31 Herbal Medicines Used by Native Americans

Herbal Remedies and Native Americans

Medical treatment using herbs has been recognized as being older than man's intelligence. Such herbal treatment has been seen in animals' instinctive use of plants to help cure certain ailments. For example, a dog hunted a special grass to eat when it has become ill, a mother bear has dressed a wound on her cub with leaves, and a horse lacking vitamins and minerals has eaten certain plants and bark from trees (Weiner,1972). Today people have continued to use herbs with medicinal chemicals daily, usually without realizing the values of such plants. Herbal tea, a popular drink, has contained fluoride, a chemical used in preventing tooth decay. Coca-Cola was originally based on an herbal remedy used for headaches. Aspirin was created from two plants: white willow and meadowsweet. Often, however, even with these examples, lack of knowledge has prevented health professionals and health educators from teaching or supporting herbal healing. Nevertheless, the World Health Organization has estimated that two-thirds of the world's population has 14
Herbal 3 depended on healing herbs for primary medicines (Castleman, 1991).

For thousands of years Native Americans have used herbs to, not only heal the body, but, also to purify the spirit and bring balance into their lives and their surroundings. Oral traditions indicate that they learned about the healing powers of herbs and other plants by watching sick animals. There are no written records of herbal use by the indigenous people of America prior to the first contact between Europeans and the tribes. However, this changed as Native Americans shared their knowledge of how to use nature's medicines with the new settlers.

While there were hundreds of herbs and plants used in Native American remedies, one of the most sacred was Tobacco, which was used healing numerous conditions, as well as in rituals and ceremonies. It was smoked pure and not mixed with any chemicals as it is today.

Another very important herb to the Native Americans was Sage, which was said to not only heal multiple problems of the stomach, colon, kidneys, liver, lungs, skin, and more, it was also believed to protect against bad spirits and to draw them out of the body or the soul.
I have listed 31 herbal remedies here hope you will add some useful herbal remedy information from this list to your library.

31 Healing herbs Used by Native Americans

1. Alfalfa:
Relieves digestion and is used to aid blood clotting. Contemporary uses included treatment of arthritis, bladder and kidney conditions and bone strength. Enhances the immune system.






2. Aloe:
A cactus-like plant. The thick leaves can be squeezed to extrude a thick sap that can be used to treat burns, insect bites and wounds.










3. Aspen:
The inner bark or xylem is used in a tea to treat fever, coughs and pain. It contains salicin, which also is found in willow trees and is the foundation ingredient for aspirin.







4. Bee pollen:
When mixed with food it can boost energy, aid digestion and enhance the immune system. If you’re allergic to bee stings you will most likely be allergic to bee pollen.






5. Beeswax:
Used as a salve for burns and insect bites, including bee stings. Intended to only be used externally.










6. Blackberry:
The root, bark and leaves when crushed and infused in a tea are used to treat diarrhea, reduce inflammation and stimulate the metabolism. As a gargle it treats sore throats, mouth ulcers and inflammation of the gums.






7. Black Raspberry:
The roots of this plant are crushed and used as a tea or boiled and chewed to relieve coughs, diarrhea and general intestinal distress.







8. Buckwheat:
The seeds are used in soups and as porridge to lower blood pressure, help with blood clotting and relieve diarrhea.





9. Cayenne:
The pods are used as a pain reliever when taken with food or drunk in a tea. Also used to treat arthritis and digestive distress. It is sometimes applied to wounds as a powder to increase blood flow and act as an antiseptic and anesthetic to numb the pain.
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10. Chamomile:
The leaves and flowers are used as a tea to treat intestinal problems and nausea.







11. Chokecherry:
Considered by Native American tribes as an all-purpose medicinal treatment, the berries were pitted, dried and crushed into a tea or a poultice to treat a variety of ailments. These include coughs, colds, flu, nausea, inflammation and diarrhea. As a salve or poultice it is used to treat burns and wounds. The pit of the chokecherry – much like apple seeds – are poisonous in high concentrations. Be sure to pit the cherries if you’re considering this for any use.

12. Echinacea:
Also known as purple coneflower, this is a classic Native American medicine that is used to strengthen the immune system, fight infections and fever. It also is used as an antiseptic and general treatment for colds, coughs and flu.




13. Eucalyptus:
The oil from the leaves and roots is a common treatment when infused in a tea to treat coughs, sore-throat, flu and fever. It’s used to this day as an ingredient in cough drops.




