Health

It should be noted that the terms shamanism and shaman originate from anthropology and ethnology. It is a "neologism" that attempts to unite spiritual and energetic healers with similar characteristics under a common term. Spiritual and energetic healing methods are extremely diverse and exhibit a wide range of forms. These healing methods, shaped by cultural, social, religious, and historical factors, can be found in various forms worldwide. All of them contain fundamental elements that suggest an intuitive knowledge of these mechanisms, transcending geographical, cultural, and religious boundaries. At their core, they exhibit these commonalities: an intense bond with the earth and its flora and fauna, as well as a profound relationship with deities, nature spirits, and spiritual beings. Whether we give these entities human names like angels, fairies, ancestors, totem animals, cherubs, God, or Goddess is ultimately unimportant. It's not primarily about the names, but about the powerful energies that healers are allowed to use in their work. This brings us to the central message of shamanic healing methods: The healer communicates and exchanges energy with natural and spiritual entities to maintain or restore balance in creation. Examples of an imbalance include: illnesses, mental chaos, environmental destruction, and wars. Shamans work in all these areas to bring about positive changes. They make use of a variety of methods. Noteworthy are especially: spiritual rituals (such as magical rituals or spiritual journeys), naturopathic remedies (plants, stones, fire, and water), as well as music, dance, and divination. A healer needs a profound understanding of spiritual and earthly connections as well as their effects in order to be able to use all of this in their work.

Shamans are aware that everything that exists is interconnected in a vast web of energy. Everything was created by creative energy and is permeated by it to serve its purpose in a great order. We are not separate from this web of energy, but firmly anchored within it and thus connected with all that exists. This principle forms the basis for the "worldview" of a shaman, with which he approaches his tasks. The everyday and the non-everyday reality, this world and the other world, earth and cosmos, etc., are considered and experienced as equally valid realms of experience. A shaman is always a wanderer between the "worlds," as the "boundaries" are fluid. He is a fence rider (Hagazuss), who does not only view cause and effect from an earthly perspective, but above all adopts the divine viewpoint. This circumstance places the shaman in a reality where he can oversee energetic chaos and spiritual confusion. In the optimal case, he can transform these states, untangle them, and establish a natural as well as spiritual order. He creates synergies that can mobilize both spiritual and earthly energies and bring about healing, or enable the mind, body, and soul to activate their self-healing powers.
These healing methods encompass not only spiritual work but also involve the entire creation. Although shamanic journeys into the "otherworld" as well as healing, cleansing, binding, and protection rituals are of great importance, the energetic healer recognizes the value of the abundance of natural resources for their work. For him, trees and plants with their energetic healing powers hold the same significance as healing stones, healing clays, healing waters, and metals. A shaman knows the healing power of natural treasures and uses them wisely. Extensive specialized knowledge and expertise are also required here. Cosmic aspects are also part of the foundation of his work, such as moon and planet rituals. Shamanic healing methods manifest on different levels – whether metaphysical, physical, physical-physical, quantum-physical, soulful, or spiritual.

In recent decades, interest in alternative healing methods has grown significantly. This development is very encouraging. Certainly, one reason for this is that despite all the achievements in science, medicine, and pharmacy, people continue to fall ill and die prematurely. There is no doubt that modern medicine owes a lot. Many "scourges" of humanity, such as the plague, polio, and tuberculosis, have been fought or even eradicated. In the field of surgery, true "miracles" are being performed, and especially in emergency medicine, we should be grateful that well-trained doctors and qualified hospital staff can carry out life-saving measures. However, it is also true that modern medicine is increasingly reaching the limits of its capacity and the services it can offer. Furthermore, it should be noted that the number of mental and psychosomatic illnesses has increased – this is related to the ecological, economic, social, and cultural structures of our societal system. Ultimately, the entire healthcare system is also oriented towards economic and business aspects. It is thus subject to the laws of capitalism, which leads to a largely two-tier healthcare system in Europe. A state of affairs that is very questionable. However, a positive development is also emerging: More and more health insurance companies are becoming aware of how efficient and, not least, cost-saving alternative healing methods can be.

