Since the 1970's trends in contemporary medicine continue to suggest a holistic approach to patient treatment.
Holism was introduced in 1926 by Jan C Smuts.
Such an approach is not new.
For centuries, the ancient Chinese traditional medicine as well as that of the Indian Ayurveda have treated the ill from a holistic point of view.
Native Americans have long placed an emphasis on the treatment of the whole person, that is, thebody, mind, and spirit.
A key ingredient of Native American medicine is that the belief the health of an individual is inextricably connected to that individual's surroundings.
Consequently, the shaman works to promote harmony between the body, mind, and spirit as well as harmony within the community, the environment, and the spiritual world.
Four practices common to nearly all shaman.
1.
Use of herbal remedies 2.
Purging and or extraction 3.
Ceremonies of purification 4.
Contact the spiritual world Today, many of the practices carried on byhealers are working their way through modern medical practice as alternative medicine.
For the Native American, there is a strong belief that all things in nature are connected and that every human and non-human have a corresponding connection in the world of spirits.
More importantly, they believe these spirits can help maintain andpromote a return to good health.
Generally, the shaman functions as an intermediary in the spiritual world, asking for answers to why the person is ill, and what will make that individual well again.
Sometimes, herbals in the form of broths, ointments, poultices, or incense are used in combination with special ceremonies.
The bottom line is always the total person, body, mind, and spirit.