For thousands of years, Native medicine was the only medicine on the North American continent. It is America’s original holistic medicine, a powerful means of healing the body, balancing the emotions, and renewing the spirit. Medicine men and women to this day prescribe prayers, dances, songs, herbal mixtures, counseling, and many other remedies that help not only the individual but the family and the community as well. The goal of healing is holistic—to create both wellness and wisdom.

Written by a master of alternative healing practices, Honoring the Medicine gathers together an unparalleled abundance of information about every aspect of Native American medicine and a healing philosophy that connects all living creatures with the whole web of life–people, plants, animals, the earth. This book examines:

• The power of the Four Winds—the psychological and spiritual qualities that contribute to harmony and health;

• Native American Values—including wisdom from the Wolf and the importance of commitment and cooperation;

• The Vision Quest—searching for the Great Spirit’s guidance and life’s true purpose;

• Moontime rituals—traditional practices that may be observed by women during menstruation;

• Massage techniques, energy therapies, and the need for touch;

• The benefits of ancient purification ceremonies, such as the Sweat Lodge;

• Tips on finding and gathering healing plants—the wonders of herbs;

• The purpose of smudging, fasting, and chanting—and how science confirms their effectiveness.

Complete with true stories of miraculous healing and research into native medicinal histories, Honoring the Medicine honors a rich American tradition which continues to be alive and vibrant to this day.

 
Kenneth “Bear Hawk” Cohen, is an internationally renowned health educator dedicated to the community of All Relations. He has trained with elder healers from all over the world and followed the path of indigenous wisdom for more than thirty years.

Author of The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing and more than two hundred journal articles on spirituality and complementary medicine, he lives with his family in the Colorado Rockies.