Grey, Zane, 214
Gut health, 132–133
H
Hariot, Thomas, 87
Healers
birth of, 46–48, 51
calling of, 46–51
dreams and visions of, 48–49
faith, 49, 133–135
family history of, 46
types of, 49
wounded, 48
Healing
individualized protocols for, 40
lack of guarantee for, 30
self-, 29, 31
time for, 34, 36
Health
achieving good, 120
choice and, 25–26
as continually evolving process, 26
culture and, 41–42
digestion and, 130–132
family and, 41
geography and, 42–43, 153–154
importance of, 26
individual responsibility and, 40–41
internal terrain and, 30, 33
lifestyle and, 36–37
preventive, 32–33
as right, 25
self-care and, 26
Healthcare
for all, 43
high cost of, 33
holistic approach to, 43
Hedberg, Mitch, 187
Hedley, Christopher, 74
Hendrix, Tom, 202
Heraclitus of Ephesus, 119
Herbalists
apprenticeships for, 18–19
definition of, 10
family history of, 46
titles for, 18
Herbal medicine, definition of, 10
Herbs. See also individual herbs
in the Bible, 105–7
bitter, 130
Hicks, William, 89
Hildegard of Bingen, 71
Hippocrates, 28, 31, 70, 71, 73, 90, 132
Histamine reactions, 233
Hitachi, 80
Hoarding, 256
Holy Ghost, 99, 100, 101
Homeostasis, 26–27, 28, 239
Honen, Brian A., 66
Hoodo, definition of, 9
Hot, 142–145
Humoral medicine
history of, 68–72
influence of, 13, 16, 62, 72, 75
overview of, 72–75
Hurricanes, 140, 195
Hyperthyroidism, 143
Hypothyroidism, 185–186, 204
I
Illnesses
categories of, 37
cause of, 37, 38
chronic, 36–37, 38–39, 39–40, 132, 146
person’s story and, 137–138
specific plants for, 34, 129
types of, 126–127
Immune system, 28–29
Incas, 62
Indentured servants, 86–88
Inflammation, 142–143, 179
Insulin, 252–253, 254
Integrative medicine, definition of, 11
International Agency for Research on Cancer, 37
Irish
immigration of, 85–89
influence of, on Southern Folk Medicine, 87, 89–90
J
Jackson, Andrew, 80
Joints, 242–243
K
Kahlo, Frida, 182
King, Coretta Scott, 182
King, Martin Luther, Jr., 182
Kirby, Aunt Molly, 22
Krebs cycle, 174–175, 184, 216, 250–251
L
Lactose intolerance, 42–43
Laying on of hands, 134
Lee, John, 37
Lifestyle
changes to, 33, 37
Lifestyle continued
free radicals and, 174
impact of, on health, 36–37
Ligaments, 242
Light, Herman, 94
Light, Rosie, 77
Lightning, being struck by, 48
Looney, John, 89
Luther, Martin, 111
Lymph
functions of, 116–117
herbs for, 117
water and, 198–199
M
Maimonides, 71
Man of Signs. See The Signs
Mantle, Mickey, 26
McGillivray, Alexander, 89
Mcintosh, William, 89
McWhiney, Grady, 88
Menendez de Aviles, Don Pedro, 61, 82
Milk, 212, 213
Mitochondria, 31, 155, 172–173, 174
Monardes, Nicolas, 65, 66
Mooney, James, 78, 79
Mucus
cold associated with, 145–146
functions of, 117
herbs for, 117
movement of, 145–146, 200–201
production of, 199–200
water and, 200
Muscular tissue, 243–245
N
Narvaez, Panfilo de, 62, 101–2, 103
National Institutes of Health (NIH), 11
Native American Medicine
cause of illness in, 78–79
definition of, 9
influence of, on Southern Folk Medicine, 16, 75–80
legend and, 34, 35, 216
loss of, 18, 77
plants used in, 80
Nature
laws of, 14
observation of, 14
Nerve tissue, 245–246
Nervous system, 219–221
Neurotransmitters, 221, 223, 226
Nitrogen, 217, 218
Norepinephrine, 226-27
O
The Old Farmer’s Almanac, 110
O’Neil, Arthur, 85
Opposites
going to, 160–161
Pythagorean Theory of, 119
Osmosis, 198
Oxygen, 216–218, 219
Oxytocin, 206, 207, 221, 226
P
Pain
blowing and sucking away, 134
relief, 31–32
Paracelsus, 31, 71
Pasteur, Louis, 30
Patton, Darryl, 23
Philpott, Jane, 23
Phlegm, 72, 73, 74. See also Mucus
Pinkroot, 66
Pizarro, Francisco, 62
Plants
exchange of, 67
as food and medicine, 128
growing close by, 129
invasive, 68
of the New World, 64–68
specific, for each illness, 34, 129
Poisons and antidotes, 129–130
Ponce de Leon, Juan, 194
Poor Richard’s Almanac, 108
Porcher, Francis Peyre, 92
Preventive health, 32–33
Protein, 222–225
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), 38
Pulse, reading the, 120
Putnam, George, 182
Pythagoras, 119
R
Rafinesque, C. S., 92–93
Rattlesnakes, 3, 4, 6
Reisch, Gregor, 108
Relationships, 191–192, 195, 201–4, 206, 208–9
Rivera, Diego, 182
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 182
Roosevelt, Franklin D., 182, 211
S
St. Augustine, Florida, 61
