The term "Native American healing" is understood to include a conglomeration of remedies and rituals from over 500 indigenous tribes all over the continent. Due to the vast and variegated nature of its source, the concept of Native American healing is somewhat fluid and subjective, but refers to those aspects of healing processes that appear over and over in each tribe. Native American healing practices often employ herbal medicines, but also draw heavily upon religious traditions due to a belief that spiritual healing is a necessary part of a person's overall well-being. The idea is that the disease itself (in this case, cancer,) can best be cured by renewing the whole person from the inside out.
Ideology
The basic tenet of Native American tradition is that the whole earth and everyone on it is spiritually interconnected, including people, inanimate objects and landscapes---everything has an essential spirit and must function in balance with its surroundings in order to remain in optimal health. According to this perspective, there is safety in harmonious living and danger in negativity and unhealthy lifestyles. Disease in a person, including cancer, indicates a spiritual disconnect which must be restored in order for healing to take place.
Ritualistic Healing
Purification ceremonies are common across most Native American tribes as a remedy against the angry spirits, which are believed to be instigators of disease. Healing spirits are sometimes invoked to combat the angry spirits, whether they are causing cancer or another ailment. Other ritualistic traditions include prayer, exorcism, songs and chants, sand and body painting and the consumption of some mind-altering substances, for the purpose of reaching self-awareness and mental clarity. This enlightened state makes a person more receptive to healing. Rituals can involve entire communities and last for days; the patient is encouraged to meditate and seek a healer.
Chaparral
One traditional Native American herbal remedy for cancer, Chaparral, has recently drawn attention for its apparent ability to shrink tumors in the neck and head. Historically dismissed by mainstream medicine for its negative long-term side effects on the kidneys and liver, Chaparral can now be refined into an extract form called M4N. A 2004 study presented at the International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer in Washington indicated that M4N appears to not only shrink tumors but can also be relatively benign toward the liver and kidneys. In 2006, results of a similar study indicated that Chaparral may be useful in treating cancers that had grown non-responsive to chemotherapy. Despite these positive results, science remains skeptical of Chaparral and, as a general rule does not recommend it until all of its side effects have been recorded and assessed.
Essiac
The Native American herbal remedy Essiac, a combination of herbs typically served in the form of tea, has recently been the subject of Cynthia Olsen's book "Essiac---A Native Herbal Cancer Remedy." There have been no formal studies done on Essiac's usefulness against cancer, but there is evidence that it can be dangerous for pregnant women. Essiac's possible side effects should be taken into consideration before use.
Considerations
Science has not proven the validity of Native American healing on disease. There are personal testimonials on record, however, claiming its effectiveness against everything from asthma to heart disease and even cancer. Native American healing techniques have also been employed against emotional disorders. Due to the serious lack of thorough, reliable studies on the matter, it's difficult to discuss the general efficacy of Native American healing one way or another. Native American ritualistic healing is sometimes used in a complementary context, specifically to relieve stress, exhaustion and other outward symptoms of cancer while the cancer itself is treated by chemotherapy or radiation. As with any alternative medicine, caution and research are recommended before use.
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