INDIGENOUS MEDICINE

American Indians and Cultural Exchange

Vogel: Indian Theories of Disease, and Shamanistic Practices

Indian and European Medicine at the time was equally as worthless at the time for the most part External Injury (fractures, dislocations, wounds, snake bites, skin irritation, bruises) treatment was usually effective Internal disease with unapparent cause was handled in a supernatural way (shaman, prayer, charms, dance) if normal medicine was not effective SO much has been written about how Indian medicine doesnt work, but its not all bad 3 causes of disease: human agency, supernatural agency, natural cause
Supernautal examples: sorcery, taboo violation, soul loss, spirit intrusion
Some causes are more important to some tribes than others

South Eastern Woodland: most important supernatural cause is spirit of animals, disrespect towards fire (pissing on ashes), human ghosts who feel lonely, dreams, omens, dreams South western: witchcraft Senecas: killing animals without permission from the gods, being a wasteful hunter Creek: diseases are named by the animals that cause them Sucking was a common way to remove objects from the body, like venom (or evil spirits)
Some of that grew into scientific cupping today

The Europeans also believed in spirit intrusion A medicine man was supposed to determine what spirit was causing the harm

Vogel Continued
Ha-wen-ne-yu (great spirit) and his posse protected the people from bad spirit Sometimes the dead like to live in the bodies of living relatives Soul loss illness occurred when the soul left the body during a dream and traveled; sometimes witches or evil spirits would steal it
Some Hurons believed they were stolen by Jesuit priests Some didnt believe a lost soul could be recovered

The medicine man, or Shaman, is the central figure in healing ancestor of the priest, antagonist of the physician Some tribes had different rankings of medicine men

Medicine to the Indians was an array of ideas and concepts rather than remedies and treatments alone
Called mysterious for being beyond the power of understanding

Iroquoian: disease can be caused by unfulfilled dreams or desires

Dreams could reveal these

Dreams were important in disease theory

Revealed a desire that must be fulfilled to cure the sickness
One girl saw nine feasts and got them

Medicine men were equipped with paraphernalia and equipment

Might have a special costume such as animal skins Drum, rattle, scarification instrument Flint, obsidian, snake fangs Syringe

Vogel Continued Continued

Europeans also used charms and folklore to cure Some methods of Indian treatment were universal
Old men were healers, and relatives of the sick would hang gifts for the medicine man Medicine man would ask about the sickness, and then come back with his medicine bag

Doctrine of Signatures
If it looks like it, it will help it

Believed gross tasting medicine worked because the spirits hated the way it tasted Shaman could heal white people too
Mostly placebo effect stuff

Then wed get warm water and mix his remedies

The patient swallowed the remedies, and then the medicine man would take some and spit it on the hurt spot and bandage it The returned twice a day and sang then sucked it

Shaman seen as a principle barrier to eradicating Indian culture (since he had so much influence)
They were treated super badly by the Europeans Eventually there came to be healthcare on reservations

Tribal Differences
New England: less organized and formal
But rattles and drums seem to be universal

Indian medicine hasnt completely disappeared, and thats both incredible and great

Indigenous Health and Wellness

1650s: colonists amazed at health of IP
Carolinas: tall, straight teeth, teeth Effective methods for
Lower blood pressure Blood clotting Sumac as an astringent

Medicines not too different

Europeans learned about IP herbs Doctrine of Signatures (Right)

Heroic Measures
Placebo effect Source of illnesses

Vogels Mistakes
He doesnt mention women
I dont see it as a mistake so much as not writing it

Women could do work in womens and mens basic health Carolina Cherokees
Successful amputations Medicine knowledge Herbal knowledge
Knew over 2000 Know 600 today

Outside of Exchange
Migrating Africans Important
Esteban/ Stephen the Black

Their knowledge became a threat

Virginia, 1748

Health
Knew it was endangered by their condition
Doctors used them for experiments

Secret medical practices

Didnt take prescribed medicine Failed to report ailments Herbs as counter balance

Traded ideas with the IP