Medicine Woman Cecilia Garcia; Xochitl, Crystal Quintero, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
Traditional knowledge and practical uses for natural medicine in day-to-day life
Natural Medicine, Health, and Spiritual Wellbeing
Natural medicine is the knowledge and tools that keep us mentally, physically, and spiritually well or in “balance.” Find Indigenous knowledge and practical ways to be happy and healthy.
What is medicine?
"Medicine" is knowledge and a tool to keep healthy and balanced. No one could survive in the old days without a basic knowledge of medicinal plants. Everybody knew what tea to drink for a cold, what herb to rub on a burn. It was common knowledge. Traditional medicine is how we take care of our being, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Well-being is important, and medicine is knowledge.
Who are medicine people?
In all traditional societies there were people who were more advanced in the use of medicine, who were able to change it. In Medicine Woman Cecilia Garcia’s Chumash culture, she would be called “Antwap,” which means a tool to be used by God.
Medicine has nothing to do with her. Instead, she allowed herself to be used. Her medicine used animal and plant energies to open people back up. Native culture believes that a medicine person tickles the spirit, as when we were born, open completely to all the love in the world.
A medicine person is also a guide through a process of healing for individuals and families.
When to start practicing natural medicine?
We have to want to change, want to be useful, want to be decent, not just rich. Medicine keeps people healthy because in a cooperative society, everybody did what they did best, and nobody went without.
Native medicine isn’t about working on flaws. It’s about moving forward and being useful, getting into a natural rhythm so we can do what we do well. Until a person is willing to be honest to some power, medicine people cannot help them. We need to be ready.
How to use healing medicine
We may drink a tea at night, heat something up on the stove for four nights, create a music instrument, or drink water with a leaf in it. A medicine person provides clear instructions and tools to continue the healing process. It’s up to us to follow through.
It’s important to use medicine properly, just as with anything else. Too much of something positive can cause negative effects. There is never a need to alter the medication or get creative with it, unless a medicine person instructs us to. It’s as easy as following simple instructions.
Medicine is sharing knowledge
Common knowledge is very important. We should know what is good for us. We should be able to walk down the street and pick berries instead of plastic bags of chips. We want our native plants back, so we and our children can be healthy.
People serious about feeling better and taking action should grow something. Start a garden. People want to be green and ecologically sound. Therefore, something practical that can be done at home, even in an apartment. Grow food and medicine.
Message from Cecilia Garcia
We all know in our hearts when we’re doing something wrong. We all know we should be getting more exercise, eating better, should be avoiding this, avoiding that. Medicine is the tools to help us stop cheating ourselves and the tools to go about with a good attitude. Medicine is about self-acceptance. When we accept ourselves, we do good things.
The test of a warrior today
How kind we can be is what we can create for people to be useful -- whether we put a smile on a face or feed a body. Native medicine gives us practical knowledge to lead a good life in today’s modern world.
Cecilia Garcia’s teachings
The teachings of this medicine woman offer us and our family common knowledge that Native Americans need to be well and go about our lives healthy and being our best.
No comments:
Post a Comment