Southern Folk Medicine

by Phyllis D. Light

  Herbs that build the blood include American ginseng, angelica, nettles, red clover, alfalfa, yellow dock, beets, kelp, fennel, and sarsaparilla.

  Herbs that reduce the flow of blood include yarrow, cayenne, shepherd’s purse, wild geranium, plantain, goldenseal, yellow root, aloe vera, and calendula.

  Lymph is the clear liquid that oozes from the skin with a carpet burn or scrape. Its primary function is to carry infection-fighting substances, white blood cells, to the site of injury or invasion. The lymph system helps rid the body of toxins, waste, and other undesirable matter. While the blood circulates in a continuous loop—away from and to the heart—the lymph only flows in one direction, toward the heart. The blood has the heart to pump it around the body, but there is no lymph pump. The lymph depends on muscle movement such as walking, deep breathing, and exercise for circulation. This makes it extremely important that you move and exercise for good immune functioning.

  Herbs that move the lymph include bayberry, blue vervain, black walnut, blue flag, cayenne, chickweed, cleavers, echinacea, fennel, fenugreek, fringetree, mullein, poke, red root, stillingia, violet, bear’s-foot, and wild indigo.

  Mucus is the result of the irritation of mucous membrane tissues—sinus passages, bronchial tubes, lungs, esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, small intestines, large colon, kidney bladder, urethra, ureters, and female reproductive tissue of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and vaginal canal. As you can see, most of our internal organ systems are mucous membrane tissues, excluding the liver and kidneys. The mucous membrane tissues protect the organs and systems that interact with the outside air or external environment. When irritated, mucous membrane tissues excrete mucus to capture and isolate the offending substance; whether pollen, bacteria, viruses, or semen, so the body can eliminate it. the body can eliminate it. Mucous membrane tissue protects the stomach from stomach acid. It protects the bladder from the irritation of urine. It protects the gallbladder from the irritation of bile. Hardened mucus is called canker, and a number of herbal remedies soften canker so it can be removed. Mucus can be clear, cloudy, yellow, or green. Most folks have observed this color change during a cold or sinus infection. These color changes can sometimes be observed in the stool or in the coughed-up mucus due to a lung irritation or infection.

  Herbs that move mucus include mullein, elecampane, fennel, lobelia, pleurisy root, red root, slippery elm, sweetgum, marshmallow, plantain, wild cherry, white pine, wild plum, and horehound.

  Herbs that reduce the flow of mucus include goldenseal, yellow root, barberry, bayberry, hyssop, mountain mint, peppermint, rabbit tobacco, sage, red raspberry, sweetbay magnolia, and fenugreek.

  Herbs that soften hardened mucus include anise, fennel, sarsaparilla, sweetgum, mullein, chickweed, violet, hydrangea, mimosa, boiled okra water, and Solomon’s seal.

  Bile is secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, where it is released during a meal. The main purpose of bile is to break down or emulsify fats with detergent-like action. It also contains waste from red–blood cell breakdown, known as bilirubin, which is dumped in the gastrointestinal tract to be eliminated from the body if enough fiber is present. Bile also contains cholesterol, water, minerals, and metals, which are also released into the gastrointestinal tract for elimination. Even though it’s called bile acid or bile salts, bile is actually alkaline, not acidic. In addition, and most importantly, bile takes away waste produced by the liver from the breakdown or metabolism of toxins and pharmaceuticals.

  Herbs that stimulate the release of bile include yellow dock, barberry, goldenseal, American ginseng, milk thistle, blessed thistle, gentian, dandelion, and almost any bitter herb.

  Sweat is moisture that is released through the skin due to heat, fever, exertion, or emotional distress and fear. It contains, first and foremost, salt. During the hot summer temperatures, construction workers and others working outdoors must be cautious to take in enough salt and water to prevent dehydration. I’ve seen the t-shirts of construction workers with white rivers of salt after a full day of work. Sweat, like urine, also contains urea, ammonia, and sugars. Although sweat may carry a trace amount of toxins, the main detoxifiers of the body are the liver and kidneys. Women generally don’t sweat as much as men even when exerting the same amount of energy, which may be due to circulating hormones.

