Lewis Mehl-Madrona
Encyclopedia
Lewis E. Mehl-Madrona, MD, PhD, (born January 26, 1954, Berea, Kentucky
) is the author of the Coyote trilogy. His work discusses healing practices from Lakota, Cherokee
and Cree traditions, and how they intersect with conventional medicine (via a social constructionist model). Mehl-Madrona has been writing about the use of imagery and narrative in healing since the 1980s. Mehl-Madrona is certified in psychiatry
, geriatrics
and family medicine
.
Andrew Weil
, in his review of Coyote Medicine says of Dr. Mehl-Madrona "Good doctoring requires all the wisdom of religion, all the techniques of magic, and all the knowledge of small-m medicine to be most effective. One way to bring that perspective back into our health care institutions is to look to look to Native American Medicine as a resource. Lewis Mehl-Madrona has much to offer here, since he combines the heritage and experience of a Native American healer with very thorough training in allopathic medicine
. On top of that, he has great passion about replacing the reigning biomedical model with a new paradigm, and he is a good writer.
Coyote Medicine is not a medicine of the past, of cultures that are fading. It is also medicine of the future that must be taught in medical schools, practiced in clinics, and brought to all those who seek true health."
His research collaborations include work on various psychological conditions, issues of psychology during birthing, nutritional approaches to autism
and diabetes, and the use of healing circles to improve overall health outcomes.
He is now an adjunct professor of anthropology
at Johnson State College
in Vermont
and is Education Director for the Coyote Institute for Studies of Change and Transformation. He has recently joined the core faculty of the PsyD program at Union Institute & University
. He writes a regular column for Futurehealth.org, in which he contributes his insights to modern psychiatry, the frustrations of health care and alternative ways of seeing mental illness, including an article about the January, 2011 tragedy in Tucson, Arizona.
Berea, Kentucky
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,851 people, 3,693 households, and 2,426 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,055.4 people per square mile . There were 4,115 housing units at an average density of 440.9 per square mile...
) is the author of the Coyote trilogy. His work discusses healing practices from Lakota, Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
and Cree traditions, and how they intersect with conventional medicine (via a social constructionist model). Mehl-Madrona has been writing about the use of imagery and narrative in healing since the 1980s. Mehl-Madrona is certified in psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
, geriatrics
Geriatrics
Geriatrics is a sub-specialty of internal medicine and family medicine that focuses on health care of elderly people. It aims to promote health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in older adults. There is no set age at which patients may be under the care of a geriatrician, or...
and family medicine
Family medicine
Family medicine is a medical specialty devoted to comprehensive health care for people of all ages. It is a division of primary care that provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family across all ages, sexes, diseases, and parts of the body...
.
Andrew Weil
Andrew Weil
Andrew Thomas Weil is an American author and physician, who established the field of integrative medicine which attempts to integrate alternative and conventional medicine. Weil is the author of several best-selling books and operates a website and monthly newsletter promoting general health and...
, in his review of Coyote Medicine says of Dr. Mehl-Madrona "Good doctoring requires all the wisdom of religion, all the techniques of magic, and all the knowledge of small-m medicine to be most effective. One way to bring that perspective back into our health care institutions is to look to look to Native American Medicine as a resource. Lewis Mehl-Madrona has much to offer here, since he combines the heritage and experience of a Native American healer with very thorough training in allopathic medicine
Allopathic medicine
Allopathic medicine refers to the practice of conventional medicine that uses pharmacologically active agents or physical interventions to treat or suppress symptoms or pathophysiologic processes of diseases or conditions. It was coined by Samuel Hahnemann , a homeopath, in 1810...
. On top of that, he has great passion about replacing the reigning biomedical model with a new paradigm, and he is a good writer.
Coyote Medicine is not a medicine of the past, of cultures that are fading. It is also medicine of the future that must be taught in medical schools, practiced in clinics, and brought to all those who seek true health."
His research collaborations include work on various psychological conditions, issues of psychology during birthing, nutritional approaches to autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
and diabetes, and the use of healing circles to improve overall health outcomes.
He is now an adjunct professor of anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
at Johnson State College
Johnson State College
Johnson State College is a small public liberal arts college, founded in 1828 by John Chesamore at Johnson in the U.S. state of Vermont. Johnson's president is Barbara E. Murphy and its board chair is Gary M. Moore.- History and governance :...
in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
and is Education Director for the Coyote Institute for Studies of Change and Transformation. He has recently joined the core faculty of the PsyD program at Union Institute & University
Union Institute & University
Union Institute & University is a non-profit private college, specializing in limited residence and distance learning programs. With the main campus in Cincinnati, Union Institute & University operates -from Ohio- "satellite campuses" located in Montpelier, Vermont; Brattleboro, Vermont; North...
. He writes a regular column for Futurehealth.org, in which he contributes his insights to modern psychiatry, the frustrations of health care and alternative ways of seeing mental illness, including an article about the January, 2011 tragedy in Tucson, Arizona.
Books
- Mehl-Madrona, L.E. (1997) Coyote Medicine. New York: Simon and Schuster. Paperback; Firestone, 1998
- Mehl-Madrona, L., & Dossey, L,. (2003) Coyote healing: Miracles in native medicine Rochester, Vermont: Bear and Company.
- Mehl-Madrona, L. (2005) Coyote wisdom: The power of story in healing Rochester, Vermont: Bear and Company
- Mehl-Madrona, L. (2007) Narrative medicine Rochester, Vermont: Bear and Company
- Mehl-Madrona, L. (2010) The Healing Power of Story: The Promise of Narrative Psychiatry. Rochester, Vermont: Bear and Company
Selected publications
- Mehl, L.E. (1976). Statistical Outcomes of Home Delivery; comparison to similarly selected hospital deliveries. . In Stewart and Stewart, eds., Safe Alternatives in Childbirth. Marble Hill, Missouri: Napsac Publications.
- Mehl and Peterson (1979). Comparative studies of Psychological Outcomes of Various Childbirth Alternatives. In Stewart and Stewart, ed. 21st Century Obstetrics Now. Marble Hill, Mo.: NAPSAC Publications.
- Mehl, L.E. (1988). Magic, Medicine, and Shamanism, in Heize, R., Proceedings of the Vth International Conference of Shamanism. Berkeley: University of California (Asian Studies).
- Mehl, L. (1989). Modern Day Shamanism: Bridging Native American Medicine with Biomedicine. In Doore, G. (ed.). Shaman's Path. Boulder: Shambala.
- Mehl, L.E. (1994). Chalazion Therapy. In Procedures in Family Practice. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.
- Mehl-Madrona L. (2003). Native American herbal pharmacology, healing, and elder care. In Selin H, Shapiro D. Medicine Across Cultures. London: Kluwer.
- Mehl-Madrona L. (2008) Was Coyote the Original Psychotherapist? In Panter B, ed. Creativity and Madness, Volume 2, Thousand Oaks, CA: AIMED Press.
External links
- Lewis Mehl-Madrona at Inner Traditions