Native American Medicine encompasses the diverse healing traditions of hundreds of indigenous nations across North America. While each nation has distinct practices, common themes include the Medicine Wheel framework, plant relatives as healing partners, and the integration of physical and spiritual healing. Native American plant knowledge has contributed significantly to modern pharmacology.
Ask about this tradition12
Conditions
6
Treatments
32
Evidence Records
5
Sources Used
Knowledge transmitted through oral tradition, ceremony, and apprenticeship. Each nation has distinct plant knowledge adapted to its ecosystem.
Comprehensive scholarly documentation of Native American pharmacopoeia and healing practices
Database of 44,691 plant uses by 291 Native American groups — the most comprehensive compilation
Medicine person communicates with spirit world through ceremony, vision, or dream to understand the cause and proper treatment of illness.
Examination of the patient's appearance, behavior, and symptoms combined with deep knowledge of local healing plants.
Burning sacred herbs (sage, cedar, sweetgrass) around the patient. The healer observes the smoke patterns and the patient's response.