  Herbs that increase circulation and induce sweating are generally given as hot teas. These include blessed thistle, boneset, butcher’s broom, cayenne, elderflower, hyssop, mugwort, red root, sarsaparilla, sweetbay magnolia, and yarrow. Cayenne, black pepper, ginger, and horseradish can be added to foods to increase the heat and induce sweating.

  Tears help keep the eyeball clean and wash away irritating substances. What cook hasn’t experienced tears when chopping onions? Like sweat, tears contain salt, with the addition of some protein, water, mucus, and oil. Tears are produced continuously at a low level to keep our eyes lubricated. Tears are also produced due to stress, anger, grief, or other strong emotions. These emotionally induced tears also contain stress hormones, prolactin, and other hormones to enhance mood.

  Herbs that can help moisten the eyes include hydrangea, eyebright, bilberry, blueberry, fennel, and evening primrose oil.

  Body Fluids

  Our body fluids are divided into two important divisions: intracellular fluids and the extracellular matrix. All fluids inside the cell are known as intracellular fluids and contain a high level of potassium. The extracellular matrix comprises all the fluids outside the cell and generally contains high levels of sodium. The exchange of sodium and potassium or extra- and intracellular fluids creates the charge of electricity that sends signals throughout our nervous system.

  Each of the humors or fluids looks different, smells different, and tastes different. The condition of the fluids—color, odor, viscosity, texture—can be an indicator of an imbalance in the body, an organ system functioning less than normal, an infection, or fever. Southern Folk Medicine is concerned with the information inherent in the condition of the fluids. For the Greeks, a cause of disease could be the surplus or deficiency of a humor; in Southern Folk Medicine, the surplus or deficiency of a fluid is an indicator or symptom of a health problem, not the problem itself. We will look at each of these humors or fluids in greater depth when discussing the constitutions and elements.

  3. Measurements of humors or fluids such as blood, urine, and mucus, are described as pairs of opposites.

  Many measurements or assessments used in Southern Folk Medicine are in pairs of opposites. Most likely this is based on the Pythagorean Theory of Opposites, which was used in the Greek system of healing. Pythagoras (570–495 BCE) was a famous philosopher who stated that in order to understand something, you have to have experienced its opposite. To understand one, you have to understand the many. To experience the finite, you have to understand the infinite, and so on.

  Another Greek philosopher, Heraclitus of Ephesus (535–475 BCE) also contributed to the same theory. He believed that everything had an opposite, and when these two opposites were in harmony, there was peace. He also believed that opposite tensions resulted in harmony. It is in the opposites that we become aware. Being close to death makes us appreciate life. Being sick makes us appreciate good health. And being hungry makes us appreciate our food.

  When changes occur to one pair of the opposites, then problems occur in the other.

  4. Good health is achieved when our opposites are in balance and we are not exhibiting any excess or deficiency symptoms in our body or personality.

  If you think about the concept of excess and deficiency of our health on an imaginary scale, with deficiency being too little (1) and excess as too much (10), there are all the numbers between 1 and 10 that might describe our health. Balance, or being “just right,” is achieved somewhere around the number 5. It’s an arbitrary scaling system to be sure, but I think it adequately illustrates the concept.

  5. The state of the blood is a measurement of the state of the body. B
lood measurements or qualities are high/low; good/bad; fast/slow; thick/thin; and hot/cold.

  In Southern Folk Medicine, the state of the blood is described in pairs of opposites: high/low, good/bad, fast/slow, strong/weak, thick/thin, and hot/cold. We can extend the pairs of opposites to reading the pulse: tense/relaxed, even/choppy, and wide/narrow. I refer you to the book Traditional Western Herbalism and Pulse Evaluation: A Conversation by Matthew Wood, Francis Bonaldo, and Phyllis Light (2015) for further reading on the pulse based on Southern Folk Medicine’s concept of opposites. But now, let’s look at the most common pairs of opposites of the blood characteristics.