In contrast to alternative healing methods, especially naturopathy (such as practitioners and acupuncturists), shamanic healing practices do not receive comparable public support, even though the WHO (World Health Organization) already attributed them the same importance as conventional Western medicine in the treatment of psychosomatic disorders in 1980. There are good reasons for this: It is the healing successes that are achieved daily and worldwide through shamanic healing methods. However, it seems that there are "good" reasons for our Western European healthcare system and its representatives to be ignorant, dismissive, and often negative in the media about shamanic healing methods. It certainly also has to do with the fact that there are always so-called "black sheep" who engage in charlatanry and exploit people with dubious promises, treatment methods, and rituals. But all of this is sufficiently present in the state-supported healthcare system, and not only there, but in almost all areas of society. It can therefore only be partially attributed to this background. It is more related to the self-understanding of Western medicine, which is seriously convinced that, based on conditionally valid scientific findings, it represents the best practitioner of healing arts. A right that corresponds to a monopolistic position and does not tolerate competition. Such behavior is a sign of a very limited perspective and once again confirms the otherworldliness of some Western ideologies and supposedly scientifically grounded worldviews. However, there is another essential aspect that contributes to this dismissive attitude. It is the fear of treatment methods and worldviews that appear foreign and seem incompatible with the concept of "enlightened" Western ideologies and economic interests. Shamanism, which is about 60,000 years old and represents the oldest healing system of humanity, has survived worldwide to this day despite numerous persecutions by religions, forms of government, and ideologies. How can that be? The answer is very simple: Because his healing methods work excellently!

Maybe one day "we" will realize that alternative practitioners, doctors, and therapists cannot replace shamans. Shamans are also not a substitute for alternative practitioners, therapists, and doctors. Together, however, they can complement each other and thus optimally serve the well-being of humanity. I draw courage and hope for my thesis from the fact that there are initial approaches to equal cooperation in many countries, even in Europe. Furthermore, I have had multiple opportunities in my professional life to experience such cooperation, but always under the "seal or cloak" of confidentiality. But I can overlook that, as it ultimately concerns the well-being of people and not that of institutions or questionable human regulations (laws).

"God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being" (Genesis 1:2/7). At the beginning of the Bible, the authors of these creation texts describe the origin of man to us. From the dust of the ground, that is, earth, so their understanding, God formed man. However we became what we are today on this Earth, namely humans, one thing these authors recognized correctly: We are part of this Earth and ultimately our earthly body will also return to dust (earth).

We humans have always felt particularly close to this element, for the earth is the womb from which we are born, and it is what enables our very existence. From this awareness, for example, a naturopath sees the various types of earths, which can be extremely valuable in their effects as remedies. Mother Earth not only provides us with the basis for life as we know it, but also offers us an incredible treasure trove of helpful resources.

The knowledge of the healing properties of clays certainly dates back to the early history of humanity and has been preserved, especially among many indigenous peoples, to this day. Already in ancient Egypt, there are reports about it, and in antiquity, the knowledge of the application of healing clays was highly regarded (Hippocrates, Dioscorides). This knowledge has persisted into our time and has been continuously expanded. Only in recent decades has the significance of healing clay been overshadowed by "modern" medicines. As a result of the growing influence of alternative healing methods, the use of healing clays is experiencing a renaissance, even in our modern healthcare system (healing baths, healing ointments, internal applications).

I would like to introduce the most significant soils in a brief portrait:

Loam:

Loam is, after wood, the oldest building material of humanity. In particular, fired loam (bricks) is still used in the construction industry today.
Loam is referred to as a mixture of sand, silt, and clay. It forms from weathering materials of solid and loose rock.
In healing applications, green loam is particularly used.

Clay:

Clay was also used by humanity early on for the production of ceramics and as a building material. It is a very fine and mineral-rich earth. Here too, green clay (mineral clay) is used most frequently.
6Löss:
About 10 percent of our Earth is covered with loess. It consists mainly of silt, quartz, and clay minerals. Due to its iron hydroxide content, it can take on colors ranging from yellow to red. Loess is particularly valued in agriculture (good arable soils).

Bog:

We know different types of bogs (for example, raised bogs, spring bogs, floodplain bogs). They are a valuable ecological habitat that provides a special environment for a variety of plant and animal species.
Their water surplus from mineral springs and rainfall creates an oxygen-poor soil climate, from which peat is formed. Peat soil is moist humus that contains about 30 percent organic deposits. Particularly valuable are its humic acid and plant and animal residues, which consist, among other things, of resin, wax, fats, and minerals.

Peat:

Peat is an organic sediment. It forms in bogs through the deposition of plants that do not completely decompose. In earlier times, peat was used as fuel, which led to the destruction of many bogs.

Fango:

Fango was already used in ancient times, particularly in the Roman Empire. Its name also comes from Italy, meaning mud or silt. Genuine fango is a mineral mud composed of volcanic minerals, algae, microorganisms, and thermal water.

Mud from lakes, rivers, and the sea:

Mud or silt from lakes, rivers, and seas contains a high proportion of organic substances and minerals. Especially in saline waters like the Dead Sea, the mud contains many healing substances (for example, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride).

Aion – A

The rock powder Aion – A, discovered by the naturopath Emma Kunz in Switzerland, holds a special place among healing clays – or rather healing stones. Its rich energetic deposits are generally extremely health-promoting and unique in this form in Europe.

