Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Healing
Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island healers near you
How can traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healing nourish you?
Ngangkaṟi Healing is a form of traditional Aboriginal healing which addresses a person’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being to bring harmony to the body. Healers use touch and listening to understand a person’s state of being, and techniques involving massage, breath, ceremony and traditional plants or mixtures[1] to release blockages and heal ailments.
Indigenous Aboriginal people are the oldest known civilisation on earth[2], and traditional Aboriginal healing has a similarly rich and lengthy history. Rooted in the Indigenous belief system, Ngangkaṟi Healing understands that sickness has a spiritual component[3], which means they approach healing from a holistic perspective and utilise healing techniques not known to Western medicine. Some of the main techniques for healing include pampuni[4] (a touch or massage technique), bush medicine, smoking ceremonies and spirit realignment.
Some traditional medical settings in South Australia and Central Australia are beginning to invite Ngangkaṟi Healers to work alongside doctors in their hospitals[5]. In South Australia, the Mental Health Act 2009 recognises the importance of Ngangkaṟi Healers and specifies that mental health services for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people can “when practicable and appropriate, involve collaboration with health workers and traditional healers from their communities[6]”.
The Ngangkaṟi are the traditional healers of Anangu of the Western Desert in Central Australia[7], which includes the Pitjantjatjara, Ngaanyatjarra and Yankunytjatjara peoples’. 'Ngangkaṟi' means healer in the Pitjantjatjara language, with healers born into this ability through ancestral lines[8] and healing knowledge passed down through the generations.
The Aṉangu Ngangkaṟi Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation[9] (ANTAC) is the first organisation of Aboriginal traditional healers in Australia, and it makes Ngangkaṟi Services[10] accessible to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. All members are accredited through a strict accreditation process in accordance with Ngangkari’s Law which is at the core of the Ngangkaṟi’s traditional medical knowledge system, and listed in the Register of Ngangkaṟi. The Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women's Council[11] (NPYWC) is another body that facilitates the provision of Ngangkaṟi Healing services in local communities, clinics and hospitals.
Practitioner offering Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Healing
Benefits of traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healing
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healing is strongly focused on connection to the Country and embedded in the rich diversity[12] of local cultural practice across Australia. It differs[13] widely, depending on the varieties of bush medicine available, technique and name by local language groups.
While there are no scientific studies of Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island healing, it is increasingly being accepted by the mainstream healthcare system as a complementary and alternative medicine.
For instance, ANTAC now offers its services in regional clinics and at South Australia’s Royal Adelaide Hospital. In those clinics, some who have used Ngangkaṟi Healing for pain management have reported relief from their symptoms[14]. An additional benefit of having Ngangkaṟi Healers in hospital settings is their ability to help Aboriginal people feel more at ease in a medical establishment. Akeyulerre Healing Centre in Alice Springs[15] provides bush rubs and other free healing treatments to their communities, subsidised by their collection and sale of bush medicines to the wider public.
Healers work under their own unique names and techniques based on language groups, bush medicines available and local conditions.
Due to their understanding of the spirit-body connection, Ngangkaṟi Healers specialises in treating psychological issues, and some have reported a release from fear and a sense of being 'brand new'[16] after treatment. Two Ngangkaṟi healers were recognised in 2009 by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and in 2011 by the World Council for Psychotherapy for their contributions to mental health[17] in the Aboriginal communities of Central Australia.
Ngangkaṟi Healers accept the role of Western medicine[18], and some see it as the responsibility of Western systems to treat problems brought about by European settlement and not previously known to Indigenous communities – such as those caused by diets high in processed sugar and flour[19]. Their focus is to treat people suffering from mental distress or physical conditions such as knee pain, repetitive strain injuries, joint pain, trauma, and pregnancy-related issues[20].
Apart from mental and physical conditions, a key benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing is its ability to help Indigenous people right their spirit and reconnect with their culture, which is the lifeblood of their spiritual being[21]. These healing modalities are increasingly being offered to those outside local communities.
Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island healing may assist in relieving symptoms related to:
What to expect from a Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healing session
The assessment process for a Ngangkaṟi healing session is very different from a traditional medical examination[8]. Instead of simply assessing the site of the problem, the Ngangkaṟi healers are likely to assess your whole body. Unlike traditional medical examinations which rely largely on your narration of the problem, Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healers will also observe, listen and use touch to assess the issue.
This will allow them to determine whether there are blockages in your body that are contributing to the presenting condition, and use techniques such as massage, rubbing, blowing or bush medicine to treat the issue. Your healer may also speak to you of emotional or spiritual blockages they are perceiving, as Ngangkaṟi healers understand that mental and physical disorders may be due to the spirit being out of alignment, which can occur due to trauma.
People who have received Ngangkaṟi healing often describe themselves as feeling lighter, stronger and happier[8] after their healing session.
As with any traditional and complementary medicine, it is always advisable to consult a medical professional before commencing any treatment. If you have an injury or an underlying health issue, speak to your Ngangkaṟi healer, who will be happy to address these concerns and personalise the treatment session to your individual situation.
References
1. ANTAC and the Ngangkaṟi Healers of Central Australia. The Royal Australasian College of Physicians; [cited on 2024 Nov 28].
2. Jozuka E. Aboriginal Australians are Earth’s oldest civilization: DNA study. CNN World; 2016.
3. Ho RTH, Chan CKP, Lo PHY, Wong PH, Chan CLW, Leung PPY, et al. Understandings of spirituality and its role in illness recovery in persons with schizophrenia and mental-health professionals: a qualitative study. BMC Psychiatry; 2016.
4. Valdinoci F, Pazzano C. Aboriginal healers rise thanks to Indigenous organisation and Italian researcher. SBS Language; 2022.
5. Dragon N. Aboriginal healers treat patients in SA hospitals. Australian Nursing & Midwifery Journal; 2024.
6. Mental Health Act 2009. Government of South Australia; [cited on 2024 Nov 28].
7. Grieves V. Expert Opinion: Traditional Indigenous healers should work alongside doctors to help close the gap. SBS News; 2018.
8. Williams VG. Traditional Aboriginal healers should work alongside doctors to help close the gap. The Conversation; [cited on 2024 Nov 28].
9. About us. The Aṉangu Ngangkaṟi Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation (ANTAC); [cited on 2024 Nov 28].
10. Ngangkari Services. The Aṉangu Ngangkaṟi Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation (ANTAC);
11. Ngangkari – Traditional Healers. NPY Women’s Council; [cited on 2024 Nov 28].
12. Traditional healing and medicine - Cultural Ways. Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet; 2022.
13. McKendrick J, Brooks R, Hudson J, Thorpe M, Bennett P. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healing programs: a literature review. Canberra: The Healing Foundation; 2013.
14. Wellington S. Traditional Aboriginal healers push to be part of mainstream healthcare. NITV; 2019.
15. Home. Akeyulerre; [cited on 2024 Nov 28].
16. Testimonials. The Aṉangu Ngangkaṟi Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation (ANTAC); [cited on 2024 Nov 28].
17. Parker RM. Traditional healers help close the gap. The Medical Journal of Australia; 2013.
18. Grieves V. Expert Opinion: Traditional Indigenous healers should work alongside doctors to help close the gap. SBS News; 2018.
19. Kenyon G. Is There a Place for Indigenous Healers in Australia's Health System? The Atlantic; 2016.
20. Zillman S.. Ngangkari healers of NPY lands bridge divide between Western healthcare and traditional care. ABC News; 2017.
21. Hanifie S. Ngangkari healers: 60,000 years of traditional Aboriginal methods make headway in medical clinics. ABC News; 2018.
Frequently asked questions
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