Salt
composition of, 202–3
drying effect of, 203–4
iodized, 204
taste of, 204–5
uses for, 203
water and, 64, 201–2, 205
Sartre, Jean-Paul, 229
Sassafras, 66
Self-care, importance of, 26
Seminoles, 9, 77, 80
Senses, 221
Serotonin, 132–133, 206, 221, 226
Shakespeare, William, 75
The Signs, 107–110
Skin, 245
Slavery, 82–85, 91
Snakes, 164–165. See also Rattlesnakes
Sodium, 202–3
Sour taste, 224–225
South, culture identity of, 41, 58–59
Southern Folk Medicine
accessibility of, 9
> African-American influence on, 82–85
Christianity and, 101–7
definition of, 9
documentation of, 58, 59, 92–93
evolution of, 13, 90, 91–92
humoral medicine’s influence on, 13, 16, 62, 72, 75
Irish influence on, 87, 89–90
language of, 11–12
Native American influence on, 16, 75–80
New World plant influences on, 64–68
as oral tradition, 58, 59
origins of, 15–16, 58, 60
saving, 50, 51
tenets of, 114–138
Stahl, George, 31
Stem cells, 246–247
Stories, importance of, 137–138
Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 229
Stress
acute, 226, 227
chronic, 28, 38, 149–150, 225, 226–228
effects of, 38
illness and, 38
opposites and, 160
Sugar, 151, 248–250
Sumner, William Graham, 8
Sweat
functions of, 118, 144
herbs for, 118
Sweet taste, 248–250, 253
Symptoms
appearance of, 36
as body’s messengers, 31
of chronic disorders, 39
in men vs. women, 39–40
suppression of, 31–32
Synapses, 220
Syphilis, 66, 121
T
Talents, 133
Talking-out fire, 134
Teaching methods, 17–19
Tears
functions of, 118
herbs for, 118
Te-lah-nay, 202
Tendons, 242
Tesla, Nikola, 163
Tides, 195
Tobacco, 65–66, 86, 87, 216
Tornadoes, 139–141, 195
Toxic remedies, 33–34
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), 13, 72
Traditional Medicine (TM), definition of, 9–10
Trail of Tears, 77, 80–81, 202
Traits
air, 228–230
earth, 254–256
fire, 180–183
water, 205–9
Trauma, 38
Travis, Randy, 110
Tree of Life, 112–113
Trickey, Ruth, 12
Tuberculosis, 79, 213
U
Urine, 199, 236–237
V
Vazquez de Ayllon, Lucas, 61, 82
Visions, 48
Vital Energy, 155, 173
Vital force
concept of, 14, 30–31
names for, 14, 31
Vitamin C, 241, 251–252, 254
Vitamin D, 241, 245
Vogel, Virgil J., 66
Vonnegut, Kurt, 235
W
Walker, Alice, 21
Walter, Jim, 112
Wart-talkers, 49, 134–135
Water
characteristics of, 126, 192–197
deficient, 210
distilled, 201
drinking, 196
excess, 209–210
nature of, 201–4
salt and, 64, 201–2, 205
traits, 205–9
types of, in the body, 197–201
Wesley, John, 135
Wet, 148–150
Wind, 214–216, 219, 222. See also Air
Winston, Dave, 35, 77
Wood, Matthew, 74, 92, 120, 143
World Health Organization, 9, 10
Wright, Elizabeth Mary, 105
Y
Yeats, William Butler, 229
Yuchi, 80, 202
About the Author
PHYLLIS D. LIGHT, MA, RH (AHG), is a fourth-generation herbalist and healer. Her studies in Southern and Appalachian folk medicine began at the age of ten in the deep woods of North Alabama with lessons from her Creek/Cherokee grandmother, and continued with well-known folk herbalist Tommie Bass. She received a master of health studies from the University of Alabama. Light is a registered herbalist and currently acts as vice president of the American Herbalist Guild and as a member of the admissions committee. She is also the president of the American Naturopathic Certification Board. Locally, Light is the director of the Appalachian Center for Natural Health in Arab, Alabama, which offers both online and residential classes.
Learn more at phyllisdlight.com.
About North Atlantic Books
North Atlantic Books (NAB) is an independent, nonprofit publisher committed to a bold exploration of the relationships between mind, body, spirit, and nature. Founded in 1974, NAB aims to nurture a holistic view of the arts, sciences, humanities, and healing. To make a donation or to learn more about our books, authors, events, and newsletter, please visit www.northatlanticbooks.com.
North Atlantic Books is the publishing arm of the Society for the Study of Native Arts and Sciences, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that promotes cross-cultural perspectives linking scientific, social, and artistic fields. To learn how you can support us, please visit our website.
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