While modern medicine refers to the combined effort of a wide variety of healthcare professionals (physicians, pharmacist, nurses, etc.) and their tools to treat illness (drugs, surgery), this sentiment often overlooks the influence of Indignous knowledge on our current pharmacopeia. As November is Native American Heritage Month, I would like to highlight that their generations of medical knowledge, innovation, and contribution to Western medicine warrant recognition. Most importantly, indigenous peoples across the world have utilized plant-based medicine to treat and prevent ailments.
Many examples of “modern” medicine are rooted from indigenous practices that originated thousands of years ago. In fact, 50% of our current pharmaceutical arsenal was either first identified or isolated from plants, and quite a few of these medical discoveries came from plants used in indigenous medicine. For example, willow bark was often chewed to ease pain and reduce inflammation. The active ingredient in the bark, salicin, which metabolizes to salicylic acid, ultimately led to the creation of aspirin. Aspirin is one of the most commonly used drugs today globally, and is listed as an essential medicine by the World Health Organization.
Similar observations prompted the development of other popular drugs. This includes over-the-counter remedies like Robutissin, and life-saving medications like digoxin. Robutussin, an over-the-counter remedy commonly used during cold and flu season, utilizes guaifenesin as one of its active ingredients. Guaifenesin is an expectorant and originates from the guaiac tree. The bark and resin of the tree was used as a generic remedy by Native Americans. Meanwhile, digoxin is derived from the foxglove plant, and was traditionally made into an ointment in order to reduce swelling.
The concept of vaccination can also be dated to indigeneious health practices according to Dr. Sophie E. Neuner, a research associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland. In an article shared by the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Italy, she “pointed out that tribes would essentially inoculate themselves by ingesting small amounts of substances that were believed to protect them from further harm”. For example, a member of the Karuk tribe, an indigenous population in California, stated that by ingesting poison oak on a regular basis, they were able to build up a tolerance and were prevented from developing larger, more severe rashes. Modern day vaccines build up our immunity to harmful pathogens by exposing us to weakened or inactive parts of the organism.
Traditional medicine is still making waves in modern times. Since we are constantly in need of new treatments and the cost of research and development continues to rise, researchers are beginning to look back into the repertoire of documented traditional medicine.This process, known as bioprospecting, involves the search for natural products that can be commercialized by pharmaceutical companies. Done incorrectly or disrespectfully, however, can quickly be deemed as appropriation or biopiracy, especially if the company employs intellectual property rights or patents. Exploiting the knowledge and innovations of the indigenous people draws further concern about their native land, as corporations are harvesting raw materials for medicinal extracts. By bringing awareness to this issue, and talking about the amazing contributions of Native Americans to the development of modern medicine, we can honor them and spread their legacy.
References
- Groves, M. J., & Bisset, N. G. (1991). A note on the use of topical digitalis prior to William Withering. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 35(2), 99–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(91)90061-h
- U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy. (2021, November 19). Native Americans’ many contributions to medicine. U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy.
- Richter, P. (2014). Guaifenesin. Encyclopedia of Toxicology , 806–808. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-386454-3.00732-6
- Veeresham, C. (2012). Natural products derived from plants as a source of drugs. Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research, 3(4), 200–201. https://doi.org/10.4103/2231-4040.104709