Navajo Indians are the largest Indian tribe living in North America today. The Navajo Indian Reservation in northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico and southeastern Utah (the Four Corners region) is the largest of the Indian Reservations; Monument Valley, on the state line of northeastern Arizona and Utah, is perhaps one of the best-known landscapes of Navajo Indian territory.
Navajo Life Medicine
Navajo Indians use approximately 450 species of wild plants for medicinal purposes; referred to as Navajo Life Medicine, several different plants are used to make a Navajo herbal medicine mix. Popular plants for inclusion in Navajo Life Medicine include Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.), Wild Buckwheats (Eriogonum spp.) and Puccoon (Lithospermum multiflorum).
The Navajo culture permits ordinary people to use many herbal medicines without the traditional ceremonial rites or supervision of a tribal medicine man; however, traditionally it is common to offer a prayer whenever wild plants are collected. There are still some Navajo sacred plant rituals which are not shared outside of the Navajo Indian culture.
The Practice of Navajo Herbal Medicine
Navajo Indian herbal medicine is practiced in two ways: the first is the collection of wild plants by a medicine man or woman, the sick person himself or a tribe member. An herbal tea is made from the wild plants and given to the sick person, accompanied by a short prayer. Common problems such as stomachache, colds, fevers and minor accidental injuries are usually treated in this way.
The second practice of Navajo Indian herbal medicine is used for major illness, curing diseases and to promote long-term good fortune; herbal medicine treatments are given in a Native Navajo ceremony conducted by a Navajo Medicine man. Medicine men (and women) have had extensive training in healing practices and rituals of the Navajo people.
Before many Navajo Indian ceremonies, the participant is required to either drink a mixture of several wild herbs that will cause the person to vomit, or take a bath in wild yucca-root suds; this is done to ensure cleanliness. There are many chants which accompany the giving of special plant brews, infusions or lotions to maintain balance and harmony, the central core of Navajo Indian life.
Navajo Indian Conservation of Wild Plants
Navajo Indians have a strong connection with the land and the wild plants which they use; conservation of the wild plants is just as important as the collection of them by the Navajo. Only those plants which are needed are collected; if one species of a particular plant is collected for use in healing and medicine, a neighboring plant of the same species will receive a prayer.
Species of Plants Used in Navajo Medicine
Navajo Indians use wild plants for many other purposes including weaving blankets and rugs (use of crushed Yucca roots and water to clean wool) and dying (fixed with Juniper Ash). However, species of plants used in Navajo herbal medicine include:
- Cedar Bark (Cedrus deodara)
- Sage (Salvia spp.)
- Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja spp.)
- Juniper Ash (Juniperus spp.)
- Larkspur (Delphinium spp.).
References:
Dunmire, William W., Tierney, Gail, 1997 Wild Plants and Native Peoples of the Four Corners Sante Fe, USA: Museum of New Mexico Press
For Related Reading:
Native American Healing Remedies
Native American Spiritual Rituals
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