Spiritual Healing and Medicines

1. Spiritual Healing and Medicines Mi’kmaq Studies

2. Medicine • The Mi'kmaq had their own powers of healing • The source was found in the surrounding environment • Herbal medicines were readily available • When properly used, they had healing powers and remedial properties

3. Remedies • Were consumed in different forms (their natural state, drinks, etc.) • Many were cures, while others were preventive medicines • If used improperly, could be poisonous

4. The Plants • Knowing where to find these plants is another skill of the Mi'kmaq • Their natural habitat may include swamps, bogs, barrens, forests, or fields. • Certain plants should be taken only under proper supervision…consult a person who knows something about the plant before administering

5. Plants Used for Healing • Sweet Grass – for purification purposes and smudging • Sage – for smudging and purifying • Ground juniper – for kidney ailments and bladder infections, can lower sugar level • White spruce tree – for colds, tuberculosis, and laryngitis

6. Plants Used for Healing cont’d • Alder – for stomach and kidney ailments, fever, neuralgia, and headaches • Cherry Tree – for colds and flu • Flagroot – for preventative medicine Good for colds, flu, stomach complaints, and colic in babies.

7. Plants Used for Healing cont’d • Golden Thread – for blood purification, stomach ulcers, diarrhea, colds, influenza, and diabetes, can also be used to treat external sores such as chapped lips, and minor cuts and abrasions

8. Spiritual Healing • In more serious illnesses a spiritual element is required in addition to the botanical element • The combination of medicines for one person may not be the same as for another person with the same condition

9. Spiritual Healing cont’d • A true Healer or Medicine Person will receive guidance from the spirits regarding what combination will work in a particular case • For this reason, it is generally ineffective (and possibly dangerous!) to try to use Native American healing preparations that have not been given specifically to you for your condition

10. Traditional Healing • Traditional healing treats your mind, body, and spirit. • Focuses on parts of the body and separates the body from the mind. • Believe healing takes time and that it can be intense. • The relationship between the healer and the person is important.

11. Spiritual Healers • Healers are recognized by their communities and have learned not by going to school, but from other healers and Elders • A healer's task is to restore harmony and balance using herbal remedies, or spoken formulas

12. Medicine Woman • Women were viewed as the life-giving force for future generations • Considered to have a special connection to the spirit world and that link is what empowered her to heal • Knowledge of herbal medicine was not confined to the women, but generally women seemed to be more familiar with various herbal potions and brews

13. Medicine Woman cont’d • Women learned the art of doctoring with herbs from their mothers and grandmothers • A medicine woman was not allowed to practice by herself until she reached middle age and older