Alternative Healing
Medicine and Miracles
CJ Liu interviews Erica M. Elliott, M.D on her memoir, “Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life Among the Navajo People.”
Reaching Across the Cultural Divide // Part 1 of 4
Erica describes her experiences as a school teacher on the Navajo Reservation and her blunders in understanding the Diné (Navajo People). She describes how she misinterpreted the eye ques and behaviors of the children of her classroom. However, by learning the very complex language and visiting her student’s families, she learned about the Diné way of living and communicating and the beauty of their ways.
Shape-Shifting Skin Walkers // Part 2 of 4
Erica describes a riveting story of her experience of encountering a shapeshifter. She also shares the Anasazi beliefs about why someone becomes a shapeshifter, as well as superstitions about shapeshifters.
Shamanism: Peyote Church and Healing Miracles // Part 3 of 4
Erica describes two stories of her miraculous healing from a lymph node and other healing of her spirit. She describes the sacred Peyote church Diné (Navajo People). Erica shares how she prepared for the healing, the prayers, the sacred songs, the passing of the pipe, the blessings, and how she miraculously was speaking the Diné language during the ceremony. In another healing, Erica shares her incredible journey in finding a medicine man and how she healed her tumor.
Navajo People: Connection to Earth (COVID) // Part 4 of 4
Erica describes the Diné (Navajo People) connection to the earth that she learned through being a sheep herder. As a vegetarian, she still learned how to butcher a sheep and make fry bread with meat stew. She learned to urinate into dye to affix the color to her dyed yarn. The deep reverence for the land was shown in subtle ways like offering corn pollen to thank the plant world, or thanking brother sheep for giving its life.
Not surprisingly, the animal kingdom responded back. Erica describes how her horse became her life coach. He shared his thoughts on her life purpose. This experience has completely shaped Erica’s mainstream approach to medicine. She brings sacredness back into her healing approach. During the last part of the interview, Erica shares her thoughts on what mother nature is trying to tell us through its fires and hurricanes, and how all of this was predicted. She describes a huge revelation and breakthrough spiritual awakening, and that we need to start an alliance with mother nature. Lastly, Erica shares a precious blessing for beauty and harmony in the Diné spoken language.
More on Erica Elliott
Erica Elliott, M.D. is board-certified in both family practice and environmental medicine, and practices in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has more than two decades of experience in successfully treating people with complex and perplexing chronic ailments. Dr. Elliott has lectured extensively on nutrition, the role of hidden food allergens, environmental toxins, and detoxification with infra-red sauna. She is co-author of Prescriptions for a Healthy House, New Society Press, 2008. Find her books here.
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