Healing clays have a multifaceted mode of action. They have a cleansing, detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving effect. Even in the cosmetic field, good results can be achieved by using suitable clays (for example, to eliminate skin impurities, treat acne and pimples, improve hair structure). For internal use, especially for gastrointestinal diseases, elevated cholesterol, parasitic and fungal infestations, and for boosting the immune system, treatment with healing clays is recommended.

The largest area of application is certainly in external use as wraps, as well as for baths and compresses. Here, there is a very wide range of applications, from cosmetic treatments to rheumatic diseases.
When healing clays are applied to the body, it is advisable to follow the manufacturer's instructions, as they have very different ingredients and their areas of use vary depending on their composition and extraction site.

Even in the Stone Age, honey was significant as an important food and certainly also as a remedy. Evidence of this can be found in the cave paintings of Cuevas de la Arana (Spain), which are estimated to be 9000 years old. In ancient Egypt, over 5000 years ago, honey was placed in graves as sustenance for the journey to the afterlife. Honey was considered an elixir of immortality and food of the gods. Furthermore, the healers of ancient Egypt recognized the extremely important significance of honey and used it in various ways in healthcare. Even on other continents, the knowledge of the healing properties of honey is widespread. Among all indigenous peoples who know bees, their products are part of the basic equipment of "home pharmacies."

Modern science has also taken up the topic of bee products and proven their healing effects. That the scientific findings about bee products and the healing successes achieved with them find so little resonance in Western European healthcare (EU) is not surprising to me. Obviously, all healing natural products have a hard time in Western medicine, which is certainly not least due to the lobbying of the pharmaceutical industry. This is clearly illustrated by a clause in German legislation that states that the healing effects of foods cannot be advertised and thus cannot be referred to as medicinal products. Be that as it may, everyone is free to form their own opinion about the possibilities of natural healing methods and their products and to act accordingly with self-responsibility and wisdom.
Bees not only produce honey but also a variety of other products that are extremely significant for alternative healing methods because they are superior in their effects to many conventional medications. I will briefly introduce some of them here and show their possible applications.

Honey

Honey is not only an excellent sweetener, which our body generally tolerates very well, but also a valuable natural remedy. Honey contains excellent germ-inhibiting substances (inhibins) that can have a healing effect on open wounds and burns. In particular, the famous Manuka honey has a strong antibiotic effect. In addition, honey can help with muscle cramps, joint inflammation, headaches, sleep disorders, colds, stomach ulcers, skin diseases, strengthening the gut flora and digestion, the immune system, protection against free radicals, etc. Furthermore, honey is an excellent source of energy.
Honey comes in many flavor and content variations, which depend on its botanical origin.
Energetically, honey combines the power of plants and bees, creating healing synergies that we humans should not do without.
By the way: Honey is very well suited as an alternative product to industrially produced sugar, which only causes harm from a health and ecological perspective.

Propolis

Propolis is a resin and is produced by bees to seal the beehive. Already in ancient Egypt, propolis was used for the embalming of mummies. One reason for its use was the realization that propolis is excellent at inhibiting fungi (antimycotic). Bee glue contains strong antibiotic, antiviral, and antifungal agents that can be used in various natural healing methods. Also of great importance for healing processes are the diverse minerals, vitamins, trace elements, flavonoids, and amino acids. Scientific studies have shown that propolis even demonstrates excellent effects in cancer prevention and tumor combat (cytotoxic properties). In addition, propolis is very effective in strengthening the immune system, treating rheumatic complaints, inflammation in the mouth and throat, various viral diseases (herpes, flu, etc.), fungal infections (such as athlete's foot), stomach and intestinal diseases, up to neurodermatitis, and promotes wound healing. The applications of this multi-talented substance are almost limitless, although it is not a cure-all. Furthermore, this bee product exhibits other astonishing properties. For example, it works twice as strongly as acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), and that without the corresponding side effects (results according to a study by the University of Oxford).
Even more astonishing, however, is that in some German federal states, propolis (in pure tincture form) is not allowed to be sold, and it is not even permitted to mention its healing effects, because it is not an officially recognized medicine. As is often the case, such "astonishing" oddities fall into the category of human folly and do not change the excellent properties of propolis.

Polen

The power of the flowers can be found in concentrated form in pollen. Pollen, also known as bee bread, are an excellent food source because they contain an incredible number of valuable ingredients (proteins, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, unsaturated fatty acids, etc.). Just three tablespoons of pollen cover the entire daily requirement of amino acids. With such a "power package," it goes without saying that pollen can be of great importance for healing processes. The range of possible uses is similarly broad as with propolis.

