Emotional and physical diseases are treated the same by the shaman. The Shaman journeys to NOR and finds the cause and the solution of the problem. In most instances the Shaman depends on his spirit animals for assistance. The Shamanically recognized causes of disease are as follows:
| The diagnosed problem | The shamanic solution |
|---|---|
| A power animal leaves and another doesn't replace it | Spirit Animal Retrieval: The shaman journeys to ask the spirit animals about the diagnosis. If a spirit animal is needed, the shaman journeys into the lower world to find and bring back a spirit animal. |
| Soul as essence, vitality, or life force is lost during trauma of any type. During the trauma, a piece of the soul goes into NOR and is waiting for someone to guide it back. | Soul Retrieval: The shaman journeys with his spirit animal/animals to track down the soul fragment. The shaman then helps the soul fragment to integrate itself into the body of the client. This is tricky work. The shaman can either take workshops or ask the spirit animals to train the shaman how to do this. | Spiritual intrusion | Extraction: The shaman extracts the intrusion, usually represented by insects or reptiles showing fangs. If the intrusion makes you feel you don’t want to mess with it don’t. Intrusions are caused by negative thoughts. This is another area where the shaman might seek training from their spirit animals. |
| A unhealthy connection to someone that can't be explained. Often the person is treated in an abusive manner they normally wouldn't tolerate. | Past Life Adjustment: The shaman journeys into the past in an attempt to find out what the situation is and make adjustments if necessary. These adjustments must be made in a cautious and subtle manner so as not to disturb the flow of history. This is delicate and tricky work for the Shaman. |