Southern Folk Medicine

by Phyllis D. Light

  To be in control of their lives, water people need good, strong boundaries; with those boundaries in place, they can manage any obstacles that might arise. Think about rivers, creeks, and streams. When water is within its banks, it makes its way to the sea, the ultimate destination of any moving water on this planet. When water overflows it banks, there is diminished movement and momentum, and swampy, stagnant land results. It is the same with water people; you’ve got to keep moving to avoid stagnation.

  Water people need strong boundaries defined by a belief system, a philosophy, or a set of rules to maintain their course in life. For some water folks, the beliefs and rules of institutions, religious or spiritual systems, social ethics, the military, or personal relationship rules will do this for them. They do well when connected to large groups of like-minded people. Think schools of fish, all swimming together with the same destination in mind, all turning at the same time, in the same way, and in the same direction.

  When water people find their organization, their institution, church, or belief system, they truly believe. These are the people who have faith and belief and aren’t always swayed by facts or figures. Their faith is strong, and things don’t have to be proven to be believed. It’s no accident that in the Age of Pisces (water), the symbol of Christianity is the fish. On the other hand, until they do believe, there is no stronger doubting Thomas than a water person.

  Water people function well in institutions and organizations, such as the military, the church, corporations, or the law. These are all organizations where the rules and regulations are defined and everything is black or white. Water people have trouble seeing the gray areas of life, where things get muddy and boundaries blur.

  The most dominant forces in the life of water people are their relationships. This could be their relationship to another person such as a friend, lover, or partner; their country; their church; their job; their family; or themselves. To water people, every human activity is about the inherent relationships within. Because water people understand relationships so well, they make excellent counselors, psychologists, investigative researchers, and detectives. They see and understand those hidden motives in relationships that may not be apparent to the other elements, especially fire and earth, who tend to take things at face value.

  The primary hormones associated with water are reproductive hormones, oxytocin, serotonin, antidiuretic hormone, and aldosterone. Although these hormones may have either a cholesterol or protein base, their activity and end effect are relationship based. Water people often have a strong drive to reproduce, as do fire folk. But it’s the relationships that result from this drive to produce, whether offspring or great works, that set folks upon their life course.

  The primary neurotransmitter associated with water is oxytocin, which helps us bond with our mates in relationships and children when they are born. It’s released by hugging or touching, during sex, childbirth, and breastfeeding. But, it’s also the hormone that helps us bond with our herd, our group, our school of fish, with others like us. Oxytocin helps us relax, lowers blood pressure, and helps build trust with others. It increases empathy, and for this reason is often called the moral hormone.

  Aldosterone helps maintain the salt and water balance in the body. It is made in the adrenal glands and released into the blood to signal the kidneys to reabsorb sodium back into the blood or sweat out excess sodium. Antidiuretic hormone helps the body hold onto or conserve water that would be lost through urine. Both are needed for healthy and balanced fluid movement and storage.

  People with a dominant water element are emotional, intuitive, creative, and sentimental. They can often empathize and feel what another person is feeling. Water folks can also be a touch sympathetic, sometimes to the detriment of themselves or their own family, especially if a child is being neglected or harmed. It’s quite easy for a water person to feel sorry for another. Because water folk are so empathetic and sympathetic, they often appear to be psychic, but they are just really picking up the cues and signals of how folks feel.

  Water folks make excellent actors, writers, dancers, and artists, emoting or reflecting through their art. A water person becomes the role, becomes the part, becomes the character. This is a transformation and an amazing, believable one. In contrast, fire people, who also make good actors, dancers, and artists, project their same basic fire personality regardless of the character they are playing, and we love them for that.

  When water people are in a trusted social group and feel safe, they are fun, friendly, witty, and social. In a new or unknown situation, water people tend to get a feel for things before speaking or interacting. They are so empathetic to others’ feelings that they must protect themselves.

  Water people often reflect those around them. Think about being on a boat on a lake and looking down at the water. What do you see? Only a reflection of yourself staring back. This reflective ability allows the water person to be in a large group and not stand out or get noticed. But it also creates a secretive side of water because as long as they are reflecting, you never truly know them.

  Water people have amazingly sharp minds and a way of seeing and using logic in a manner that is very hard to argue against, especially for fire or air people. This is why they make good lawyers and judges, and politicians and preachers. Water people don’t mind living alone, without personal relationship, if they have an institution such as church to connect with and if they have a strong relationship with themselves.

  Water folks work well in groups and need the social interaction that work can bring. Corporations provide another strong working environment for water folk. They innately understand the logistics of working within the corporate environment—just a different type of relationship.

  Water is generally cooling to the body, mind, and emotions. It lulls and soothes, softens and forms. After the initial passion of a new relationship has passed, water folks settle rather coolly into the relationship for the long haul. Like water needs minerals, water people need a relationship and will go to great lengths to keep a relationship even if it’s an unhealthy one. Water people often cling to their relationships the way water clings to the skin—until they feel it’s detrimental to their own health.