14. Fennel:
A plant with a licorice flavor, this is used in a tea or chewed to relieve coughs, sore-throat, aid digestion, offer relief to diarrhea and was a general treatment for colds. It also is used as a poultice for eye relief and headaches.




15. Feverfew:
Used to this day as a natural relief for fever and headaches – including severe headaches like migraines – it also can be used for digestive problems, asthma and muscle and joint pains.








16. Feverwort:
Another fever remedy that also is used for general pain, itching and joint stiffness. It can be ingested as a tea or chewed, or crushed to a paste as a salve or poultice.







17. Ginger root:
Another super plant in Native American medicine, the root was crushed and consumed with food, as a tea or a salve or poultice. Known to this day for its ability to aid digestive health, it also is anti-inflammatory, aids circulation and can relieve colds, coughs and flu, in addition to bronchitis and joint pain.



18. Ginseng:
This is another contemporary herb that has a history that goes back across cultures for millennia. The roots were used by Native Americans as a food additive, a tea and a poultice to treat fatigue, boost energy, enhance the immune system and help with overall liver and lung function. The leaves and stems also were used, but the root has the most concentration of active ingredients.





19. Goldenrod:
Commonly thought of today as a source of allergies and sneezing, it was actually considered another all-in-one medicine by Native Americans. As a tea, an addition to food and a topical salve, it is used to treat conditions from bronchitis and chest congestion to colds, flu, inflammation, sore throats and as an antiseptic for cuts and abrasions.
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20. Honeysuckle:
The berries, stems, flowers and leaves are used to topically treat bee stings and skin infections. As a tea, it is used to treat colds, headaches and sore throat. It also has anti-inflammatory properties.






21. Hops:
As a tea it is used to treat digestive problems and often mixed with other herbs or plants, such as aloe, to soothe muscles. It also is used to soothe toothaches and sore throat.




22. Licorice:
Roots and leaves can be used for coughs, colds, sore throats. The root also can be chewed to relieve toothaches.







23. Mullein:
As an infusion in tea or added to a salad or other food, this is a plant that has been used by Native Americans to treat inflammation, coughs and congestion and general lung afflictions. It is quite common and you probably have it growing in your backyard or somewhere close.

24. Passion flower:
The leaves and roots are used to make a tea to treat anxiety and muscle pain. A poultice for injuries to the skin such as burns, insect bites and boils also can be made from passion flower.






25. Red clover:
It grows everywhere and the flowers, leaves and roots are usually infused in a tea or are used to top food. It is used to manage inflammation, improve circulation and treat respiratory conditions.






26. Rose hip:
This is the red to orange berry that is the fruit of wild roses. It is already known to be a massive source of vitamin C and when eaten whole, crushed into a tea or added to food it is used to treat colds and coughs, intestinal distress, as an antiseptic and to treat inflammation.






27. Rosemary:
A member of the pine family and used in food and as a tea to treat muscle pain, improve circulation and as a general cleanser for the metabolism.





28. Sage:
A far-reaching shrub across much of North America, it is a natural insect repellent and can be used for the standard list of digestive disorders, colds and sore throat.





29. Spearmint:
Used consistently by Native American tribes for treatment of coughs, colds, respiratory distress and as a cure for diarrhea and a stimulant for blood circulation.





30. Valerian:
The root as an infusion in a tea relieves muscle aches, pain and is said to have a calming effect.




31. White Pine:
Ubiquitous and the needles and the inner bark can be infused in a tea. Used as a standard treatment for respiratory distress and chest congestion.





If you’re an expert on herbal healing procedures i’m certain you can add many to this list.  natural treatments are well worth considering each from an historical and potentially practical factor-of-view. just make sure you become aware of them well and test together with your medical doctor before any use. Please feel free to leave comments about your thoughts and knowledge about herbal remedies and Native American herbal medicine. If you can refer a book or suggest anything that will help and support someone that would be great, after all we all are here to share our skills and knowledge and care and support each other.

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All You Need to know About The Root Chakra & Opening your Muladhara

To watch the video please scroll down, we suggest to read before watching.

What is Chakra, and why should I care about it?

