Nicole Jones
Folk Health Research Paper
Appalachian Folk Remedies and Nursing Practices
12/2/16
Abstract
Appalachian folk medicine is known as a healing method made up of beliefs and practices that are a passed down tradition through families and communities. It was developed in response to a lack of access to modern medical care and combines homemade remedies with superstition and religious beliefs. Appalachian folk medicine started from the need for health care. In pre-industrial Appalachia, doctors and modern medicine were rare and inaccessible as well as expensive, so people relied on traditional home remedies and superstitious practices to alleviate pain and to cure diseases. Practices such as using turpentine and brown …show more content…
In an area like ours, it’s not easy having opportunities like other places in big cities. Like my former supervisor said in her interview, “We used modern herbal and animal remedies in medicine to help heal the sick. Nowadays, we use less of the remedies, because people are trying to put their own mix and make a name for themselves. These medicines work less. Remedies in different forms have been handed down by generations and generations. If we take these remedies out of our families and medicines, then we have nothing to pass down to the next; this is how our remedies are being lost and new things are being made. In some places, they still use traditional remedies rather than the new modern "remedies." I use that word quoted because, these are the people who are changing the folk medicine remedies to make names for themselves. This isn’t a true remedy passed from generation to generation. They put their own twist on, some do and some don't use the actual herbs. They leave out ingredients or add new ones. This doesn't work.” We can all agree, that we know that the older remedies work better, so why aren’t we sticking to them. Our remote area especially, could benefit from using the traditional folk remedies because they're so many sicknesses in our area. When it comes to our area we don’t have equipment, some medicines, and some qualified staff needed for certain treatments …show more content…
Sassafras, garlic, spearmint, Lard, snakeroot, and kerosene are also remedies that are still widely used in Appalachia today. These were used to heal and nourish the body. There are so many more commonly used folk remedy cures that were known by the older generations, only some have been passed down. Nowadays, not as many remedies are passed down like they used to be. The reason for this is, the new “traditions” that are being taught or made in nursing schools or new medicines being made. People no longer try to cure themselves by folk remedies, they immediately just go to the doctor or get over- the counter medicines and try to cure what they think they may have. People just got use to going to the doctor and getting medicines. Folk traditions should stay in families and continue to be passed down, some day one of these remedies might be a new cure for a disease or
Folk Health Research Paper
Appalachian Folk Remedies and Nursing Practices
12/2/16
Abstract
Appalachian folk medicine is known as a healing method made up of beliefs and practices that are a passed down tradition through families and communities. It was developed in response to a lack of access to modern medical care and combines homemade remedies with superstition and religious beliefs. Appalachian folk medicine started from the need for health care. In pre-industrial Appalachia, doctors and modern medicine were rare and inaccessible as well as expensive, so people relied on traditional home remedies and superstitious practices to alleviate pain and to cure diseases. Practices such as using turpentine and brown …show more content…
In an area like ours, it’s not easy having opportunities like other places in big cities. Like my former supervisor said in her interview, “We used modern herbal and animal remedies in medicine to help heal the sick. Nowadays, we use less of the remedies, because people are trying to put their own mix and make a name for themselves. These medicines work less. Remedies in different forms have been handed down by generations and generations. If we take these remedies out of our families and medicines, then we have nothing to pass down to the next; this is how our remedies are being lost and new things are being made. In some places, they still use traditional remedies rather than the new modern "remedies." I use that word quoted because, these are the people who are changing the folk medicine remedies to make names for themselves. This isn’t a true remedy passed from generation to generation. They put their own twist on, some do and some don't use the actual herbs. They leave out ingredients or add new ones. This doesn't work.” We can all agree, that we know that the older remedies work better, so why aren’t we sticking to them. Our remote area especially, could benefit from using the traditional folk remedies because they're so many sicknesses in our area. When it comes to our area we don’t have equipment, some medicines, and some qualified staff needed for certain treatments …show more content…
Sassafras, garlic, spearmint, Lard, snakeroot, and kerosene are also remedies that are still widely used in Appalachia today. These were used to heal and nourish the body. There are so many more commonly used folk remedy cures that were known by the older generations, only some have been passed down. Nowadays, not as many remedies are passed down like they used to be. The reason for this is, the new “traditions” that are being taught or made in nursing schools or new medicines being made. People no longer try to cure themselves by folk remedies, they immediately just go to the doctor or get over- the counter medicines and try to cure what they think they may have. People just got use to going to the doctor and getting medicines. Folk traditions should stay in families and continue to be passed down, some day one of these remedies might be a new cure for a disease or