  High blood may refer to high blood pressure or blood congested in the upper part of the body above the heart. This is often seen in folks who are overweight and who are alcoholics and diabetics. It can be evidenced by a red face and broken vessels around or on the nose. High blood can cause pounding headaches, blurry vision, watery eyes, ringing in the ears, drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, blacking out, and chest pains. At the extreme, high blood can cause stroke, heart attack, shortness of breath, and lethargy. The blood may also be sweet and thick, with elevated pressure.

  Herbs and foods to thin the blood, get it moving, and lower the pressure are helpful. My favorite herbs for high blood are cayenne, blue vervain, garlic, American ginseng, Queen Anne’s lace, black cohosh, valerian, and hawthorn berries.

  Low blood can be defined as the position of blood in the body (congested below the heart), low blood pressure, or anemia. Blood congested in the lower part of the body tends to occur around the feet and ankles as evidenced by broken vessels in those areas, stagnation in the female reproductive system, and congestion in the small intestines. Low blood may cause memory loss and poor thinking ability. Low blood sugar and dehydration may also play a role. Other patterns of low blood include fatigue, tiredness, low spirits, lack of will or drive, stroke, dizziness upon standing, blacking out, weakness, constipation, lassitude, paleness, cold hands, feet, or limbs, thinness or low body weight, dry skin, pale fingernails, cracks on the heels, rash on the lower legs or feet, and dry, listless, or thinning hair. Folks with low blood also tend to exhibit a lack of will, drive, or motivation. Low blood may also strain the heart. Herbs and foods to build the blood are helpful.

  My favorite herbs for low blood, a deficiency state, are yellow dock, burdock, sarsaparilla, red clover, alfalfa, American ginseng, fennel, peppermint, black cohosh, saw palmetto, nettle, angelica, and chlorophyll. Nutrient-dense foods are also needed, such as beets, dark green leafy vegetables, beans, and animal protein.

  Good blood refers to a person in a state of good health. A person with good blood has energy, vitality, and a creative spark or an active mind. The skin is clear and so are the eyes. The emotions are balanced and there is good mental health. Good blood can also refer to genetic inheritance or “good genes.”

  Bad blood refers to an unhealthy state of the body, a chronic illness, a parasite infection, or a sexually transmitted disease such as syphilis.

  The term bad blood was so commonly understood in the South that in 1932, the Public Health Service began a study to record the progression of syphilis among infected African-American males in Tuskegee, Alabama—the “Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “The study was conducted without the benefit of patients’ informed consent. Researchers told the men they were being treated for ‘bad blood,’ a local term used to describe several ailments, including syphilis, anemia, and fatigue. In truth, they did not receive the proper treatment needed to cure their illness. In exchange for taking part in the study, the men received free medical exams, free meals, and burial insurance. Although originally projected to last six months, the study actually went on for forty years [emphasis mine].” Yes, you are reading correctly: forty years. What horror for the men and their families. Even when penicillin was shown to be a treatment for syphilis in 1947, it was not offered to participants in the study. In 1972, the study was discontinued as unethical. Talk about bad blood….

  Bad blood can also refer to an association of emotions such as anger, hostility, or bitterness. In the Appalachians, bad blood might happen between families as a result of an argument or insult. Feuding families might talk about bad blood between them. Participants in the Tuskegee Study might experience feelings of bad blood with the government.

  Bad blood can also refer to poor genetics or “bad genes.” Folks with inherited bad blood might exhibit a birth defect, cross-eyes, withered arm, cleft palate, or mental illness. Bad blood might also be a sign of intermarriage between cousins or other close relatives.

  Herbs that support the organs that clean the blood are known as alteratives or blood cleansers, and include: echinacea, goldenseal, yellow dock, prickly ash, red clover, chickweed, sarsaparilla, sassafras, dandelion, Oregon grape root, poke root, plantain, violet, garlic, blue flag, blessed thistle, St. John’s wort, cleavers, cascara sagrada, common buckthorn, senna, turkey rhubarb, butternut, and wahoo.

  Herbs to treat or remove parasites include: black walnut, Queen Anne’s lace, male fern, wormseed leaves, pink root, hyssop, pomegranate root, pumpkin seeds, papaya, rue, garlic, nigella, cloves, mugwort, myrrh, onion, quassia, thyme, and wormwood.

