The same yet different!

The common threads that I have observed in the indigenous/tribal contexts of healing throughout the lectures has been a strong holistic approach to medicine.  The view that health is more than just physical but also related to mind, body, community, nature and spirit. Balance of these things is paramount with each being inseparable from the other.

The belief in something greater than themselves played a big part in their lives and enabled a deep interconnectedness with everything within and without.  Traditions and values were the back bone of their culture; with knowledge, orally being passed down through story-telling, song, dance and art.

The ways in which the cultures addressed different components of illness by using varying approaches was also similar.  This included things such as prayer, manipulative therapies and herbal medicines to name a few.  Other commonalities included a trusted and respected member of the tribe holding the position of healer and acting as an intermediary to connect with ancestors of the past.

The affect that colonisation had upon the cultures was also similar; the introduction of new disease, foods foreign to their genetic makeup and changes to their way of life having a devastating impact to their health overall.

Although they share many similarities some of which are mentioned above, there are also things that set them apart from the other.

Geographical, climate and environmental differences meant that food sources varied based upon what was more readily available. Those in the Arctic survived on animal fat, South East/West America were more carbohydrate based and others such as the South West Coast of America had a higher protein diet from mammals and fish. 

The way in which the tribes lived also differed; from those that were nomadic/mobile based tribes to the more stationary/village based.  There was also a contrast in the way in which they lived, from those who resided in a tepee, to those who dwelt in the crevices of a rock face.

Although herbal treatments were a commonality of the cultures with similarities in the way in which herbs were administered, there was a uniqueness in their usage in the treatment of ailments.   Differences were also seen in the types of herbs available again due to environmental and climate factors, although there were cultures that did use the same herbs for differing purposes.

Despite spirituality being highly regarded across the tribal cultures, their religious beliefs varied; from the worship of either one or many gods/goddess’s and the masculine/feminine being interchanged between them.

There were also different beliefs in regards to the cause of illness; be it sent by gods as retribution for sin, alienation from cultural land and community or because of the taboos or virtues being broken.

Another difference that I noticed was the visibility and depth of knowledge that could be shared by some cultures but not by others. This, I believe is due to many of the cultures using oral transmission, thus not leaving behind written archives.

xox LLP, Tash