Medicine Bundle

• The medicine bundle is used by Native Americans to hold their medicine tools. It is a large piece of animal hide or cloth secured with a string or thong. Medicine bundles may be the personal property of the medicine person, or they may belong to the tribe. If a medicine bundle is owned by one person, it is not acceptable to ask what is inside the bundle as this is considered intrusive. Tribal medicine bundles are thought to grow stronger as they age, and they may contain objects such as pipes, herbs or tobacco.
  
  

Pipe

• The pipe is a very powerful and sacred medicine tool. Different pipes are used for different ceremonies, such as marriage, war or healing. The pipe ceremony asks for personal healing or for the healing of a loved one. The bowl of the pipe is considered female while the stem of the pipe is considered male, and together they symbolize the unification of spirit and matter.
  
  

Sweat Lodge

• The sweat lodge is a structure built to bring healing and balance to one's body, mind and spirit. Each tribe builds its lodge in a specific style, but the sweat lodge generally is created from saplings or poles that are tied together at the top and covered with a tarp or animal hide. Inside the lodge, a hole is dug in the center where extremely hot rocks are placed. Water is poured on the rocks, creating a powerful sauna. Antlers are used to move the rocks, and a medicine person usually pours the water.
  
  

Cedar and Sage

• An important aspect to any healing ceremony or prayer that takes place is the use of cedar and sage, also known as smudging. Sage is the herb used most often, and it is sometimes rolled into a bundle with cedar. The sage is lit and allowed to smolder while the smoke is pushed by a medicine feather or hand. Smudging is thought to purify a person or area and is often used prior to ceremonies.
  
  

Herbs

• Local herbs have been gathered and used as medicine among Native Americans since tribal beginnings. For example, Native Americans in northern California and Oregon were known to use the bark of the cascara buckthorn to relieve constipation. Many tribal members still rely on locally grown herbs to relieve modern illnesses.