  Fast blood and slow blood refer to the movement of blood around the body. This can often be felt in the pulse. A racing pulse can denote fast blood. Folks with fast blood may have heart palpitations, sweat easily and often, and have trouble sleeping. There may be endocrine imbalances such as thyroid issues or very reactive adrenal action. Folks with fast blood may exhibit temper, impatience, be very energetic, and talk a lot.

  Herbs to help slow down fast blood include most nervines, but my favorites are: passionflower, valerian, lemon balm, lemon verbena, spearmint, bugleweed, blue vervain, motherwort, wood betony, black cohosh, and hops.

  A slack pulse can denote slow blood. Folks with slow blood may exhibit lethargy, fatigue, slow thinking, and brain fog. There is a definite lack of motivation and drive. Folks rest and sleep as much as possible and are often quiet within themselves and prefer being away from crowds. The body may be cool and feel damp to the touch. Slow blood is often found in chronic illness, thyroid issues, inflammatory disorders, and bad or dirty blood disorders. Slow blood may also be deficient or low and need building, as in the case of anemia.

  Herbs for slow blood include kelp, cayenne, red clover, and peppermint, along with all the herbs mentioned under bad blood to cleanse and low blood to build. This should be undertaken in stages—build first and then cleanse. Never cleanse a person in a deficiency situation; it only creates more deficiency. Sometimes building the body is needed before cleansing.

  Thin blood is watery and slow to coagulate. Though thin blood is not always considered to be low, it can lead to low or weak blood. Summer’s heat and alcohol thin the blood. Thin blood is pale and light red in color, lacks substance, and has little or no texture. There may be a lack of iron in the blood, and anemia may be associated with thin, weak blood. Stress, severe illness, and nerves can also contribute to thin blood. A person with thin blood appears pale, sunken-eyed or has dark-circles around the eyes, is wane, tired, and listless, and lacks backbone or courage. Many of the patterns associated with thin blood are the same as those associated with low blood. This is a deficiency state, and building herbs may be needed.

  Herbs to address thin blood are also the same herbs used to address low blood. Foods to address thin blood are dark green leafy vegetables, beans, beets, and animal protein.

  Thick blood coagulates quickly, is dark red, and has a gummy texture. Thick blood is considered dry and moves slowly around the body. It may be high in iron. Thick, dry blood is often associated with high blood pressure or “stuck” blood. A person with thick blood tends to be lethargic, moves slowly, and gains weight easily. Urine will tend to have the same characteristics as the blood, being thick, dry, and dark yellow. A person with thick blood may
also have sweet blood or diabetes, along with high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease.

  Herbs for thick blood include: cayenne, American ginseng, feverfew, garlic, ginger, turmeric, dong quai, peppermint, red clover, chamomile, bilberry, black cohosh, motherwort, and St. John’s wort. Supplements that thin the blood are fish oil, vitamin E, vitamin A, quinine, cinnamon, oregano, papain enzymes, bromelain, and the foods blueberries, grapes, pineapple, and papaya.

  Hot blood can be the result of diet, season, environment, sexual desire, acid blood, fever, inflammation, or illness. The most common form of hot blood is fever. The person with hot blood may also have skin eruptions or rashes, hives, increased sexual drive, or frazzled nerves. A person with hot blood may present with heart palpitations, be underweight, and wiggle. Fluids and watery fruits can help cool down the blood. A person with hot blood should avoid hot baths or showers.

  Herbs to cool down hot blood include yarrow, elderflower, peppermint, boneset, chamomile, blessed thistle, Monarda, sage, catnip, spearmint, hydrangea, marshmallow, and yucca.

  Cold blood can be the result of extended or chronic illness, a damp, cool environment, wind, sudden temperature change, not enough sex, or too many cool foods. Cold produces mucus which is harbored in the body, especially in the lungs, bronchi, bladder, stomach, gallbladder, and digestive tract. Mucus may harden in any of these areas, causing further damage. A person with cold blood is sluggish, tired, has stiff joints, and inflammation of the muscles may also be present. Certain disorders such as low thyroid, fibromyalgia, or chronic fatigue may result in cold blood. Because the blood is cold and lacks digestive capacity, nutritional status is low.