Traditional Alaska Native medicine
Traditional Alaska Native medicine is a cultural style of healing that has been passed down from one generation of Alaska Native peoples to the next and is based on success over time and oral tradition. In contrast to an allopathic or western view of medicine, traditional Alaska Native medicine believes that illness stems from an individual's disharmony with the environment and healing must therefore begin in the person's spirit.[1]
Food
Seal
Wild berries
Alaska Natives traditionally harvest a variety of wild berries as general food consumption, but the berries also play a significant role in health as well. Salmon berries, which are similar to raspberries, have been used for wound healing and as gynecological aids; the leaves and stems of blackberries are used to treat diarrhea and to counter kidney trouble; and highbush and bog blueberries are used topically and orally as medicines.[3] The high antioxidant activity in wild berries also helps to reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, cognitive decline and cancer.[4]
Plants
Devil's club
The Tlingit culture is known for using devil's club for a variety of ailments. The weed can be turned into tea, mashed into a salves, chewed, and steamed to help with illnesses such as colds, coughs, stomach problems, tuberculosis, hypoglycemia, cancer, depression, broken bones, congestion, and inflammation. The Tlingit consider devil's club to be "strong medicine" due to its effects on the psycho-pharma-spiritual aspects.[5][6]
Willow trees
One commonly known medicinal benefit from the willow tree is the use of its bark. Alaska Natives and other Native American tribes have used the bark from the Willow tree as a pain killer. In fact, the bark does contain acetylsalicylic acid which is now called aspirin and has been commercialized as an over the counter pain killer.[7] The willow tree's leaves can also be used in a poultice or bath to ease skin infections or irritations and, when turned into an ash, can be sprinkled on severe burns to prevent cuts from becoming infected.[8]
Dandelions
Each part of the
Types of healers
Shamans
Traditional healers
Traditional healers deal with everyday forms of illness or injury and can include
Organizations
Southcentral Foundation
Southcentral Foundation is an Alaska Native health care organization that serves Alaska Native and American Indian people who live in Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, and 55 rural villages across the state of Alaska. The organization focuses on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness and emphasizes the importance of culture as well as provides access to traditional healing services.[10] The organization also has a Traditional Healing Clinic in which tribal doctors take a traditional approach to healing and offer services such as traditional counseling, traditional physical (including healing hands and healing touch), and a women’s talking circle. The clinic also has an Alaska Native traditional healing garden in which plants that have been used for medicinal use for generations are grown.[11]
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium is a Tribal health organization that serves Alaska Native and American Indian people who live in the state of Alaska. The organization provides a variety of services including comprehensive medical services at the Alaska Native Medical Center, wellness programs, disease research and prevention, rural provider training and rural water and sanitation systems construction.[12] The organization also focuses on traditional approaches to wellness and food sources.
Sources
- ^ a b c Kramer, Michele (2006). "TRADITIONAL HEALING AMONG ALASKA NATIVES" (PDF). Arctic Health. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-03-06. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
- ^ Borre, Kristen (1994). "The Healing Power of the Seal: The Meaning of Intuit Health Practice and Belief". Arctic Anthropology. 31: 5–6.
- PMID 20025229.
- PMID 26380964.
- ^ Levine, Ketzel (August 11, 2004). "Devil's Club: A Medicine Cabinet for Alaska Tribe". NPR.
- ^ Ferguson, Gary (2011). "Devil's club, also known as Alaskan ginseng (Alutiiq name: Cukilanarpak, Athabascan name: Heshkeghka'a, Tlingit name: Sauthkt. Scientific name: Echinopanaxhorridum)". National Library of Medicine. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
- ^ "Cancer Education and Wellness for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities" (PDF). American Cancer Society. 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
- ^ Ferguson, Gary (2011). "Willow leaves (Alutiiq name: Cuaq; Athabascan name: K'aii Iñupiat; name: Uqpik; Yup'ik name: Nuwi'longok. Scientific name: Salix spp.), 2011". U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
- ^ Ferguson, Gary (2011). "Dandelion (Alutiiq names: Qutemnaanaarua'a. Scientific name: Taraxacumofficinale), 2011". National Library of Medicine. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
- ^ "Southcentral Foundation History". Southcentral Foundation. 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
- ^ "Traditional Healing". Southcentral Foundation. 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
- ^ "About Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium". Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
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