Southern Folk Medicine

by Phyllis D. Light

  Herbs to warm the body include cayenne, milk thistle, American ginseng, blessed thistle, red clover, black pepper, peppermint, cinnamon, cloves, angelica, kelp, licorice, sarsaparilla, and sassafras.

  6. The four properties are hot/cold and wet/dry. This applies to the body, foods, herbs, medicine, the climate, relationships, and most anything else in life.

  The concepts of hot/cold and wet/dry are so important that I’ve devoted a whole chapter to them. Please see Chapter 7 for a complete discussion.

  7. Blood Tastes, known as Southern Blood Types, are used to describe the constitution of a person: bitter/salty; sweet/sour.

  Blood types may be in excess, deficiency, or balance. These will be discussed in greater detail, along with specific herbs, for each constitution in the next chapter. Here’s a brief summary of excess or out of balance of each type.

  Bitter blood is often thin, weak, and watery, with low pressure. Stagnation is often found in the digestive tract, and leaky gut syndrome, yeast overgrowth, or parasites may be present. This results in incomplete emptying of the bowel and the accumulation of wastes in the gut that hijacks the immune system. People with bitter blood may appear bloated, have a pale face and thin, pale fingernails. Nutritional status is low. There can be a tendency toward heart palpitations, coldness over various parts of the body, dental problems, and stooped shoulders and back. They may be holding a hurtful grudge or be obsessing about a past event that they just can’t let go. A person with bitter blood has little drive or creative fire; all their fire is going to thinking about the past. They tend to isolate emotionally and think about whatever past event has negatively impacted their life, whether a divorce or a lost job. Herbs and foods that strengthen digestion and move blood and lymph are helpful.

  Salty blood is weak and wet. Moisture is high, and there may be fluid retention in the hands, feet, and face. A person with excess salty blood tends to look a bit bloated all over. Salty blood is often found in women going through menopause, those with hypothyroidism, and people who are chronically ill, have autoimmune disorders, or have liver or kidney disease. The salty person tends to feel victimized and seeks sympathy from others. Helping the excess salty person enjoy activities and people is an important step in balancing their blood. Drying herbs and foods are helpful if not taken in excess.

  Sour or acid blood is somewhat thin and bright red. It is associated with heat in the blood, summer’s heat, and inflammation in the body. Persons with excess sour blood may exhibit rashes, red spots, and food and chemical sensitivities. They may be prone to food allergies and should avoid acidic foods such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, sugar, red meat, and breads. Excess sour blood folks may have anxiety or panic attacks, as well as test and sports anxiety. These folks like to debate and argue and will often take the opposite stance in an argument even if they don’t agree with it. Herbs and foods to sweeten the blood are helpful. Most necessary is addressing fears and insecurities.

  Sweet blood is thick and syrupy, and creates an environment for parasites. In excess sweet blood, there is a tendency toward diabetes and high blood pressure. These folks are often overweight or obese, have a red face, and exhibit shortness of breath. Body fat tends to be centered around the abdomen, with large belly and small or stringy arms and legs. A self-centered personality sets the stage for overindulgence or addiction. A person with sweet blood may have a tendency toward self-importance and tendency to be a packrat. Sweet blood may also be thick and high.

  8. The four elements are fire, earth, air, and water.

  Remember that the language of folk medicine is built on metaphor and allegory. Folks know that the four elements aren’t actually the elements in the periodic table. They are elements of composition and believed to be essential to life. The four elements will be discussed in greater detail in the chapter on constitutions. Here’s a brief summary of the characteristics of each.

  Fire is the great catalyst. It transforms, changes, or consumes all that it touches. Fire spreads across the land, jumps here and there, or smolders. This is true whether it’s the fire of digestion, the fire of the thyroid, or the fire of emotions. Fire people are creative, passionate, and extroverted, and make good leaders. Temper and anger emerge when they are under stress.

