week 04 lecture 02 the native american healer weatherford chapters 10 and 11 pages 175 – 216

1

Montclair State University Department of AnthropologyAnth 140: Non Western Contributions to the Western World

Dr. Richard W. Franke

Week 04 Lecture 02 Week 04 Lecture 02

The Native American The Native American HealerHealer

Weatherford chapters 10 and 11Weatherford chapters 10 and 11

Pages 175 – 216Pages 175 – 216

Second edition pages 224–278Second edition pages 224–278

22



The Native American HealerThe Native American HealerThe learning objectives for week 04 are:The learning objectives for week 04 are:

– to understand the nature of North American Indian agro-forestry to understand the nature of North American Indian agro-forestry – to appreciate how modern science is making use of Native to appreciate how modern science is making use of Native

American farming practices American farming practices – to appreciate how modern science is making use of Native to appreciate how modern science is making use of Native

American land management practices American land management practices – to understand and appreciate some of the most important to understand and appreciate some of the most important

medical contributions of Native Americans to the world (Week 04 medical contributions of Native Americans to the world (Week 04 lecture 02)lecture 02)

– to sample speculations about the current and future potential of to sample speculations about the current and future potential of Native American indigenous knowledge of the medicinal value of Native American indigenous knowledge of the medicinal value of plantsplants

Updated Friday, 22 October 2010Updated Friday, 22 October 2010

33



The Native American HealerThe Native American Healer

Terms you should know for week 04 are:Terms you should know for week 04 are:– back fire back fire – conoco conoco – polyculture polyculture – the three sisters the three sisters – quinine quinine – curare curare – ipecacipecac

44

Montclair State University Department of AnthropologyAnth 140: Non Western Contributions to the Western World: Dr. Richard W. Franke

Native American Forestry Management and Native American Forestry Management and Agricultural TechnologyAgricultural Technology

Week 04 Part 02 Sources:

Arvigo, Rosita, and Michael Balick. 1993. Rainforest Remedies: One Hundred Healing Herbs of Belize. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press. The plants, their names, drawings, and the healing properties as claimed by traditional Maya healers and as being investigated by modern science.

Densmore, Frances. 1974 [orig. 1928]. How the Indians Use Wild Plants for Food, Medicine and Crafts. New York: Dover Publications.

Duran-Reynals, M. L. 1946. The Fever Bark Tree: The Pageant of Quinine. Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, Inc.

Herrick, James W. 1995. Iroquois Medical Botany. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press.

Honigsbaum, Mark. 2001. The Fever Trail: In Search of the Cure for Malaria. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

5



1. Quinine1. Quinine

• From bark of From bark of cinchona treecinchona tree

• Known in Andes for Known in Andes for many centuriesmany centuries

6



1.1. QuinineQuinine

• Quechua word “quina” means “bark.”

• Known in Andes as “quina quina,” bark of barks”

• Tree became known to Europeans as “fever tree”

• Concoctions later known as “Jesuit powder”

7



1. Quinine1. Quinine

• Make a tea from it or chew it– cures malaria;– lowers fevers; – helps with cramps and chills; and – fixes heart-rhythm disorders

8



1. Quinine also – 1. Quinine also – – Kills germs– Stimulates digestion– Reduces spasms– Relieves pain– Kills fungi– More details on medicinal properties of

quinine at: http://www.rain-tree.com/quinine.htm

http://www.rain-tree.com/quinine.htm

9



1.1. QuinineQuinine• Name “cinchona” Name “cinchona”

from a Spanish from a Spanish noblewoman who noblewoman who probably never took probably never took quininequinine

• Jesuits brought to Jesuits brought to Europe – they often Europe – they often took native peoples’ took native peoples’ ideas seriouslyideas seriously

• Knowledge lost for Knowledge lost for 200 years200 years

10



1a. Quinine1a. Quinine

• Originally thought malaria was caused by “bad air.” The word mala aria means “bad air” in Medieval Italian.

• It was known as “Roman fever” in the ancient world.

