Native American culture Essay Example for Free

Native American culture Essay Native Americans were influenced by the environment, plants, and animals in the areas in which they settled. Some practices were influenced over time by migration and contact with other tribes along trade routes. Many tribes used herbs and seeds gathered from their immediate environment and from hunting excursions for healing rituals or ceremonies. Many Native medicine practices were lost or driven underground because they were banned or illegal in parts of the United States until 1987; when the American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed. In 1987 there were difficulties with ceremonies and rituals on sacred sites, as ritual activities are sometimes forbidden because the land now serves other purposes. Today, Native American and American Indian community-based medical systems still practices some Native American healing rituals, while others secretly practice in their homes and refuse to use conventional medicine. Those who grew up within the Native American culture still apply what they learned or grew up with, which is healing spiritually along with their illnesses. They do not believe in modern medicine and question any of the practices that are available now. Native Americans tap into the knowledge gained from their ancestors and prefer to â€Å"sweat it out† instead of giving in to conventional medicine. Beliefs and Practices. With this in mind, the Native American culture carries the understanding that the harmonious balance between oneself, man and nature is sophisticated and should not only exist, but it needs to be respected. Rituals and practices bring participants into harmony with themselves, their tribe and all of life. There is a belief that violating tribal laws carries consequences to include mental and physical illness, ongoing bad luck, disability or trauma. Any violations must be made right in order for harmony and good health to be restored. Among Native Americans, the idea remains that the sickness and illness that one experiences is related to a spiritual cause, and in turn creates a disparity between mind, body and spirit. Native Americans deem their bodies as an expression of the spirit and just as each person has to keep harmony with oneself, each person is responsible for his or her own health and also recognizing that all thoughts and action (negative or positive) carries consequences; creating either harmony or disharmony. Any disharmony or disparity may cause illnesses. Native Americans believe that they are related to and intertwined with all forms of life; therefore they can call on or evoke spirits, which strengthens their inner being and can be called upon to render assistance; further emphasizing why harmony and oneness in the Native American culture is a necessity. The Native American philosophy recognizes that there are various aspects of natural world that cannot be seen by the naked eye or with any form of technology, but can only be experienced spiritually. Furthermore, Native American healing also includes a variety of practices; such as religion, spirituality, herbal medicine and rituals to treat people with medical and emotional conditions; including the use of sweat baths, usually in a â€Å"sweat lodge† to purify, cleanse and allow participants to emerge reborn. The lodge is a darkened enclosure heated with stones from a fire and represents the warm moist heat of the womb, allowing them to be renewed into the Light of the world. They also wear medicine bags, which are painted or beaded with designs and patterns for the wearer; this is done to entice the spirit of the animal figure of symbol. Most medicine bags usually contain common object such as stones, ash from a ceremony fire, roots and barks, herbs, feathers, dirt from a ceremonial ground, or wood from a tree struck by lightning. Native Americans primarily used herbs to correct and to fix the mind, body and spirit; for example, sage is believed to protect against bad spirits, heal the stomach, nasal passages, colon and kidneys; cedar is used for coughs and forehead colds and sacred or pure tobacco which allows their breath, the source of life to become visible; rising up to the Great Spirit carrying prayers. Native American healing practices differ greatly, as there are over five hundred and the type of ritual is based on their Native American Nations, which are called tribes. There are many tribal differences and the most sacred traditions are still kept secret, passed from one healer to the next. The most common healing ritual involves herbal remedies which can include teas, tinctures, and salves. For example, one remedy for pain can be treated with bark from a willow tree which contains acetylsalicylic acid also known as aspirin. Native American medicine addresses imbalance on every level of life, from the most personal inner life to the most overt behavior. Some illnesses are believed to be caused by angry spirits; a healer would perform a ritual to cleanse this person and them. Disease is not defined by physical pathology, but viewed from an expanded context that includes body, mind, spirit, emotions, social group, and lifestyle. Most Native Americans believe that illnesses come from spiritual problems and that their healing practices can cure almost anything. Some healers are believed to have cured heart disease, diabetes, thyroid problems, asthma, and cancer. Scientifically, there is no evidence that supports that Native American healers or herbalists can cure cancer or any diseases and there have been no scientific studies that have