Indigenous people have a storied history regarding the development of medical innovations, often merging traditional healing practices with Western science. In honor of Native American Heritage Month in November, Montage Health is proud to recognize some of the key Indigenous contributions that provided the impetus for many modern-day medical solutions.
Pain relievers
Native Americans brewed tea from the bark of the American Black Willow that contained salicin, which transforms into salicylic acid in the body. Salicylic acid is the main ingredient in aspirin.
Sunscreen
Native Americans have commonly relied on plants for health benefits. A concoction of sunflower oil, sap from aloe plants, and wallflower were combined for use as skin protection from the sun.
Mouthwash
Another plant — goldthread — was used to clean the mouth and help teething infants by rubbing it directly on their gums.
Syringes
The first medical syringes were credited to Scottish doctor Alexander Wood and French surgeon Charles Gabriel Pravaz, who developed them independently in 1853. But long before, South American natives fashioned a device out of hollowed-out bird bone and animal bladders. The syringe was used to inject medicine, clean ears, irrigate wounds, and perform enemas.
Vaccinations
Native Americans have long embraced the concept of immunization by ingesting small amounts of substances to protect against the harmful effects of those substances in larger quantities.
Participation in infectious disease studies
Mathuram Santosham, a pediatrician from India, collaborated with the White Mountain Apache Tribe in a remote corner of Arizona in the 1980s to conduct research that led to the eventual development of Pedialyte, which helps prevent diarrhea-related death in children.
Baby bottles
Before settlers reached America, many tribes cleaned, dried, and oiled bear intestines to create bottles. They attached hollowed-out quills to serve as the nipple.