To learn about Chakras please click on the link and read the article "Introduction to Chakras and Energy Vortex". Overall in basic chakras are energy vortexes positioned on our body which means physical and energy bodies and to learn more about energy bodies please read the following article "The Human Energy System and Energy Bodies". Chakras are absorbing and projecting energy from inside and out which effect our physical, emotional and mental health. So that if we learn about each chakra and their achars to our physical, emotional and mental bodies and health then we may have a way to fix, heal and recover from difficulties.

Root Chakra - The First Chakra:

Root chakra or Muladhara is located below and around the genital area of body it covers some part of physical and energy bodies as well, and it is associated with color of red. each chakras has their own color and frequencies and vibration that they get effect and get affected by so if we eat, watch and play with more red color in our life it does direct link to our root chakra. The sound waves are vibrations and playing an specific note or frequency will affect corresponding chakra, and the frequency associated with root chakra is 396 Hz which in ancient solfeggio scale UT and playing it is known to release any guilt and fear also it helps to clear negative ideas and beliefs from subconscious level. The note G3 (Sol) in just intonation scale and tuning.

Properties Associated with Root Chakra:

Here are different properties and information associated with first chakra - The Root Chakra. It is somehow important to understand most of them to heal, feed and keep your chakra open and healthy, pay attention to psychological function which is Survival and self preservation, have you felt unstable, too worried about your position in life or financial wise, a worries that comes from nowhere and is unnecessary, that is a sign to balance and open your root chakra. I will provide some affirmations which is great to practice in the morning or evening before bed.

• Sanskrit name: Muladhara - root support
• Element: Earth
• Color: Red
• Shape: Square
• Petals of the lotus: Four
• Seed sound: LANG (Lam)
• Vowel sound: O
• Rights: To have
• Endocrine gland: Adrenal cortex
• Physical association: The skeletal structure, teeth, large intestine, kidneys, blood
• Psychological function: Survival and self preservation
• Identity: Physical identity
• Developmental stage: Womb to 12 months
• Challenge: Fear
• Plane: Physical plane
• Planets: Saturn, Earth
• Deity: Brahma, Dakini, Ganesha
• Mythological Animal: White elephant with seven trunks
• Sense organ: Nose
• Predominant sense: Smell
• Incense: Cedar
• Herb: Sage
• Sephira: Malkuth
• Tarot suit: Pentacles

Affirmations for Root Chakra:

• I Love life
• I Love and trust myself
• I feel deeply rooted, or I feel deeply connected to earth
• I am connected to my body
• I am connected to all that is
• I feel safe and secure
• I am grounded, stable, and standing on my own two feet
• I am grateful for all the challenges that helped me to grow and transform
• I trust in the goodness of life
• I am open to possibilities
• Just like a tree or a star, I have a right to be here
• I stand for my values, for truth, and for justice
• I nurture my body with healthy food, clean water, exercise, relaxation, and connection with nature
• I make choice that are healthy and good for me
• I have what I need

Opening Muladhara Chakra and Activating your Root Chakra:

Choose a quiet place without distraction and extra noises that would interrupt your process, take a comfortable position which you won't feel any pressure of any kind and also can hear and see the video easily and clearly. We suggest that you use headphone or earphones for this purpose. Start with relaxing yourself and meditating before watching the video, very short and simple relaxation start with three deep breath and close your eyes, take a deep breath and hold for moments then slowly release through the mouth, count from 3 to 1 and by each count feel more relaxed, loose your facial muscles and jaw then your shoulders and so on, on the next count down feel the heavy and go deep, and tell yourself relax when you feel that you are losing focus or need to be relax, then make an intention of healing, opening and activating your root chakra, imagine a ball of fire under your belly on your root chakra cleansing and opening the flow of energy. then take a breath and slowly open your eyes, hit the play and listen and watch the video.

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Mudra - The Healing Power of Your Hands

Mudra Power of your hand 

We know about energy and energy healing using hands and power that can be transfer by hand, and did you know  that your hands maintain an innate recuperation electricity which have been used for centuries?

Mudras are positions of the arms which can be stated to steer the strength of your physical, emotional and non secular frame. And sometimes people refer to them as Yoga of hands, although it is been used in yoga and meditation.

mudras had been used within the east for lots of years and were practiced by way of many non secular leaders together with buddha. nowadays, mudras are nevertheless utilized in yoga and meditation.

now and again we may additionally subconsciously vicinity our hands into Mudra positions without even understanding it and different times we can use them to help channel and stimulate recovery.

there are hundreds of mudras but right here are a number of the most common:

1 - Gyan Mudra (Mudra of Knowledge):

The tip of the index finger touches the tip of the thumb while the other fingers remain straight.

