Native American Traditional and Alternative Medicine

Abstract

Native American traditional medicine is alive and vibrant in many North American societies, although not all. These traditions coexist with other forms of healing, and the particular patterns of existence, interaction, and meaning vary among groups. The literature examining these issues is likewise diverse. This article explores, through a selective review of the recent literature, how social and behavioral scientists, among others, are focusing their investigations of traditional and alternative medicine in Native American communities of the United States and Canada today. Issues include how native practices have persisted and changed, how they are being used (e.g., in framing cultural identity), and how they interact with other systems, especially biomedicine and faith healing.