Medicine and Health

Medicine and Health covers the many contributions American Indians made to the world in these areas. Early Native peoples learned which plants and animals provided them with the best nutrition. They invented treatments for their illnesses, performed operations on people - including brain surgery and skin grafts - and used antiseptics to prevent infection. In many ways, their medical and health practices were ahead of those of Europeans when settlers first came to the Americas. Ancient American Indian medical discoveries continue to save lives today.