Originally published September 8 2005
Hawaii residents turn to herbs for healing as alternative to allopathic medicine
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
As U.S. drug and healthcare costs continue to rise out of control, some Hawaiian residents are turning to traditional healing practices, including the use of herbs, as an alternative to conventional medicine, CNN reports.
With skyrocketing drug and health care costs, Native Hawaiian healing is part of a national trend in recent years toward non-conventional approaches to medical care.
For a high school volleyball player with a sprained finger and a game approaching in three days, a practitioner of Native Hawaiian healing provided the needed cure.
The healer, Alapai Kahuena, pounded leaves of a ha`uoi, a plant also known as verbena, mixed it with a pinch of Hawaiian salt, massaged the girl's arm, and placed the mixture on the injured finger.
"Her mother later told me the pain went away and the girl was able to play on Friday," said Kahuena.
Kahuena frequently uses an herb called olena, a ginger family plant also known as turmeric, to treat several ailments.
Kahuena said she tries all herbs before prescribing them, and is using olena herself for treatment of diabetes and heart problems.
She said she hopes eventually to be free of Western medicines.
"We believe Western medicine can be complemented by traditional practices to maximize the health of our people," said Dr. Kalani Brady, a family practitioner and vice chairman of the department.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, found that more Americans are using Yoga, meditation, herbs, special diets and other healing methods.
"People are not happy with Western medical treatment and are seeking alternatives," said Babette Galang of Papa Ola Lokahi, a nonprofit group set up to improve the health and well-being of Native Hawaiians.
Traditional healers are exempt from state licensing, but their qualifications are reviewed by elder councils affiliated with the health care systems, and in turn reviewed by a Native Hawaiian health board, said Hardy Spoehr, executive director of Papa Ola Lokahi.
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