11



1b. Quinine1b. Quinine

• Europeans only began to understand by 1820.

• Only in 19th Century, Europeans learned it also prevents malaria.

• Only in late 19th Century, cause of malaria discovered.

12



Malaria: A Major World DiseaseMalaria: A Major World Disease

13




• Nearly 3 million people die from malaria Nearly 3 million people die from malaria each year; about one each 30 secondseach year; about one each 30 seconds

• 75% of deaths are African children75% of deaths are African children

• Malaria 4th major cause of death in Malaria 4th major cause of death in developing countriesdeveloping countries

14



Malaria: A Major World Disease: Malaria: A Major World Disease: 2012 Update2012 Update

US Center for Disease Control (CDC) saysUS Center for Disease Control (CDC) says• In 2009 3.3 billion people (half the world’s

population) live in areas at risk of malaria transmission in 109 countries and territories;

• Caused between 708,000 and 1 million deaths

http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/malaria_worldwide/impact.html

http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/malaria_worldwide/impact.html

15




• In addition to death, malaria causesIn addition to death, malaria causes– Loss of energyLoss of energy– Inability to work due to frequent fever Inability to work due to frequent fever

attacksattacks– Almost total infertility in womenAlmost total infertility in women

16




• African slaves were sought partly African slaves were sought partly because many Africans have genetic because many Africans have genetic immunity to malariaimmunity to malaria

• This related to sickle cellThis related to sickle cell

• Learn more about malaria, sickle cell Learn more about malaria, sickle cell and African-based medicines for malaria and African-based medicines for malaria in the lecture 02 for week 09.in the lecture 02 for week 09.

17




• 1882 mosquito transmission hypothesis 1882 mosquito transmission hypothesis first advancedfirst advanced

• 1897 mosquito theory proven1897 mosquito theory proven

• 1934 Germans developed synthetic 1934 Germans developed synthetic quinine now called “chloroquine.”quinine now called “chloroquine.”

18




• In recent years malaria taking resistant In recent years malaria taking resistant forms to quinineforms to quinine

• New drugs – eg Fansidar – not very New drugs – eg Fansidar – not very reliable and have many side effectsreliable and have many side effects

• Search is on for additional compoundsSearch is on for additional compounds

19




• Two promising findings:Two promising findings:– Artemisia annuaArtemisia annua from China – see later in from China – see later in

the course in week 15the course in week 15– Various root crop compounds from Various root crop compounds from

traditional medicine of Nigeria – see later in traditional medicine of Nigeria – see later in the course in week 09the course in week 09

20



2. Sassafras and Sasparilla2. Sassafras and Sasparilla

• First used as teas by Indians.

• Mixed with sugar, they became root beer.

• First sold as medicines, later as soft drinks.

21



3. Ipecac: 3. Ipecac: 2012 Update2012 Update

• Amazonian Indians made from a tree root.

• Causes patient to vomit.

• Still used by poison clinics throughout the world.

• Kills amoeba that cause amoebic dysentery.

[Weatherford pages 175–182; second edition pages 224–233]

22



4. Vitamin C4. Vitamin C

• Early European explorers thought scurvy was infectious.

• Indians knew it was not.

23




• Scurvy causes bleeding gums, skin splotches, a wretched stink, and leads to death.

• Huron Indians used evergreen bark and needles, probably hemlock or pine.

24




• Became a legend among sailors as a cure for syphilis – but not true

• James Lind (1716-1794) read about Huron cure for scurvy

• British Navy supplied limes to prevent scurvy -- origin of word "limey" for sailor in British English

25



5. Iodine5. Iodine

• Incas prevented goiter with kelp – a kind of seaweed rich in iodine.

• Incas brought it from the coast into the high Andes

26



6. Laxatives6. Laxatives

• Shrub bark used by Oregon and California Indians.

• Helps constipation in mild and general way.

27



6. Laxatives6. Laxatives

• Still not synthesized.

• Still the world's main laxative.

28



7. Curare7. Curare

• Amazonian Indians make it from a woody vine, cooked into a gum.

