Medicine is whatever makes you well; whatever brings you back into balance.
Related knowledge
Plants, Ceremony
Bear Root
Health Benefit:
Pain relief, Antiseptic, Respiratory illness relief, Antiviral
Health Conditions:
Cough, Congestion
Ceremony, Plants
Sage
Health Benefit:
Respiratory illness relief
Health Conditions:
Cough, Congestion
Ceremony
Smudging
Health Benefit:
Respiratory illness relief
Health Conditions:
Cough, Congestion
Health Conditions, Ceremony
Community Mental Health and Ceremony
Birth
Birth and Babies
Health Conditions:
Reproductive Health
Elton's story
Story
Medicine Story
In describing a medicine story, Elton describes an experience as a young person with a skin condition who was unable to be diagnosed by "Western" doctors and instead was healed by a medicine person. Elton discussed the blend between traditional/indigenous healing practices and western medicine.
Story
Food
Elton describes food as a gathering force and as a common connection/connector amount indigenous peoples.
Story
Powwow
Elton explains how mental health and substance use are critical health concerns for Indigenous communities. He shared how there are equity issues with Indigenous LGBTQ and 2-spirit people accessing safe and sober places due to stigma. Furthermore, he shared how he attended a powwow ceremony in San Francisco, and it was a form of medicine and healing.
Story
Plants is Medicine
In describing plants as medicine, Elton describes how certain herbs can help with certain ailments prescribed by traditional healers. For example, Elton shares how eating bear root, burning or boiling sage and drinking sage, or smudging can help with coughing and congestion. However, if these herbs do not help, there may be more or something deeper happening and needs to be done, like going to ceremony.
Story
Creation Stories
In describing Navajo creation stories, Elton describes how these stories support people with understanding how to live in a good and balanced way.
Story
Land and Birth Stories
In describing land and birth stories, Elton describes his home land in New Mexico and shares a birth story where Navajo people bury their newborn's umbilical cord near their home to maintain that connection.
Story
Birth Story
Elton shares a story about his cousin-sister giving birth. He explains how she kept the placenta in a bag and where she planned to bury it to help the baby grow and be strong.
Related assets
Artifact
Water Fan and Eagle Feather
Elton discussed the two artifacts that he brought, the Water Fan and the Eagle Feathers. Elton utilizes both artifacts during ceremony.
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