  Water folks are medium boned with a medium build, similar to the build of fire. One main difference is muscle definition: Water folk generally don’t have well-defined muscles, even after working out. This doesn’t mean that they don’t have strong muscles or body; they certainly do. The shape of the water muscle often appears smooth, without the cut that fire might see. In comparison, fire folk can have good muscle definition that shows each and every little indentation in the muscle body.

  Fire and water make steam. Fire is the element that reduces water by evaporation, but this does not destroy water; rather it destroys the fire instead. Water just evaporates to become rain and return to Earth. Fire and water folk have to really work hard to have a healthy relationship, because over time, the water will reduce the fire; it’s natural law. Air makes waves over the water and can speed up the evaporation process. Air and water folk often have a tumulus relationship but an interesting one. When the air is blowing, it adds extra energy to the movement of the water. Earth and water are another interesting combination. When earth is strong, like the bank of a creek, then water is supported and can flow and be productive. If water overflows the relationship boundaries, the creek bank, they make mud, resulting in stagnation and swampy land, and potentially a stagnant relationship. Water folk are often the happiest with other water folk who understand the beauty of relationship in all its many facets.

  Like fire people, water people must move to be healthy. Physical activity moves the water and the lymph and helps avoid stagnation. Water people have the most energy when eating chicken and fish, beans, and watery fruits such as berries. Heavy starches and grains should be eaten in limited quantities due to lack of adequate digestive enzymes for these foods. The water person is sensitive to absorbing salt from food
and may not need additional salt when cooking or at the table. They need to protect the kidneys and reproductive systems, and are prone to infections and cysts in both areas. They also tend to have a sweet tooth and should be cautious eating processed sugar, opting for honey or maple syrup instead. Processed sugar can also affect insulin release, blood sugar levels, and the kidneys.

  Excess Water

  Excess water shows in the personality as depression, self-pity, and emotional angst. The immediate outward show of emotion for excess water is crying. Tears will flow at any opportunity.

  As the water builds, there is a tendency to become apathetic, cold, and unemotional. Here we have the expression “a cold fish.” Excess water people must be cautious to avoid becoming emotional tsunamis that wash over everything and everyone in their paths. They must also be cautious to avoid self-medicating with alcohol or other drugs because addiction could be an issue. Excess water people may lose their intuitive feel and develop rigidity in an effort to bring the excess water back into control.

  On a physical level, excess water presents as cold and damp, with not enough fire; air may also be low. A person might exhibit bladder or kidney problems, and irritations and infections of the mucous membrane tissues. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), emphysema, colds, coughs, and sinus and lung congestion may also result from excess water. In the cardiovascular system, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, heart valve problems, and stroke may be present. Other signs of excess water are ovarian cysts, swollen extremities, body cysts, and excess saliva or tears. The tongue may be pale but swollen.

  Increasing fire using stimulating or heating herbs and mild diuretics to dry the excess water can be very helpful. Stimulating herbs include ginger, cayenne, prickly ash, smartweed, lobelia, and mints.

  Drying herbs include sage, sumac, bayberry, gravel root, juniper berry, Queen Anne’s lace, and cleavers.

  Deficient Water

  As I mentioned earlier, when an element is under stress, the person may show the traits of their opposite element. Deficient water can present with elements of fire and vice versa. In general, because the opposite element isn’t the true personality of the person, staying in the opposite, fire, will only create further deficiency. It’s handy to review the opposite element when investigating ongoing patterns of dysfunction or personality changes.

  On a personality level, a water person with deficient water element may be easily irritated, show temper, and be impatient and angry. They are often curt and generally like to boss other people around, especially their family and friends. They may also scream and yell and say very hurtful things to those they love. Deficient water can become controlling and overly critical.

  Deficient water people know how to go for the emotional jugular and will hold nothing back in their emotional attacks if they feel threatened or attacked themselves. In this scenario, they don’t play fair. They may also display jealousy, especially if any of their relationships appear to be threatened.

  Deficient water may present physically as thin, dry, and weak hair, skin, and nails. In extreme cases the skin may be wrinkled and leathery as the water is lost to fire or air. Think of the stereotype of the salty dog, the old mariner of New England. The blood may lack moisture, creating thick blood, which can lead to blood clots, stroke, cardiovascular disease, and heart attack.

  Moistening herbs and foods will help bring deficient water back into balance. Moistening herbs include slippery elm, marshmallow, hollyhock, chickweed, plantain, oats, aloe vera, and American ginseng.

  Chapter Eleven

  Air or Wind: Sour Blood

  A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.

