Native Americans: Original Practitioners of Holistic Medicine with Living Clay

Living Clay for Vitality, Nourishment and Well-Being

Holistic medicine is often touted as a New Age practice, a mystical concept, or simply idealistic, when all it actually takes to practice holistic medicine is a new approach to the way one thinks about their body, health, and life as a whole. These aspects are not separate, and they work in unison in efforts to make a harmonious connection.

Most Native American cultures strongly acknowledge the balance between the physical, mental, and spiritual self. In fact, hosts of documented evidence clearly indicate that a substantial part of the Native’s daily lives involved the use of living clay specifically to bring about this balance. Within this culture, holistic healing was more than a product or concept: It was a way of life.

The Native Americans knew exactly where to find the source that made their holistic healing, spiritual, cultural, and physical well-being possible – the nearest living clay source.  Living clay, also known as healing clay, has a long history of use within the North and South American Native cultures. Today, it is still widely used during spiritual rituals, as a source of nutrients, and for healing various ailments.

Cultural and Nutritional Uses of Living Clay by Native Americans

Consuming edible clay was a common practice among the Incas according to extensive scientific research pertaining to the dietary studies of these ancient people’s descendants. When the collapse of their mountain empire was inevitable, the Incas took refuge deep into the Andean Mountains, but they did not do this without the most significant part of their daily life – substantial supplies of living clay. Not only did the Incas value this clay as a source of nutrients and food, but more often than not, any captured tribe members were typically only rescued after clay was paid as ransom.

When the first explorers visited the New World, they notably observed American Natives using a variety of clays for many purposes. The most treasured clays were those deemed specifically as edible clay, and the Natives often traveled extreme distances to secure a supply for the tribe. Other clay uses included facial paint before battles, ceremonial rites, and to cool off the body after vigorous activity.

Ancient beliefs of the Natives include the concept of cleansing and purification. Specifically, of one who adorns themselves with, or consumes living clay. Some of their practices included birthing rites, renewing physical purity, and clays were also applied to ward off evil spirits.Most recognized today by non-Natives, would probably be the use of living clay within sweat lodges, where lengthy ceremonies are held to help attendees receive spiritual guidance, purification of the spirit and soul, and healing.

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