Clinical Quick Reference Monthly 2025 Spring Seminar
CLINICAL QUICK REFERENCE GUIDES / PATHWAYS TO HOLISTIC HEALTH
Body, Mind, Spirit
Native American healing traditions are recognized by the National Institutes of Health/National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine as a full-fledged medical system offering a range of holistic services. The institute notes that these practices continue to be implemented by indigenous healers to assist with acute issues, chronic conditions, and to promote overall well-being.
A central tenet of Native American beliefs and values is the understanding of the interconnectedness of all living beings, influencing both health and illness.
In an article published in the American Journal of Public Health in October 2002, titled "Holistic Health Care for Native Women: An Integrated Model," author Maria Napoli reports on the importance of this interconnectedness of body, land, mind, and spirit, when addressing health issues faced by Native-American women.
Napoli highlights a phenomenon known as ch’ééná, in the piece. A Navajo term similar to nostalgia. The condition can arise when a community member is separated from their home or land, causing strong feelings of dysphoria or heartbreak.
Explore To Learn More:
Navajo Healing Song By The Navajo & The Sioux, with BBC Earthflight E1 (2011)
(The album this song is taken from was released in 2009, featuring traditional peyote chants followed by healing songs, a newer style of harmonized chanting in Sioux and Navajo without percussion. Artists: Verdell Primeaux, Johnny Mike, and Robert Attson.)