Herbal remedies and Native tradition
by John Kozlowicz
Staff Writer

While practitioners of Western medicine often believe that for a medicine to work they must see it working on a specific ailment, Native healers concentrated on the whole body, "ridding the body of the evil that has fallen upon it", not the symptoms. Using knowledge and spiritual beliefs to form the mixtures, generally made of plants and animal entities, Native healers relied on nature, prayer and spiritual beliefs to treat their patients. Like today's modern medicines the vast majority of herbal remedies on the market contain mixtures similar to those used by long-ago Native healers.

For some people herbology is an attractive, less costly alternative to using needles, IV's and other modern procedures as they seek relief in nature not hospital rooms. Tribal member Sheridan Cloud is one of these people. The owner of "Cloud Enterprises" in Wisconsin dells, WI, Sheridan is a distributor of herbal remedies designed to be taken with or as an alternative to Western medicines.

Because city people, or even those familiar with the outdoors are often not familiar with plants, it is suggested that people not travel the woods "hunting" for medicine. Plants by nature are not healthy or safe as some contain poisons which could lead to illness or death.

With the above in mind, health food stores and co-ops across the country carry herbal remedies where the processing, treatment and proper proportioning of the herbs has already been done for the safety of the consumer. These are the products that Sheridan distributes.
The twenty-seven-year-old Sheridan stated that although he distributes herbal products designed for a variety of ailments, diabetes has stricken his family and friends and he has taken the road searching for herbal remedies that help reduce weight while promoting a change in diet. Emphasizing that he is not looking to replace doctors, Sheridan makes no medical claims, he added that his goal is to create an awareness of products that "give help, not cure". Though a prescription is not needed to obtain the herbal remedies he stated that his supplier prefer he and the patients work together with a doctor prior to taking herbal remedies. Sheridan continued that "I love to help people" and that he is trained to teach people the proper use of the all natural, herbal based products that he distributes, offering "whatever people need" to give them relief.

Dr. Tom Walker acknowledges that while he does sometimes prescribe traditional medicines, it is most often done in a ceremonial or "sweat lodge" setting. While he does not discourage the taking of herbal remedies, he warns these remedies are often not regulated and the patient should inform a physician prior to taking any herbal remedies. He also advises that those people seeing a physician for the first time let the doctor know if they are taking herbal remedies. While there may be herbal remedies designed to help a person lose weight, Walker stresses that good diet and exercise are the keys to keeping weight down and reducing the threat of diabetes.

The Association of American Indian Physicians " does not endorse any single method of treatment but recognizes the diversity that exists and supports the right of tribes and Native people to continue the traditions that have been passed on over many generations". A 1994 study done by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicines revealed that 60.% of Western doctors offered alternative therapy at least once and 47.% tried it themselves.

"Cloud Enterprises" can be reached at 1-608-253-1311.