supported those claims. On the other hand, individual reports suggest that it can reduce pain and stress and improve quality of life and Native and non-Native Americans alikesuggest that these methods really do work for a range of physical and emotional ailments, including heart disease, diabetes, thyroid conditions, cancer, skin rashes, asthma, alcoholism, and depression. Native Americans use a wide variety of treatments such as herbal remedies, purifying rituals, shamanism, and symbolic healing rituals to treat illnesses of both the body and spirit. Native Americans rely heavily on herbal remedies which are used to treat physical conditions, whereas purifying rituals are used to cleanse and prepare the body for healing. Shamanism refers to the belief and practice of communication with the spiritual world. Shamans are intermediaries between the human and spiritual world and treat sickness and diseases by healing the spirit. Symbolic healing rituals use ceremonies involves the community and sometimes included chanting, singing, painting bodies, dancing, exorcisms, sand paintings, and limited use of mind-altering substances can be incorporated into the ritual to persuade the spirits to heal the sick person. These rituals can last hours or even weeks and are a way of asking for help from the spiritual dimension and the healing treatments are usually a slow process, spread over days or weeks. The person who is ill is with the healer most of the time to make sure that the healer can connect with the spirit of the one who is ill. Prayer is also an essential part of all Native American healing technique. Most Native Americans see their healers for spiritual reasons, such as to seek guidance, truth, balance, reassurance, and spiritual well-being and call conventional medicine a cure to the â€Å"white man’s illness. † They prefer to use spiritual healers and native remedies in place of conventional medicine. Conclusion Finally, Native American health beliefs and practices as patients and as medical professionals can have an adverse effect. Healers and family members perform or participate in ceremonies to rid patients of bad spirits, or offer song and prayer in blessing a room where someone has died, but modern medicine, also known as the cure to the â€Å"white man’s illness† still has to intervene. This intervention is frequently a must as herbs and potions used by herbalists, medicine men and women may have not been thoroughly tested to find out how they interact with medicines, foods, or dietary supplements. When a Native American physician goes to see a patient, due to strong cultural doctrines and beliefs, eye contact is avoided and speaks in third person when delivering a difficult diagnosis. If the patient does not inquire about the chances of survival, nothing is said about it. Strongly held Navajo cultural tenets do not allow directly linking a person to an illness and its consequences. To do so could be interpreted as wishing harm. Cultural deference only goes so far; ultimately, the patient has the right to know everything and all options for treatment in order to make an informed decision. Nowadays, Native American patients may seek medicine men for encouragement and to restore their spirituality, yet they also must put faith in modern doctors. Bridging the cultural chasm between physicians and traditional healers is seen as essential for improving care to the Native American population. Although Native American healing has not been shown to cure disease, anecdotal reports suggest that it can reduce pain and stress, and improve quality of life. Also, due to the limitations in the studies that were conducted, it is impossible to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of Native American healing, consequently requiring more clinical studies to confirm the benefits of the specific healing methods. Regardless, the communal support provided by this type of healing could have beneficial effects. Prayers, introspection, herbal remedies native ceremonies, rituals and meditation can be calming, reduces stress and can create a lifetime of comfort, benefit and peace of mind for those who live and believe in it.

George Washington :: Essays Papers

George Washington The genetic disorder I was told to research was the Sickle Cell Disease. I will explain what mutation causes this disease, the characteristics of it, and what has developed in the area of gene therapy because of it. The Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited disease. The gene for hemogoblin-S (which causes the disease) is the most common inherited blood condition in America; although most people only inherit one copy of the gene for HbS, while the other gene, hemogoblin-A, is normal, and can override HbS, blocking the disease. These people have the HbS trait, but not the disease, therefore leading a normal life. For an offspring to acquire the disease, both parents must have the HbS gene, yet the child only has a 25% chance of having Sickle Cells. You cannot catch the disease, you are born with it and it is present for life. There are many complications and harmful effects as the result of the Sickle Cell Disease. The disease causes hemoglobin in the red blood cells, when it does not receive sufficient oxygen, to form into long, sickle shapes with a sticky, chemical surface. When blood cells are this form, they cannot go through the capillaries, blocking off both blood and oxygen. Fortunately only 20% of all red blood cells become Sickle Cells; t he sickle cells have a shorter life span; and most blood cells go through the capillaries before becoming