  Water follows the path of least resistance across the land and in the body. It can slowly wear away mountains and carve valleys. Water can be a trickle or a tsunami. It always flows downward with the lay of the land and gravity. Water people are relationship-oriented, creative, and intuitive. Tears emerge under stress.

  Air moves across the land carrying dust, rain, and electrical signals. Blowing wind can wear away a mountain, stir up a dust devil, or cool the fevered brow. Air can be still, a slight breeze, or a strong gale. Folks with strong air are intelligent, have sensitive nerves, and love the idea of things. Hurtful words emerge under stress.

  Earth is the mother of us all. It is solid, strong, and stable. There are several different types of earth: sand, clay, loam, chalk, peat, and silt, each with its own characteristics and fertility. Earth people are practical, hard-working, and security-oriented. They like to design, build, and grow. Quietness emerges under stress.

  9. There are three types of illnesses: physical, psychological, and unnatural or spiritual.

  Physical illnesses are often acute in origin, such as bacterial or viral invasion, parasites, or injury. They may also be associated with stages of life, such as childhood illnesses, problems associated with growth spurts, fertility issues, menopause issues, and health problems associated with aging.

  Chronic illnesses are physical disorders that have a strong mental/emotional aspect. These include autoimmune disorders, lifestyle-oriented disorders such as diabetes, disorders resulting from exposure to environmental toxins, trauma, chronic stress, and post-traumatic stress disorders. The longevity of the illness wears away at the Vital Energy and can create depression and a sense of hopelessness of healing, which makes it even harder to make decisions or to do the very lifestyle changes that are needed to improve.

  Psychological or mental/emotional health issues include mental health issues, addiction, depression, a case of nerves, mental disturbances, and nervous breakdown. Sometimes, the first sign of a chronic illness is a personality change. Any time there is a huge personality change, look for either a physical illness, such as infection, or a nutrient deficiency.

  Unnatural or supernatural illnesses require additional expertise, such as from those trained in roots or faith healing, or someone trained in counseling. In the old days, this would have included hexes and possession, but today would include chemical imbalance. Causes of this imbalance are addiction, acting out due to sexual abuse, or intense feelings of guilt or fear.

  10. We are made of the clay of the Earth, so when we get sick, we must go to the clay (minerals) for our healing.

  What is the clay of the Earth? Clay is a combination of minerals in the ground and, according to scientists from Cornell University, acts as a breeding laboratory for tiny molecules and chemicals which it “absorbs like a sponge.” From the Bible to Native American cosmology to Chinese mythology, legends say that humans were made from the clay of the Earth. Although the clay itself may seem infertile, in Earth’s early history, it was far from that. Clay and water form a hydrogel that soaks up chemicals from its surroundings, providing a protective home for developing proteins.

  The human body is made of the same basic minerals as the Earth. However, we can’t just crush a rock and expect to absorb the minerals from it. Plants are the intermediary between the minerals in the Earth and the human body. They absorb the minerals, process them into a useable form, and then we consume the plants.

  In Southern Folk Medicine, we must return to the clay for our healing. Plants that reach the clay of the Earth include all trees, plants with long taproots, and plants that push through the Earth, breaking it apart.

  Some of my favorite herbs that reach the clay of the Earth include: black walnut, magnolia, do
gwood, yellow poplar, sweetgum, tag alder, elderberry, sumac, cedar, juniper, slippery elm, hawthorn, witch hazel, mulberry, grapes, pine, cramp bark, red clover, wild grapes, mullein, alfalfa, burdock, yellow dock, and dandelion.

  11. We are part of the Earth and cannot separate ourselves from it.

  We are made from the clay of the Earth and are as much a part of the Earth as the rocks and the trees. There is no spaceship to save us when we have overpopulated and overpolluted the Earth and it will no longer support life as we know it. The Earth is the mothership, providing food, water, and air for all life, and we are dependent upon it. There is no way around that fact.