  —Franklin D. Roosevelt

  Daddy was a whistler. He whistled whole songs in complex multirhythms that fell melodious on the ears. Daddy whistled when he was happy; he whistled when he was sad; and he whistled just to pass the time of day. He whistled to call the dogs, to get the attention of us kids, and to praise something beautiful. He whistled to imitate birds. Daddy had a whistle for almost any situation or occasion. He whistled down the street when shopping, and passersby would comment on what a fine whistler he was. He whistled instead of applauding at a ballgame or school event. I remember in second-grade recital, I was dressed as a tulip along with two other girls, and we sang a song about Holland. When we finished our song, I could hear Daddy’s whistle over the applause and I was mighty pleased. Importantly, Daddy would whistle when he was nervous or upset. In those days, whistling was considered a manly musical art, and very few women whistled in public. Try as I may, I could never whistle at all. It is now a lost art.

  He also played the harmonica when the mood struck. Daddy could make that harmonica cry and wail; he could make it sound like a choo-choo train; and he could make it sing the blues. He could also make the harmonica sound so sweet that you almost wanted to cry. It’s safe to say that Daddy had a musical bent.

  Along with his brothers, Daddy had a reputation as a ballplayer, both basketball and baseball. If it was round and moved through the air, Daddy could control it. He was a natural pitcher and natural switch-hitter, and many are the stories that have been told about his expertise. Daddy played some type of ball in local leagues until his mid-fifties. He probably would have kept on playing, but bursitis in his shoulder slowed him down. I watched him pitch a game with his glove under his arm. It was amazing how fast he could put on that glove once the ball left his hand.

  Daddy made a living as a carpenter. He was a good framer and joiner, did fairly well on remodels, and managed to stay as busy as the local economy would allow. Due to the hard work and heavy hammering, Daddy had freakishly large forearms and very thick and calloused hands. They were amazing. His skin was bronze from the sun and his hair was so black that it had blue highlights. In his youth, Daddy was a good-looking man.

  In addition, Daddy was also the local handyman. If someone’s stove stopped working, they called Daddy. If someone needed an element replaced in a hot water heater, they called Daddy. If someone had a leaking roof, they called Daddy. If someone’s iron stopped working, they called Daddy. Sometimes, Daddy was so busy with other folks’ repairs that our house suffered, much to Mama’s disconcertment.

  Daddy usually either whistled or sang as he milked the cow. We didn’t own a barn or a pasture, but we did own a cow. Our neighbors, the Albrights, let us pasture our cow and use a stall in their barn for milking. Daddy milked mornings before he went to work and evenings when he got home. If you’ve ever owned a milk cow, you know how this can tie you to the land. A cow has to be milked or mastitis, infection, can set in.

  Good raw milk, or sweet milk as we called it, is absolutely delicious. We almost always had a gallon in the refrigerator unless the cow was dry. A glass of raw whole milk is filling, nutritious, and counts as food, not a beverage. One of Daddy’s favorite meals was a glass of cornbread and milk. In this classic Southern dish, cornbread is crumbled into a glass or bowl of milk. Sometimes, a bit of bacon or fried potatoes rounded out the meal. Raw milk is chock-full of enzymes and nutrients that are destroyed in the pasteurization process. Just thinking about the taste of a cold glass of raw milk almost—just almost—makes me wish I had a cow.

  Daddy developed a cough and a pain in his ribs, and both grew worse over time and nothing he did seemed to improve his symptoms. After a visit to the doctor, Daddy was diagnosed with tuberculosis. This was the day that changed our family forever.

  In those days, a tuberculosis diagnosis meant confinement at a TB sanitarium. Daddy was given one week to get his affairs in order, and the county sheriff came to escort him to the TB sanitarium in Gadsden. He tried to appear strong during this week, but he was a nervous wreck, and there was a tremendous amount of anxiety about his diagnosis. Tuberculosis was a weakness in the Light family.

  With Daddy gone, it was a tough time for our family. In those days there were
no social services, and no food stamps or other aid available. This is when Mama began cleaning houses because the cotton fields were gone and we needed the money. Our whole family had to be tested for tuberculosis and take isoniazid (INH) for six months as a preventative measure, with regular checks by the local health department to ensure compliance. I went to work at age fourteen to help support the family. As a matter of fact, each of us kids did whatever we needed to help our survival.

  My sister tried milking the cow in Daddy’s stead, but it was tough times. Mama sold the cow because we needed the cash more than we needed the milk. A week later, the person who bought the cow returned and wanted his money back. The cow had been tested and had tuberculosis. It had to be put down.

  The huge question: Did we get tuberculosis from the cow? It wasn’t ever tested when Daddy bought it from a neighbor; we simply started drinking the milk. Or did Daddy give the cow tuberculosis? It’s more likely that the cow had tuberculosis and we had been drinking the infected milk for quite some time. To this day, I won’t drink raw milk unless I know it has been tested for tuberculosis and other bacteria. The stakes are too high, and I’ve already been down that road.

  In typical Air fashion, Daddy was high strung and nervous on the inside but tried not to show it on the outside. When the stress of a situation was more than he could bear, Daddy would let out a sigh, look the other way, and get up and leave the room. Flight was his natural way of dealing with stress, especially emotional stress. Don’t get me wrong, Daddy could fight if need be, but that wasn’t his natural urge. Maybe that came from being in the middle of seven boys. You learned to keep the peace.