sickle-shaped. The most painful effect known from Sickle Cell Disease are episodes of pain called Sickle Cell Crisis, where the body is in need of oxygen, either from physical activities or a sickle blood cell blocking blood passages that lead to organs. The first day is the worst, where devastating pain goes to the arm, leg, and back, along with the shortness of breath. The other symptoms of Sickle Cells include: strokes, increased infections, early gallstones, yellow discoloring of eyes and skin, low blood cell counts (anemia), and delayed growth. For the cause of the Sickle Cell Disease, there has been many research going on in the area of gene therapy. Labs around the world are trying to fix the basic genetic defect, by placing the correct amino acid in the hemogoblin before or shortly after birth. This method would result in the cure of the root of the problem. Currently researchers are finding a safe way to perform this method. To try

Pros and Cons of Building a Casino in Your Neighborhood

Pro’s †¢ New Jobs †¢ Entertainment †¢ Expand Tourism †¢ Contribution to Community †¢ Contribution to Charitable Organizations †¢ Lower taxes for Residents †¢ Tax Revenues †¢ Higher Wages †¢ Higher Property Value †¢ Extends Visitors Stay in Area †¢ Money put back into Local Economy †¢ Adds to a City †¢ Attracts People †¢ Traffic of People – Better Known Con’s †¢ Street Crime †¢ Prostitution †¢ Takes from Local businesses †¢ No New Businesses †¢ Erosion of Work Ethic †¢ Pathological Gamblers †¢ Increased Bankruptcy Rates †¢ Preys on Poor and Elderly †¢ Lost Productivity †¢ Traffic Congestion †¢ Entry Level Jobs – Low Paying Reality Money not re-spent in Local Economy †¢ No Taxes †¢ Environmental Effects Three essential conditions must be simultaneously satisfied if a particular cost is to be classified as a private cost: 1. G amblers must be fully informed 2. Gamblers must be rational 3. Gamblers must be required to bear the total costs of their gambling If any one of these conditions fails to be satisfied, an element of social costs exists. For example, if gamblers cease work in order to gamble and gamble away their family assets, leaving their families to claim social welfare benefits, the rest of the community is bearing social casts.The gamblers may have mad rational decisions in that they know that the community will provide a safety net. They might have made different decisions had the safety net not existed. One distinction that must be made is between real and pecuniary costs. Real costs represent a withdrawal of resources from other potential uses- they represent a subtraction from society’s total welfare. Pecuniary costs represent costs borne by some members of the community but which are exactly matched by benefits received by others. For example, assume that gambling increases levels o f corruption in the public and private sectors.Corruption can have both pecuniary and real effects. It can produce a redistribution of income, which is a pecuniary effect. It can also produce a real deterioration in efficiency as productive resources are allocated according to sub-optimal, non-economic criteria. Generally speaking, when identifying the real costs, we can classify the costs and benefits on gambling into two categories- tangible and intangible. Tangible costs are costs that can be valued in the marketplace. Any reduction in these costs will yield resources that will become available to the community for consumption or investment purposes.Intangible costs are costs that cannot be readily valued in the marketplace and which, when reduced, will not yield resources to the community for consumption or investment purposes. Examples of both tangible and intangible costs of gambling: Tangible Productionreduced on the job productivity Reduced workforce Reduced unpaid household services Heath and Counselingpsychological treatment of gamblers Treatment of families of gamblers Treatment of victims of crime attributable to gambling CrimePolicing Judicial systems Penal systems Insurance administration Regulationregulation supervision Regulatory programs ResearchEvaluationDevelopment Welfare PreventionCrime prevention Intangible Loss of life Suffering Quality of life Cultural impacts Stress to crime victims Stress to gamblers and others The purpose of this paper is to assess the economic impacts of Casino gambling within a community. The Seneca Indian Tribe opened a temporary casino on its land in Buffalo after federal approval, to satisfy its agreement with the state. The majority of the community are now turning their heads and not showing interest for the casino. They believe the operations will adversely affect the economic and social environment of the already struggling city.The community is looking for other sources of revenue and find out ways how to c lean up the streets. Opportunity cost is any good or service that has value of all the other goods or services that we must give up in order to produce it. We all use the idea of â€Å"opportunity cost† in our everyday lives. The Casino in downtown Buffalo will drain money from the city and local businesses will be affected by the advancements of the casino. The casino is looking to expand to a high class resort that will have room availability and food/beverage.The negative aspect is that the people that enter the casino will not leave to go out to local restaurants or hotels and spend dollars in the all ready weakened Buffalo economy. The casino will provide jobs, the jobs will be at a lower pay and with few, if any, of the protections against displacement. A downtown casino would severely