  Our body’s defense system, our immune system and organs of elimination, works hard to keep us healthy in an onslaught of pollen, bacteria, and viruses. What happens when we add a slew of pollutants or toxins to the list? This creates a body burden, a total accumulation of pesticides, toxins, herbicides, metals, petroleum byproducts, and other pollutants that can affect health over a lifetime. It’s the accumulation over a lifetime that’s the issue, not the occasional light exposure.

  We can’t separate ourselves from the Earth. It’s God’s supreme creation made just for us. Some folks just don’t appreciate the gift.

  12. God made the plants before we were made; plants are here for our food and medicine.

  The plants evolved and populated the Earth before either animals or humans. From a practical point of view, let’s consider that both humans and animals breath oxygen. It’s a fact that oxygen is only produced as a byproduct of photosynthesis, which is how plants create food and energy from sunlight. Algae, kelp, phytoplankton, cyanobacteria, trees, shrubs, and grasses make all the oxygen on planet Earth. So you see, green came first to create the oxygen environment for humans and animals.

  The plants also provide food, timber for building materials, herbs, rubber, fuel, dyes, perfumes, natural pesticides, natural fibers for clothing, and prescription medications. Over 25 percent of medications contain plant isolates, and a huge number of synthetic drugs were developed from plants. We are dependent upon the bounty of plants for our very existence.

  13. For every illness there is a specific plant.

  Both Native American cosmology and Bible verses support this tenet. The issue then becomes, how do you find that right plant? How do we know a plant is the right one to use? With attention to constitutional assessment, listening to the person’s story, a good understanding of human physiology and patterns of dysfunction, and a working knowledge of the properties and uses of plants—that’s how we do it.

  Since every person is different, the remedy that works for one person in a given situation may not work for another person. It’s not as simple as one herb for one pathogen, which is the hallmark of the conventional medical approach. The bacteria, viruses, and single-cell eukaryotes that reside within us—the microbiome—are essential for human life and outnumber human cells about ten to one. To be healthy humans, we must nourish our microbiome with foods and herbs, not kill it off with prescription medications (unless absolutely needed).

  14. The plant/herb you need is always growing close by or where you need it, or is a sign of something that needs attention.

  Sometimes, the herb a person needs is growing right in their backyard or is a sign that it is needed. Dandelion is my favorite example of this. Of course, this is a very common yard herb and one that landscape companies strive continually to remove from those perfect lawns. When I pass a house whose front yard is just full of dandelions, I wonder about the health of the inhabitants. Are they on multiple medications? Is there great anger in the house? Do they excessively drink alcohol? Are their livers under stress? I passed a house the other day and the front yard was just full of thistle. I wondered what kind of prickly situation was going on in that house.

  15. The antidote grows next to the poison.

  This is often true of the wild plants. Poison ivy and its antidotes are a good example of this. Many herbalists are familiar with plantain or jewel weed as poison ivy remedies, but there are others. Tommie Bass recommended boiling plantain in milk for poison ivy. Other favorite herbs applied as washes include white oak bark, pine bark, witch hazel, or any astringent herb. You’ll often see poison ivy climbing an oak tree or a pine.

  I was once leading an herb walk and stepped off the path to talk about an herb at the edge of the woods. Unknowingly, I had stepped into a bed of poison ivy while wearing a dress and sandals. After I stepped back on the path and resumed the walk, a student walked up to me and whispered in my ear that I had been walking and standing in poison ivy for about five minutes. Going back to the site, I noticed plantain growing along the edges of the path also. I grabbed handfuls of plantain, squashed it good, and rubbed it up and down my lower legs and feet. Nary an outbreak or rash did I have.

  16. Bitter herbs have the strongest medicine.

  There are four tastes in Southern Folk Medicine: bitter, salty, sour, and sweet. Of all the tastes, bitter herbs are considered to be the strongest, based in part on the fact that they taste so bad. “If it tastes bad, it must be good for you,” is an old expression. Even Mary Poppins sang, “A little bit of sugar makes the medicine go down.”

