Healing Secrets of the Native Americans: Herbs, Remedies, and Practices that Restore the Body, Mind, and Spirit

by Porter Shimer

In the tradition of Black Dog & Leventhal's successful Chinese Natural Cures, Healing Secrets of the Native Americans brings the age-old knowledge and trusted techniques of Native-American healing to a wider audience. From this clear, reliable, and beautifully packaged book, learn how Native Americans have used the bountiful gifts of nature to heal the mind, the body, and the spirit. Discover how the Native-American tradition uses plants and herbs, heat, movement and sound, visualization, and spirituality to heal dozens of everyday ailments and illnesses—from back pain to insect bites to flu and sore throat and much more. Broken into sections, the book covers such topics as "The Healing Spirit" (including dream therapy, spirituality, and prayer), "The Native American Spa" (healing with heat, massage, sound and movement, and nutrition), "The Native American Pharmacy" (including more than 40 herbs and plants, how to obtain them, and how to use them), plus remedies for more than 40 ailments from acne to wrinkles.

Genres: Nonfiction, Native American, Health, Indigenous, Plants, Spirituality

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[IceQueen❄️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this is a solid and accessible introduction to Native American herbal practices and traditional healing concepts. I picked it up somewhat quickly at B&Noble and initially expected the layout to be structured a bit differently. That expectation was on me, and it did shape my first impression of the book’s organization.

Once I adjusted my expectations, I found the content itself to be informative, especially for just starting out. The book covers a range of herbs, natural remedies, and spiritual perspectives on healing in a way that is easy to follow, especially for beginners.

For readers who are new to herbalism or interested in learning about traditional plant-based practices through a Native American lens, this would serve as a helpful starting point. However, for those who already own several herbalism or botany books, much of the information may feel familiar. There is a noticeable overlap with common foundational herbal knowledge found in other introductory texts. That said, I did appreciate that a few herbs and cultural perspectives included here are not consistently covered in every herbal guide, which adds some unique value.

Overall, this is a good foundational resource. It may not stand out dramatically if you already have an extensive herbal library, but it offers a clear, beginner-friendly overview and an accessible entry point into traditional plant-based healing practices.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was full of good information, I think I wanted this book to be laid out differently. I wanted more recipes, more photos of the herbs and plants discussed, and a way to easily cross reference the listed remedies with the issues they address. If anyone has recommendations for something more like what I've described, please let me know!

[The Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about herbal remedies and recipes. I look forward to using some of the knowledge gained in the future. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in using natural remedies.

[Amber Depew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything about this book. I cannot wait to try out some of the herbal remedies.

[J.R. Vaineo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely wonderful place to start learning about plant medicine. It peaks my curiosity to learn more of the ancient ways and their beautiful harmony with the land, allowing variety to flourish everywhere. Rather than stripping the land for mono-cropping agriculture, they let the earth do her thing and then learned about her many medicines. This book shares just a tidbit from the great wealth the Native Americans held in their communities.

[Lish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, general guide to a few North American herbal remedies.