devastate and/or drive out many of Buffalo’s restaurants, hotels and nightlife in the area. Many studies have been performed on Casino gambling and the economic impacts. Many econo mists have researched how the casinos do not contribute to local businesses and negative reputation within communities.Casinos are not helping the economy but only themselves. It is not appropriate for Buffalo to have to struggle anymore due to Seneca Indians and their eagerness to start up something is bound to fail. In New York State our way to protect the environment of nature and humanity. Indian casinos are also exempt from New York health codes, they can permit smoking. Employees in casinos have none of New York’s health protections, and even if they did they can’t sue in New York courts, so they have nowhere to go if they are injured by inhaling second hand smoke.The people buying the tax-free tobacco are not even contributing to the state budget, part of which in part pays for the huge cost of tobacco smoke and leads many to develop lung disease. Questions, discussions, and opinions are on a rise to whether a new casino should be built in Buffalo, New York. If we ask what benefits, or what economic development will this casino bring to the community there would not be enough answers as to compare to the negative effects it will actually bring.This essay will discuss the economic impacts, social and opportunity costs brought by casinos from economist researchers who have showed significant points to why casino worsen the economy and making it harder for local businesses and employment opportunity. To answer the question, â€Å"What is economic development? †Dr. Grinols professor of economics at Baylor University and author of Gambling in America: cost and benefits, 2004 said, â€Å"When individuals undertake productive activity, they engage in the creation of goods and service that provide greater welfare or satisfaction than the inputs used. † (Grinols 2004).Economic development is the creation of greater value by society from its available resources which means greater income and wealth, which lead to greater utility for me mbers of society (Grinols 2004). Dr. Grinols claims when a casino hires a hundred new employees they are equivalent to the same hundred loss jobs at other businesses, and casinos revenues are matched by reduced revenues at those other businesses, which leads to no economic development because greater value is not created. Casinos not only create economic loss, they intensify the problem by taking the money they get from the casinos out of he local communities (Day 2008). The casino industry do not re-spent their profits into the local economy. Statistics show thirty five to eighty seven percent of the profits are sent out of state in the form of vendor contracts, capital investment dividends and parent company profit sharing. The money does not get reinvested into the community, which is the foundation of economic development. In defense to the negative impact brought by casinos, the gambling industry tries to prove that casinos create job opportunity as a measure of economic develo pment; however Dr.Grinols argues that job creation is not an indicator of economic development and that local residents may not benefit at all from job creation. He goes on to say jobs are neither necessary nor sufficient for economic development. Secondly he argued, â€Å"A significant amount of promotional material claims that casinos decrease unemployment,† but most importantly because casinos represent a negative and not a positive economic development, in the long run the number of jobs are drastically decreasing and not created.In 2007 professor Frederic H. Murphy of Temple University proved in his economic impact analysis of expanded gambling in Philadelphia, because money was leaving the area and not staying in the local economy there will be a loss of over four thousand jobs. Dr. Grinols claims â€Å"according to research not sponsored by the casino industry, commercial casinos nationwide generated job loss in more than forty two percent of the counties with casinos .

Fast Food Is Good Or Bad - 1949 Words

Fast food has become one of the first food people spend money on because of its availability, cheap price, and fast service. People know how food from fast food restaurants put them at high risk of health problems because of a high amount of ingredient these restaurants use. Despite putting people at risk, fast food helps people to save time in this busy world. so is fast food good or bad? Is the meat used produced with precaution? Does fast food really put people at risk? What ingredients they really use? These question will be discussed below. Most people would say that fast food only has cons, not pros. They are wrong. The first pro of fast food is the convenience that is always a plus. Fast food offers convenience not only to a large family but even to a single person for most people who work and have children that go to school or play a sport after school, fast food is readily available and is much easier than having to cook dinner. The convenience of fast food is also how quickly you can order, pay for, and receive your food. Most fast food restaurants can make and serve your food in less than five minutes without even getting out of your car. lastly, fast food is convenient in the fact that you never even have to get out of your car to order and pay for your meal. The second pro of fast food is the healthy alternative menu that most places offer. Now you can still have the speedy service, cheap prices, and a healthy selection. Most of