Benefits: Enhances knowledge, stimulates the pituitary and endocrine glands, increases memory, helps meditation, prevents insomnia, can boost mood and bring clarity.

Practice: Any time while sitting, standing or lying in bed.

2 - Prithvi Mudra (Mudra of Earth): 

The tip of the ring finger touches the thumb while the other fingers remain straight out.

Benefits: reduces physical and spiritual weaknesses, can increase the life force, can help clear skin, promotes body functionality.

Practice: Any time.

3 - Varuna Mudra (Mudra of Water): 

The tip of the pinky finger touches the thumb while the other fingers remain straight up.

Benefits: helps to balance emotions and helps to retain water. Helps to relieve constipation and cramps. Can also help regulate menstrual cycles and hormonal conditions.

Practice: 15 minutes three times a day.

4 - Vayu Mudra (Mudra of Air): 

The thumb wraps over the index finger while the rest of the fingers remain straight.

Benefits: helps to calm an anxious mind, soothe a strained voice and can help decrease stress. Can also help reduce impatience and indecisiveness.

Practice: 10 to 15 minutes, 3 times per day.

5 - Shunya Mudra (Mudra of Emptiness): 

The tip of the thumb presses the middle finger down while the rest of the fingers stand straight up.

Benefits: reduces dullness in the body and can also be highly effective for ear aches. Can help restore confidence and boost mental cognition.

Practice: 40-60 minutes daily or for an earache- 4 to 5 minutes.

6 - Surya Mudra (Mudra of the Sun): 

Bend the ring finger under the thumb while the rest of the fingers remain straight.

Benefits: helps stimulate the thyroid gland, helps to alleviate weight gain and reduces appetite, stimulates digestion, helps relieve anxiety and stress. Helps to guide you to your purpose.

Practice: 5 to 15 minutes, twice daily.

7 - Prana Mudra (Mudra of Life): 

The ring and pinky finger both bend to meet the thumb while the index and middle finger remain pointed straight up.

Benefits: improves the life force, helps to strengthen the mind, body and spirit, helps promote taking action, improves immunity and motivation. Helps enhance vision and reduces fatigue.

Practice: Any time.

8 - Apana Mudra (Mudra of Digestion): 

The middle and ring finger are bent under the thumb while the pinky and index finger stand straight up.

Benefits: helps to regulate the excretory system, helps detoxify and stimulates bowel movements. Helpful at relieving constipation and piles.

Practice: 45 minutes daily

9 - Apana Vayu Mudra (Mudra of the Heart): 

The index finger bends to touch the base of the thumb while the middle and ring finger bend to touch the tip of the thumb. The pinky finger remains stretched out.

Benefits: stimulates healing of the heart and helps physically protect the heart. Can also help reduce gas and heart burn.

Practice: 15 minutes, twice daily

10 - Linga Mudra (Mudra of Heat): 

Interlock the fingers of both hands but keep the thumb of the left hand pointing up. Take the right thumb and wrap it around the thumb so it touches the index finger of the right hand.

Benefits: helps to stimulate heat in the body, helps reduce phlegm and congestion, good for strengthening the lungs, helps to invigorate and balance the body.

Practice: Any time but do not over practice.

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Seven Zen Fun and Enlightening Stories

Zen Stories

Zen stories are stories told by Zen Masters and Spiritual Masters to bring knowledge of self-awareness and spiritual growth to listeners in a way that is interesting, fun and simple to understand, we all know philosophy and understanding of nature and universe most of the time could be so difficult to many minds so Spiritual Masters always wanted to put it in a simple way for regular people to understand and learn the good and positive being, doing and passing it on easily.

Many Spiritual Masters like Jesus, Buddha, Rumi (Molana), Osho, Meher Baba,  Ananda, Ashvagosha, and more always been writing or telling stories, poems and life examples to teach people and enlighten people in attractive and simple way to understand. Zen word itself came from Japanese Buddhism practice which can be call in many different words in different practices and studies.

Here are seven interesting Zen stories which I wish you will enjoy reading and will be a daily food for your soul.

Story #1 : No Objective World

Once there was a monk who specialized in the Buddhist precepts, and he kept to them all his life. Once when he was walking at night, he stepped on something. It made a squishing sound, and he imagined he had stepped on an egg-bearing frog.

