<P> Navajo Indians utilize approximately 450 species for medicinal purposes, the most plant species of any native tribe . Herbs for healing ceremonies are collected by a medicine man accompanied by an apprentice . Patients can also collect these plants for treatment of minor illnesses . Once all necessary wild plants are collected, an herbal tea is made for the patient, accompanied by a short prayer . In some ceremonies, the herbal mixture causes patient vomiting to ensure bodily cleanliness . Purging can also require the patient to immerse themselves in a yucca root sud bath . Any distribution of medicinal herbs to a patient is accompanied by spiritual chanting . The Navajo people recognize the need for botanical conservation when gathering desired healing herbs . When a medicinal plant is taken, the neighboring plants of the same species receive a prayer in respect . Despite this fact, the collection of medicinal herbs has been more difficult in recent years as the result of migrating plant spores . Popular plants included in Navajo herbal medicine include Sagebrush (Artemisia spp .), Wild Buckwheats (Eriogonum spp .), Puccoon (Lithospermum multiflorum), Cedar Bark (Cedrus deodara), Sage (Salvia spp .), Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja spp .), Juniper Ash (Juniperus spp .), and Larkspur (Delphinium spp .). </P> <P> Sand painting is the transfer of strength and beauty to the patient through various drawings made by a medicine man in the surrounding sand during a ceremony . Elaborate figures are drawn in the sand using colorful crushed minerals and plants . Many sand paintings contain depictions of spiritual yeii to whom a medicine man will ask to come into the painting in order for patient healing to occur . After each ceremony, the sacred sand painting is destroyed . </P> <P> As prompted by the Meriam Report in 1928, federal commitment to Indian health care under the New Deal increased as the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Medical Division expanded, making medical care more accessible, affordable, and tolerated by the Navajo populace . </P> <P> Increased demand of BIA medical care by Native Indians conflicted with post World War II conservatives who resented government funded and privileged health care . Growing interest in Indian termination policy in addition to unaided medical attention called for a transition of medical affluence by both native and non-native parties . </P>

In order to cure a sick person the navajo use