Native Americans use folk tales to express their holistic medical philosophy. This version of a traditional story describes the genesis of Cherokee healing traditions:

In times past, all the animals, fish, insects and plants could talk and were at peace with people. As time passed, the numbers of people grew so much that their towns spread over the whole earth, and the animals found themselves cramped for space. Man became so needy that he began hunting the animals for food and hides, and the smaller animals were stepped upon and crushed without even a thought. The animals held council to decide upon a course of action. It was decided that bear would kill man with the very bow and arrow that was used to kill the animals. When bear fired the bow, his long claws got in the way of the bowstring, and the arrow missed the target. One of the animals suggested that bear clip his claws to better work the bow. The chief of the bears was against this plan believing they should keep the claws given to them by Creator. For if they clipped their claws to fire the bow, would they be any better than man?

No animal was able to come up with a better plan and so council was adjourned. But man continued to spread over the land, destroying all he touched. Soon the animals met again in desperation. The animal council voted to visit disease upon man. And so the little, invisible insects were called to attack man. These insects were so small that man could not see them. They hid in his food, entered through his body orifices, and seeped through his skin. Man knew disease.

A great cry went up upon the land from the tormented people. They withered and moaned in pain. Man began to die from the littlest of the insects. The plants heard the cries and moans, and felt sorry for man. Each tree, shrub and herb agreed to help man. The plants promised to appear and help whenever called. And so to this day, each plant has a use and each disease has a plant cure. But we must ask, learn and remember them for ourselves. The spirit of the plant will tell the sick person what plant to use, but we must listen to what the plants say

©Energy Times 2003