Men who were called Medicine
Men, witch-doctors and various other names in various parts of the world were
the first person the tribal went to whenever they were afflicted with any
disease or injured during hunting or any other issues associated with health
which stops the ancient mankind from performing their daily activities like
hunting, gathering food, cooking, etc.
These Medicine Men used to gather roots, leaves, buds and herbs mixed it
with various other ingredients and were put on the afflicted parts, they even performed
minor surgical procedures even without the modern sophisticated equipment and
accessories that are used currently. Due
to the healing that is associated with such herbs and plant based mixtures,
ancient mankind believed them as a special person in their tribes, to be looked
upon in case of any difficulties. Another
name given to these medicines is Bush Medicine in some other parts of the world,
since these medicines are made from plant materials, such as leaves and barks
and seeds. Rarely has animal products
been used in such Bush Medicines, not to say it was not used. A point to note is that major component of
traditional medicine in herbal medicine, is the use of natural plant substances
to treat or prevent illness. Remedies
varied between various tribes in various parts of the country or
elsewhere. One such remedies are the
Aboriginal remedies and there was no single set of aboriginal medicines and
remedies.
Also to note is that in
those era, herbal substances formed only a small part of the tribal physicians
work, and it was generally understood that serious illness have spiritual
causes and cannot be cured without the intervention of God. Thus, the Medicine Man’s duty was also to
appease or expel the evil spirit troubling the sick person. Incantation, self-induced trances assisted by
herbal medicines and spells formed a standard practice or rituals of the
Medicine Man instrument. These practices
and rituals also ensured the strengthening the Medicine Man’s own place as
superior in the tribe to cure a patients.
They are associated with supernatural power treatments ability such as
charms, spells and amulets to ward off evil spirits. In some societies, like the Apache society,
and many other societies, the medicine men initiate a ceremony over the
patient, which are attended by their family and friends. It consists of a magic formulas, prayers, and
drumming. The medicine man then reveals
the nature of the disease and they can treat it.
These Medicine Man are
believed by the tribal to be able to contact spirits or gods and thus use their
supernatural powers to cure the patient and in the process remove evil
spirits. If this method does not work
then it is believed that the spirit is too powerful to be driven out of the
person. Medicine Men are a central
figure in any of the activities of the tribe and most sought after person in
times of difficulty facing the tribe and thus because of their medical knowledge
and the belief that they can seemingly contact the gods, they are highly
revered or afraid of. In primeval history,
their religious and medical training were passed down orally.