  Foods and herbs taste bitter due to alkaloids, lignans, and other phytochemicals. The plant develops these secondary metabolites for protection against bacteria, fungus, viruses, and parasites, and we get their benefit when use them. The bitter taste also helps protect us against spoiled foods and poisons. Our natural reflex with extremely bitter foods is to spit it out.

  17. Good digestion is the basis of good health.

  Eating is a life-giving process that should be nourishing for the mind, body, and spirit, and shouldn’t cause any difficulty with properly prepared foods and a healthy digestive tract. We tend to take eating for granted, cramming the activity into busy schedules without taking the time to rest and digest after a meal. That’s one reason why so many Americans suffer from some type of digestive difficulty such as bloating, gas, abdominal pain, or inflammation.

  From beginning to end, the digestive tract is about twenty-eight to thirty feet long, the small intestine is about twenty-one to twenty-three feet long, and the large intestine is about five to six feet long. But the digestive tract is more than just the colon. It includes the mouth, esophagus, anus and rectum, and auxiliary organs: the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, tongue, salivary glands, and teeth.

  The purpose of digestion is to transfer nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food to our internal environment. In the process, we convert fats and carbohydrates into useable or storable forms of energy. Protein is converted into base amino acids and used to build muscle, repair tissue, and make neurotransmitters, blood components, or enzymes. The process of digestion converts vitamins and minerals into useable, absorbable nutrients.

  Keeping the digestive tract healthy and avoiding disorders such as stomach ulcers, leaky gut syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, or autoimmune disorders should be a priority for everyone. The digestive tract is in direct contact with the outside world or the external environment. You eat something and it immediately begins interacting with the digestive system. The food that you eat has an immediate bearing on your health and state of mind.

  “You get what you pay for” is an old saying that has major application when we buy food. If you buy cheap food that is high in calories and devoid of nutrients, then chances are that over time your digestion will begin to suffer for this, and so will your health. First there is discomfort and bloating, then more bloating, belching, pain, cramps, constipation, and/or diarrhea, until finally the digestive system is overwhelmed and disorder or disease results.

  Digestion and immunity are directly linked. The human digestion system houses about 70 percent of the lymphatic system. That’s huge—just think about that for a moment. The digestive tract is a primary entry point for bacteria into our bodies on a daily basis and must always be on guard. The small intestine houses the majority of the gut-associate
d lymphoid tissue (GALT) in the digestive tract. If our gut immune system is continually under attack from food chemicals and additives and high bacteria counts in food, then our body’s immune system has been hijacked and isn’t available for fighting off a cold, warding off an infection from a cut, or killing a cancer cell. So you see, the healthier our digestive tract, the healthier our immune systems.

  We are back to the microbiome again. In order to keep our digestive system healthy, we must ensure that we have a healthy ratio of good to bad bacteria in our gut. For about every one human cell, there are about ten bacteria that aren’t us, aren’t human. The majority of these, minus a few bad bacteria or freeloaders, are necessary for life. To nourish our microbiome we should limit antibiotics and eat foods that nurture our good bacteria. Fermented foods are an excellent choice to support gut health, and supplemental probiotics can be taken when needed.

  Regular bowel movements are necessary to eliminate the toxins which would normally leave the body through this route. If we don’t have normal, daily bowel movements, those toxins and irritants have a field day wreaking havoc on delicate mucous membrane tissues, leading to inflammation, digestive difficulties, possible bleeding, and polyps in the large colon. You have to keep it moving. Drinking at the very least sixty-four ounces of water daily is important to help lubricate the bowels. Eating cooked foods, such as dried beans, greens, and vegetables, and some raw fruits is important to provide the necessary fiber requirement. Healthy cooking oils are vital, and the quantity should be defined based on your constitution. And finally, exercise and move. If your body is stagnant, then your colon is stagnant.