| Since the very beginning of the human race there | | | | Freedom Act was passed in 1978, people were |
| have been healers. Throughout the centuries every | | | | threatened with incarceration if they were to even |
| culture around the world has formulated its own form | | | | be caught in attendance at a healing ceremony. The |
| of medicine and practices to cure the ills of its people. | | | | example of the Native Americans is not the only such |
| Traditional Chinese Medicine for example, focuses not | | | | instance of a society turning its back on its very |
| on specific physical body parts, but instead on the | | | | roots. The Chinese acted in a similar fashion, banning |
| purpose and function of those parts. Many people | | | | the use of Classical Chinese Medicine for well over |
| hold to the belief that these time-honored and | | | | thirty years until the 1960s. |
| indigenous practices have no place in a modern | | | | Old v/s New |
| society with its technological advancements and | | | | While modern science has indeed made great strides |
| scientific breakthroughs. The simple fact remains | | | | in many ways toward repairing and healing the human |
| though, that a large percentage of people around the | | | | body and has even embraced a great many schools |
| world have no access to modern medicine. They rely | | | | of thought when it comes to issues of the human |
| solely on ancient healing techniques to keep | | | | mind, it has yet to fully accept that there is indeed a |
| themselves and their families healthy. Is it possible | | | | real connection between the two. Mind and body are |
| that our modern society has become so advanced | | | | treated as separate entities instead of parts of the |
| that we have lost touch with some of the most | | | | whole. The common bond shared among centuries |
| basic and simple healing practices in favor of | | | | old wisdom around the globe has been put aside and |
| over-medicating our bodies into submission? | | | | scientific fact has been put in its place. |
| Going Back to our Roots | | | | Today, the practice of such things as meditation, |
| Like the Chinese, the Native Americans have long | | | | yoga, traditional native healing, Sufi Healing and |
| held to the belief that the spirit is an absolutely | | | | Chinese medicine have found sanctuary under the |
| essential part of the whole of the human being and is | | | | broad-spectrum umbrella of Holistic Medicine. The |
| therefore a necessary ingredient in its overall health | | | | healing methods of the Buddhists, Shamans and |
| and well being. Spirituality has been a key part of the | | | | others are finding their way back into a society who |
| healing process throughout most of history; it is only | | | | hungers for answers they are not receiving from |
| in these "modern" times that society has pushed it | | | | modern scientific research. Still, finding reputable and |
| aside as secondary and unnecessary. In fact, Native | | | | well trained practitioners can be a challenge in today's |
| American spiritual practices were banned in the United | | | | civilized cultures. |
| States and until the American Indian Religious | | | | |