theShow MoreRelatedFast Food : Good Or Bad?839 Words   |  4 PagesEnglish 103 2 October 2014 Fast Food: Good or Bad? Each day one in four Americans visits a fast food restaurant. Fast food may be one of the, if not the worst thing that could be eaten. Between its high sodium and its high salt intake, or itbeing one of the leading causes to obesity and diabetes, eating fast food is a big no no! Fast food can cut off 17-27 years off of one’s life and one in every three children born in the year 2000 will have diabetes. Eating fast food is also extremely unhealthyRead MoreIs Fast Food Good Or Bad?1100 Words   |  5 PagesAdvantages Disadvantages of Fast Food More than 14, 350 McDonald’s restaurants in the United States alone, and over 18, 875 KFC’s worldwide, only goes to reflect the popularity of fast food all over the world. Fast food can be defined as food that is easily and quickly prepared and is sold in restaurants and snack bars as a quick meal or to be taken out. Such food fits perfectly into the fast-paced life of a modern, working individual. Although nothing appeals more to a hard-working professionalRead MoreFast Food So Good, But So Bad2005 Words   |  9 PagesMelissa Medina Professor White Monday /Wednesday 10am to 11:15am CHM1020 Fast Food so Good, But so Bad I sit down to watch T.V to catch my shows I’ve missed. Once I press the on demand button, the first commercial is McDonald ten pieces chicken nugget with small fries for two dollar and fifty cents. I think to myself I could make a healthy dinner but I feel so tired for school and work. So before I could change in to my pajama, I decided to go to McDonaldRead MoreHow Fast Food Is Addictive1436 Words   |  6 Pagestopic of fast food, most of us will readily agree that it’s unhealthy. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of whether it causes addiction. While some are convinced that it doesn’t, others are convinced that advertisements help brain wash the new generation. Along with the chemicals added to the fast food to help contribute to the addiction cycle. My own view is that fast food is addictive. In my point of view fast food is addictive because it seems that the more fast foodRead MoreBad Food Tastes Good But Can Kill You Essay1614 Words   |  7 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bad Food Tastes Good But Can Kill You McDonald s, In-And-Out, and Carl’s Jr are all good places to go eat. Just thinking about these fast food joints makes your mouth water. Most Americans go to these fast food places every week. It is a weekly visit and addiction, although these foods taste good they are very bad for one s health. They can cause health problems and in severe cases death. There is advertisements and screenings about fast food or junk food everywhere now. A personRead MoreFast Food Is Better Than Healthier Choices886 Words   |  4 Pageslife? The answer to this question is fast food. Just in the United States there are over 200,000 fast food companies that make over 190 billion dollars a year. Although millions of people consume fast food, what are they really eating? I believe that fast food, as well as most processed food, is a problem that often goes unnoticed. Fast food does have several benefits to people. The first one would be that it is quick. Sometimes it is impossible to make food at home if you are driving all day, workingRead MoreEssay on Fast Food Industry968 Words   |  4 Pagesworld has become so fast paced that everything is rushed. Almost every aspect of life has become industrialized. Food and the way it is prepared is no exception to this world that always appears to be in fast forward. The fast food industry has revolutionized how and what people eat. The public has begun to consume more fast food and the problem is that people do not know what they are eating. If the concept of a nutritious meal is thrown out the window for the convenience of fast food then the healthRead MoreCritical Thinking Questions From The Movie Super Size Me976 Words   |  4 Pagesand just make my own healthy food diet. I started to eat out more because of my job and having a car to drive to restaurants and fast food places so I could satisfy m y hunger. I think it made a great valid point because there is so much evidence and It shows you that eating at fast food places like McDonald’s is bad for you and your health. 2. What do you think the relationship is between fast food and obesity? Do you think suing places like McDonalds is a good solution to our nation’s obesityRead MoreThink Before You Eat673 Words   |  3 Pages1 billion. (-) The world’s population obesity rates are not decreasing, the rates are increasing rapidly. The amount of bad food the population is consuming has affected the nation’s obesity rates, and there should be stop to this epidemic.† The percentage of obese adults has more than doubled over the last 30 years.†(Bad Food? Tax it, and Subsidize Vegetables). Obesity is a fast growing epidemic that we as a nation need to find ways to fight it and put a stop to the rapidly growing rates. â€Å"The risingRead MoreThe Health Of Fast Food1625 Words   |  7 PagesThe Health of Fast Food By: Chaise Wohrer Fast food is a very delicious meal sometimes. It s fast, it s cheap, and you don t have to clean pots and pans after you eat. Although, fast food might not be your best choice. These meals can be very unhealthy for you. I think fast food fast food can take a tool on your body when you eat it very often, large amounts, and unhealthy choices. A Big Mac from McDonalds contains 540 calories and 28 grams of total fat. (Calories in McDonalds Big Mac Burger)