• Blocks nerve transmission to muscles, leading to paralysis and death through asphyxiation.

29



7. Curare7. Curare• The death is painless and used in Holland since The death is painless and used in Holland since

1980s for euthanasia.1980s for euthanasia.• In small doses can be a muscle relaxant – used In small doses can be a muscle relaxant – used

for tetanus and for abdominal surgery.for tetanus and for abdominal surgery.• Used for urinary tract infectionsUsed for urinary tract infections• Used for acute arthritisUsed for acute arthritis

30



7. Curare7. Curare

• Now has been synthesized into several muscle relaxing drugs.

31



8. Other Medicines8. Other Medicines

• Northeastern US Indians pinkroot against fever

• various emetics

• astringents

32



9. Indian Aspirin9. Indian Aspirin

• North American Indians poplar and willow bark

• Used as a pain killer

• Now known to be chemically similar to aspirin

33



10. Medicines for Women10. Medicines for Women

• Oak tree root used as antispasmodic to induce menstruation.

• Bitter root to ease pain of childbirth -- pioneers called it “birthroot.”

34



11. Balsams11. Balsams

• Wide variety to heal flesh wounds.

• Used also today for ointments and toilet articles [perfumes].

35



12. Astringents12. Astringents

• Dried flowers used to make a tincture to relieve swelling.

• Wintergreen, now used for candies and medicines.

36



13. Moisturizers13. Moisturizers

• Indian petroleum is now called “jelly.”

• One of first uses for petroleum, it protects wounds, keeps skin moist.

• Indians also used it to lubricate tools.

37



14. Surgery14. Surgery

• Inca trephining, a form of brain surgery to relieve swelling, especially useful for concussions.

38



• Aztecs the most sophisticated New World surgeons. They had – – Skin specialists.– Surgeons.– Midwives.– Bloodletters.

39



Aztec MedicineAztec Medicine

– Herbal pharmacists.– Drug dispensers.– Today, only lasers cut more precisely than

Aztec obsidian scalpels.

40



• Other Indian surgeons sewed lacerations with bone needles threaded with human hair.

• Amazonian Indians made syringes with rubber.

41



• North American Indians made them with animal bladders.– European doctors still use the rubber hose and

syringe.

• Lanced boils.

• Amputated limbs.

42



• Made articial limbs.

• Removed teeth.

• Castrated men and animals.

• Knew how to suck out snake venom.

43



• Used tourniquets and cauterization.

• Aztecs also had deodorants, toothpaste, breath fresheners.

44



15. Anatomy15. Anatomy

• Aztecs probably had most sophisticated anatomy of 16th century.

• Derived in part from the grisly human sacrifices.

45



Aztec PhysiciansAztec Physicians

• Understood role of heart and nature of blood circulation long before William Harvey (1578-1657).

• Nahuatl (Aztec) doctors identified and named virtually all of the body organs recognized today.

46



• Aztecs used frequent bathing and medicinal baths.

• Used for exhaustion, aching muscles, and childbirth recovery.

47



• Aztecs had steam baths.

• Other Indians had sweat lodges and cold baths.



2010 Update

Scientists today are searching for new chemically active drugs by inter-viewing traditional healers among Native Americans and others.

Friday, 22 October 201048

Montclair State University Department of AnthropologyAnth 140: Non Western Contributions to the Western WorldDr. Richard W. Franke

One study found a success rate seven times greater for identifying plants of medicinal value when using the knowledge of local healers rather than just randomly testing plants in the rainforest.

Source: Michio Kaku. 1997. Visions: How Science Will Revolutionize the 21st Century. New York: Anchor Books. Page 194 citing a study by Paul Cox published in Scientific American June 1994, p. 84.

Friday, 22 October 2010 49

50



Week 04Lecture 02

Native American Contributions to World Medicine

End of Slides

week 04 lecture 02 the native american healer weatherford chapters 10 and 11 pages 175 – 216

Documents

western contributions

western worlddr

syracuse university

quina quina

modern science

new york

fever bark tree

bark of barkstree