Beeswax

Beeswax is primarily known in our regions as a base material for candles. However, the wax is also widely used in the cosmetics and care products industry (lipsticks, skin and hair care products, protective wax for wood and leather, etc.). Bees produce the wax to seal their hives. This raw material, like propolis but in a diluted form, contains many ingredients for health and well-being. Especially the content of vitamin A is very high here. Beeswax is primarily suitable for external use in wound and scar healing, skin inflammations, and lip care. For internal use, honeycomb honey (comb honey) is recommended. Since the wax is very tough, it can be used like chewing gum. By slowly chewing, the valuable ingredients are dissolved with the help of saliva and absorbed by the body. Of course, honeycomb can also be eaten. Especially for stomach and intestinal diseases, as well as for cold and flu symptoms, internal use is suitable. Especially effective is it when the wax is taken together with flower pollen and propolis.

There are even more health-promoting, healing, and pain-relieving products that Mother Nature gives us through bees. Others include: bee venom ("apotoxin"), royal jelly, and apilarnil.
When using bee products, always keep an eye out for intolerances and allergic reactions. I recommend consulting an apitherapist for intensive therapeutic measures.
Finally, I would like to recommend two books on this topic: "The Healing Power of Honey" by Detlef Mix and "Gentle Healing with Bee Products" by Stefan Stanaciu and Elfi Hartenstein.

In times of regional plagues and pandemics, interest in pharmacology is growing in the research of new applications for the healing properties of plant active ingredients. In doing so, expertise and research findings from earlier times are often referred to. Medicinal plants offer great potential for combating pathogens. During evolution, plants and other organisms have developed excellent and highly efficient defense mechanisms and antipathogenic agents.

In recent years, scientists have shown particular interest in the effects of so-called essential oils. For decades, various fields of natural sciences and medicine have been confronting these highly concentrated substances from the bosom of Mother Nature. These are obtained through steam distillation, extraction, or pressing of the plants or plant parts. Essential oils are composed of many different chemical compounds. They are fat-soluble, but do not contain fats. Unlike fatty oils, essential oils evaporate without leaving any residue.
Essential oils are a complex mixture of fragrant, volatile organic compounds. There are numerous published articles highlighting the antimicrobial effects of a variety of essential oils from different parts of the world.

The published literature shows that essential oils possess a wide spectrum of antibacterial, antifungal, and even antiviral activity. It has also been shown that essential oils inhibit the growth of drug-resistant microbial strains that are difficult to treat with conventional antibiotics. Regarding their mode of action, essential oils create a membrane potential across the cell wall in fungal pathogens and disrupt ATP assembly, leading to cell wall damage. Essential oils can also dissolve the mitochondrial membrane, disrupting the electron transport system (ETS) pathway. In bacterial pathogens, essential oils primarily destabilize the cell architecture, leading to a collapse of membrane integrity and disrupting many cellular activities, including energy production and membrane transport. Membrane rupture caused by essential oils can lead to the leakage of cellular components and the loss of ions. Several essential oils have antiviral activities against many RNA and DNA viruses, such as herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), dengue virus type 2, influenza virus, adenovirus type 3, poliovirus, Junin virus, and coxsackievirus. They are safe and hypoallergenic when used properly. Nearly 500 scientific and clinical studies from the most renowned universities worldwide confirm the high efficacy of these derivatives.

It should also be noted that due to their protective and caring properties, essential oils are increasingly used in the production of cosmetic products. Tip: When purchasing body care products, it is worth paying closer attention to the ingredients.

The application of EOs in healing work

EOs are primarily used in private households as aroma essences. In aroma lamps or diffusers, they emit pleasant scents that, depending on the type of plant, release their healing, invigorating, relaxing, warming, bacteria-, fungus-, and virus-killing properties. These excellent properties should also be utilized in practice operations, because first and foremost, it is about protecting oneself from the transmission of diseases!

The areas of application for EOs are, however, much broader. An important area of application for these highly concentrated plant extracts is physical use. Whether as healing oils applied to the skin or for internal use through ingestion. Important for these applications are compatibility testing, dosage, and a high level of expertise regarding the mode of action and interaction of the plant active ingredients! In case of ignorance, I strongly advise against experiments, as allergic and toxic reactions could occur, leading to severe physical harm! Anyone who wants to seriously engage with these valuable healing treatments should, out of self-interest, study in-depth specialist literature and, if possible, attend corresponding practical application courses in aromatherapy. A small selection of advanced specialist books can be found at the end of this chapter.

Further reading:

Steflitsch, Wolz, Buchbauer: Aromatherapy in Science and Practice
Wabner, Dietrich, Beier, Christiane: Aromatherapy – Basics, Principles of Action, Practice
Nevill and Susan Dury: Handbook of Healing Oils and Essences
Michael Kraus: Aromatherapy for Every Day
Marion Winter, Michael Kraus: Children's Aromatherapy