Skip Navigation

United States, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health American Indian Health: An information portal to issues affecting the health and well-being of American Indians
Home     |    Introduction    |    Site Map & Search    |    Contact Us  
menu bar American Indian Health: An information portal to issues affecting the health and well-being of American Indians

PEOPLE & TRADITIONS - TRADITIONAL HEALING

Our Health

Native American Ethnobotany
(University Of Michigan-Dearborn)

Native American Healing
(American Cancer Society)

Native American Traditional Healing
(New Mexico AIDS InfoNet)

Traditional Healing in Healthfinder
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Traditional Health, Medicine and Healing
(Alaska Native Knowledge Network)

Traditional Medicine - Arctic Health
(National Library of Medicine/ University of Alaska Anchorage)

Our Stories

Essential Oils
(Wisdom of the Elders)
Explains the art of making and using essential oils and shares how the beauty and aroma of flowers and trees offer healing of our physical as well as our emotional, mental and spiritual health.
(This video requires the use of the RealPlayer, which can be downloaded from RealPlayer's Web site at no charge.)

Feminine Aspects of the Plant World
(Wisdom of the Elders)
A discussion about healing as a traditional role for native women.
(This video requires the use of the RealPlayer, which can be downloaded from RealPlayer's Web site at no charge.)

The Gifts of the Plant People
(Wisdom of the Elders)
A herbalist discusses indigenous ways of developing a relationship with the plant world and native herbalists' lifetime commitment to herbal medicine.
(This video requires the use of the RealPlayer, which can be downloaded from RealPlayer's Web site at no charge.)

In the Words of Our Ancestors: Our Health, Strengthened by Sharing Métis Health and Healing (PDF, 2.64 MB)
(National Aboriginal Health Organization)
This book contains the words of Métis ancestors and Elders from the past and present. A series of Métis Elders‘ gatherings were held between 2003 and 2006 to recognize, share, protect, affirm, use and revitalize Métis traditional health and healing knowledge and practices. The wisdom that was graciously shared at these historic meetings is the basis for this book.

Ogeebiccoon Roots
A reflection about the roots of plants and how they relate to the roots of community.

This digital story was produced at Fond Du Lac Human Services, with assistance from nDigiDreams, LLC, and sponsorship from the American Indian Health User Group and the Outreach and Special Populations Branch of the National Library of Medicine.
        Transcript (PDF, 20 KB)


Pandemic Influenza Storybook
(Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention)
A historical look at the 1918 pandemic flu and how one family used traditional healing to ease symptoms.

Sacred Landscape
(Wisdom of the Elders)
The speaker discusses traditional herbal knowledge during a visit with Teton Sioux herbalists and her granddaugter.
(This video requires the use of the RealPlayer, which can be downloaded from RealPlayer's Web site at no charge.)

For Researchers, Health Professionals, & Educators

An Overview of Traditional Knowledge and Medicine and Public Health In Canada (PDF, 321 KB)
(National Aboriginal Health Organization)
This 2008 paper provides and overview of traditional healing and knowledge in Canada.

The Haudenosaunee Code of Behaviour For Traditional Medicine Healers (PDF, 492 KB)
(National Aboriginal Health Organization)
This 2007 document represents one possible model as a path forward for individuals, communities and nations as they seek to protect and promote traditional healing practices and knowledge. It also provides information on other activities that have been undertaken in the area of traditional healing practices and knowledge.

Native Americans and Traditional Medicine
(National Library of Medicine)
Journal citations in MEDLINE/PubMed

Native American Ethnobotany
(University Of Michigan-Dearborn)
A Database of foods, drugs, dyes and fibers of Native American peoples, derived from plants.

Sacred Ways of Life: Traditional Medicine (PDF, 1.24 MB)
(National Aboriginal Health Organization)
A toolkit developed for individuals and communities interested in the protection and promotion of traditional knowledge and healing practices.

Suicide Prevention: Inuit Traditional Practices that Encouraged Resilience and Coping (PDF, 475 KB)
(National Aboriginal Health Organization)
A 2006 report which outlines the Inuit traditional practices that encouraged resilience and coping and their use in the prevention of suicide.

Traditional Medicine In Contemporary Contexts: Protecting and Respecting Indigenous Knowledge and Medicine (PDF, 296 KB)
(National Aboriginal Health Organization)
This 2003 paper examines the meaning of traditional healing, roles of those involved in the practice and intellectual properity rights and commericalization of traditional healing.

"Traditional [Native American] Indian Medicine Treatment of Chronic Illness: Development of an Integrated Program with Conventional Medicine and Evaluation of Effectiveness."
(Lewis E. Mehl-Madrona, M.D., Ph.D.)
Report of meetings between the author and Native Americna healers on the mind-body relationship and how these beliefs impact western medicine.

Health Information About Traditional Healing for Everyone


Complementary and Alternative Medicine
(New York Online Access to Health)

Herbs and Supplements in MedlinePlus
(National Library of Medicine)


PDF documents require the use of the Adobe® Acrobat® Reader, which can be downloaded from Adobe‘s Web site at no charge.