Origin of Disease and Medicine

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The Origin of Disease and Medicine is an old creation story made by the Cherokee, which was transcribed by James Mooney, a known anthropologist. The story tells the origin of how disease and medicine were created due to a clash between animals and humankind. In the story, both animals and humans lived peacefully at a particular time. However, when humans multiply exponentially, the animals felt threatened as they were pushed into the forests and deserts. Moreover, humans started to hurt the animals for their gains, such as using their skins and fur. This triggered various groups of animals. As a result, they formulated methods for their revenge in the form of weapons, nightmares, and disease. As a counterattack, the plants also devised a way to cure such diseases (Cherokee, 1200).
The pattern of the anecdote illustrates Cherokee’s view of the world. It also depicted how Cherokee people are in balance with the environment. The natives consider themselves as part of nature, and everything within the environment has an intelligent spirit. The balance of nature should be maintained, or else, each element within it will be in trouble. The pattern of creation in this myth follows the Bible concerning its sequence. It started as living peacefully, then when the balance was disturbed, each element in nature reacted. From this fictional account, the use of herbal medicines and other beneficial plants can be derived scientifically. Various plants have been proven to have medicinal use, and it can be derived from this mythical story.
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