This caused him no end of alarm and regret, in view of the Buddhist precept against taking life, and when he finally went to sleep that night he dreamed that hundreds of frogs came demanding his life.

The monk was terribly upset, but when morning came he looked and found that what he stepped on was an overripe eggplant. At that moment his feeling of uncertainty suddenly stopped, and for the first time he realized the meaning of the saying that “there is no objective world.” Then he finally knew how to practice Zen.

Story #2 : Flow Like a River

There is the story of a young martial arts student who was under the tutelage of a famous master.

One day, the master was watching a practice session in the courtyard. He realized that the presence of the other students was interfering with the young man’s attempts to perfect his technique.

The master could sense the young man’s frustration. He went up to the young man and tapped him on his shoulder.

“What’s the problem?” he inquired.

“I don’t know”, said the youth, with a strained expression.

“No matter how much I try, I am unable to execute the moves properly”.

“Before you can master technique, you must understand harmony. Come with me, I will explain”, replied the master.

The teacher and student left the building and walked some distance into the woods until they came upon a stream. The master stood silently on the bank for several moments. Then he spoke.

“Look at the stream,” he said. “There are rocks in its way. Does it slam into them out of frustration? It simply flows over and around them and moves on! Be like the water and you will know what harmony is.”

The young man took the master’s advice to heart. Soon, he was barely noticing the other students around him. Nothing could come in his way of executing the most perfect moves.

Story #3 : Moderation

An aged monk, who had lived a long and active life, was assigned a chaplain’s role at an academy for girls. In discussion groups he often found that the subject of love became a central topic. This comprised his warning to the young women:

“Understand the danger of anything-too-much in your lives. Too much anger in combat can lead to recklessness and death. Too much ardor in religious beliefs can lead to close-mindedness and persecution.

Too much passion in love creates dream images of the beloved – images that ultimately prove false and generate anger. To love too much is to lick honey from the point of a knife.”

“But as a celibate monk,” asked one young woman, “how can you know of love between a man and a woman?”

“Sometime, dear children,” replied the old teacher, “I will tell you why I became a monk.”

Story #4 : Buddhism & Christianity

A university student while visiting Gasan asked him: “Have you ever read the Christian Bible?”

“No, read it to me,” said Gasan.

The student opened the Bible and read from St. Matthew: “And why take ye thought for rainment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin, and yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these… Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”

Gasan said: “Whoever uttered those words I consider an enlightened man.”

The student continued reading: “Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.”

Gasan remarked: “That is excellent. Whoever said that is not far from Buddhahood.”

Story #5 : The Hangover

A certain Zen teacher celebrated with his students, drinking sake and whiskey until after midnight, then rose next morning before dawn. Peevish, he expressed annoyance that his American students had not risen in time to do zazen [Zen meditation] before morning service.

When they murmured that their sluggishness might be accounted for by all the drink, the teacher snapped, “Sake is one thing, and zazen is another! They have nothing to do with each other!”

Story #6 : The Pointer

The Zen teacher’s dog loved his evening romp with his master. The dog would bound ahead to fetch a stick, then run back, wag his tail, and wait for the next game. On this particular evening, the teacher invited one of his brightest students to join him – a boy so intelligent that he became troubled by the contradictions in Buddhist doctrine.

“You must understand,” said the teacher, “that words are only guideposts. Never let the words or symbols get in the way of truth. Here, I’ll show you.”

With that the teacher called his happy dog.

“Fetch me the moon,” he said to his dog and pointed to the full moon.

“Where is my dog looking?” asked the teacher of the bright pupil.

“He’s looking at your finger.”

“Exactly. Don’t be like my dog. Don’t confuse the pointing finger with the thing that is being pointed at. All our Buddhist words are only guideposts. Every man fights his way through other men’s words to find his own truth.”

Story #7 : God And Air

A hermit was meditating by a river when a young man interrupted him.

“Master, I wish to become your disciple,” said the man.

“Why?” replied the hermit.

The young man thought for a moment.

“Because I want to find God.”

The master jumped up, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, dragged him into the river, and plunged his head under water.

After holding him there for a minute, with him kicking and struggling to free himself, the master finally pulled him up out of the river. The young man coughed up water and gasped to get his breath. When he eventually quieted down, the master spoke.

“Tell me, what did you want most of all when you were under water.”

“Air!” answered the man.

“Very well,” said the master.

“Go home and come back to me when you want God as much as you just wanted air.”

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