The start of modern medicine was with the soul catchers. This type of amulet was common to the North American native cultures. It represented the physical and mental health. It was a safe guard people used to know their souls would be protected.

The catchers were traditionally used by Northwest Indians. They used these because they believed the loss of a persons soul or spirit caused several illnesses or diseases. The spirit could become separated from the body during a dream; it could be scared out of the body or forced out by witchcraft.

A Shaman was the one who possessed this instrument. It was the most popular tool used to heal patients. The Shamans mostly wore this catcher around their neck as a necklace. The Shaman was the person in the tribe who was able to act a interpreter between the spiritual world and the physical world.

When spirits became separated from the body they would go to the lost world. Only Shaman could retrieve lost souls from this spirit world. They would suck the spirit out of the world and into the catcher. Once inside the amulet the Shaman would then blow the lost spirit back into the patient.

By using the catcher Shaman could retrieve lost souls. Soul retrieval was considered the most important level of healing in spirit medicine. It could cure some illnesses caused by a malignant spirit. It kept evil spirits away from the body.

The material of these were made of bone. The leg bone of bears was the most popular. The design was of an animal. The type of animal used to carve was based on the person. At each end of the amulet was a creature with an open mouth. Animals were thought to help the soul when it was separated from its human body.

This type of medicine and spirituality has long been a part of our world. The interests in this area are not as popular as in the past but that is only because we have newer ways of managing of ailments today. Soul catchers will always be an interesting study of history for society. Read more about: Soul Catchers