herbalism, animal spirits, FOR MORE INFORMATION or “vision quests”, to name a few Most western physicians do not Contact the National Native American practices. Each tribe uses its own understand the value or importance of AIDS Prevention Center, Denver, techniques. They are only steps traditional healing to their Native Colorado for more information. towards becoming whole, balanced American patients. A few, especially in Web site: http://www.nnaapc.org and connected. areas with large Native American Telephone: (720) 382-2244. populations, are more open to traditional healing. A Project of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care and the New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center. Partially funded by the National Library of Medicine. Fact Sheets can be downloaded from the Internet at http://www.aidsinfonet.org Reviewed April 21, 2014

A Project of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care and the New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center. Partially funded by the National Library of Medicine. Fact Sheets can be downloaded from the Internet at http://www.aidsinfonet.org