Blog

Nomadic Tribes and the Integration of Health, Wellness, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in India

Nomadic Tribes and the Integration of Health, Wellness, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in India

March 13, 2026

This post introduces “Nomadic Tribes and the Integration of Health, Wellness, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in India,” by Amit Rawat, Ph.D. Drawing on ethnographic research with the Raika, Van Gujjar, and Sansi communities, the article explores how nomadic groups sustain culturally rooted health systems shaped by ecological knowledge, mobility, and intergenerational learning.

Read Story
Wombs, Washes, and Wisdom

Wombs, Washes, and Wisdom

March 11, 2026

This post introduces “Wombs, Washes, and Wisdom: Translational Ethnobotany and the Plant Healing Practices of Haitian Women in the Diaspora.” The article highlights Haitian women as stewards of plant-based reproductive health knowledge and presents translational ethnobotany as a model for community-centered research and healing. It also reflects on how collaborative research can generate practical resources that benefit the communities involved.

Read Story
The Golden Root and Her Spicy Sister

The Golden Root and Her Spicy Sister

March 2, 2026

Turmeric and ginger are herbs with significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. Used for centuries in traditional medicine, they now have growing clinical research supporting their role in digestive health, metabolic balance and immune function, and mood regulation.

Read Story
Yakama Women at the Longhouse

Yakama Women at the Longhouse

February 18, 2026

This post is a preview of “Yakama Women at the Longhouse, Part 1,” by Hailey Allen (Yakama). Centering Yakama women as carriers of medicine and ceremonial knowledge, the article explores how First Foods, land-based practices, and the metaphor of Huli (wind) sustain intergenerational continuity and cultural resilience within the Longhouse tradition.

Read Story
Bridging Worldviews

Bridging Worldviews

February 18, 2026

This preview introduces “Bridging Worldviews,” an article examining the integration of Indigenous medicine into contemporary clinical practice. Drawing on Sámi tradition and global health policy, it advances a multifocal framework grounded in cultural safety and ethical collaboration.

Read Story
Spirit Molecules, Part 2

Spirit Molecules, Part 2

January 29, 2026

Ibogaine, derived from the iboga plant, has been used for centuries in West African healing traditions. This post explores its cultural origins, therapeutic potential for addiction, trauma and TBI, and the importance of clinical safety and respect for Indigenous knowledge and traditions.

Read Story
Spirit Molecules, Part 1

Spirit Molecules, Part 1

January 16, 2026

Ayahuasca is an Amazonian sacred medicine with a long history of Indigenous use for healing and spiritual insight. This article explores its botanical origins, traditional practices, therapeutic research, ethical concerns, and the responsibilities surrounding its contemporary study.

Read Story
Next

Thank You to Our Donors

Elina Vesara
Ostern Fund