Not all people in western North Carolina regularly go to the doctor when they get sick. Some still rely on the traditional folk medicine of their ancestors, drawn from the regions many cultures; Native American, European, and African. Some folk cures are made from native plants, animals, and minerals. Others rely on maintaining an even balance of body fluids known as the four “humors.” Sympathetic magic also plays a role, such as cutting pain by placing a knife under the patient’s bed. Practitioners of folk medicine include herb doctors, Indian doctors, and granny midwives. Reliance on folk medicine is slowly dying out but ironically, some scientists are asking if firm belief in the cure, whatever the cure, is an important element in influencing the patient’s recovery.
Multimedia:
Below is the Digital Heritage Moment as broadcast on the radio:
[audio:http://digitalheritage.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/FolkMedicine60Mx.mp3|titles=FolkMedicine60Mx]
Related Posts
Sanitariums For several years during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in the United States. Consequently, a wide variety of treatments emerged […]
Shape Notes
Shape notes were invented in the late 18th century to simplify teaching people to sight-read unaccompanied sacred musical scores. They were called shape notes because, […]
Haywood County Communities Where have we been? Where are we now? Where are we going? Major changes have taken place over the last one hundred years. Some communities have grow, some have stayed the same, and some […]
John C. Campbell Folk School, 1993 Chancellor Myron Coulter and John C. Campbell Folk School Director Jan Davidson
Presentation of 1993 Mountain Heritage Award
Comments of Chancellor Myron L. Coulter
September […]
Pioneering Communities A major theme for young children is communities. To help students gain a better understanding of their communities, I feel looking at communities of the past is both interesting and […]
