The Science of the Sacred

Fascinating and full of research, this book explains how modern medical science has finally caught up to what traditional healing systems have known for centuries. Many traditional healing techniques and medicines are often assumed to be archaic, outdated, or unscientific compared to modern Western medicine. Dr. Nicole Redvers, a naturopathic physician and Native American from the Deninu K'ue First Nation, describes modern Western medical practices with comparisons to the evidence-informed approach of Indigenous healing practices and traditions from around the world, such as sweat lodges, fermented foods, Ayurvedic doshas, and meditation. Organized around different sciences, such as physics, genetics, and microbiology, Dr. Redvers points out the connection between traditional medicine and current research around epigenetics and quantum physics, for example, including over 600 citations. Redvers, who has traveled and worked with Indigenous groups around the world, shares the knowledge and teachings of health and wellness that have been passed down through the generations, while at the same time tying this knowledge with current scientific advances. Knowing that the science backs up the traditional practice allows us to have earlier and more specific interventions that integrate age-old techniques with the advances in modern medicine and technology.