This is the second of a four-part series.
 |
The mountains of North Carolina are famous for the home remedies local folks swear by. Most of the handmade cures come from plants, berries, tree bark and mushrooms, etc., all of which may be combined with honey, lemon, salt, vinegar, lard, whisky or moonshine, and other ingredients. These remedies are known among the mountain folks and have been passed down for generations.
I found it amusing that most of the old timey remedies called for a little moonshine to be thrown in, so if it doesn’t work at least you are happy.
Some of the remedies work amazingly well. I know for a fact that blackberry juice can cure diarrhea, even when modern medicine will not work. Dr. Charles VanGorder used to have Anna Collect “can” a dozen or so jelly jars of blackberry juice every year. It was kept in the hospital pharmacy up on the top shelf and guarded well by Nora Buchanan and Barbara Thompson. When medicine would not stop the diarrhea, a half cup of blackberry juice would, and you could even sweeten it.
Many times, I have gone out to the creek bank and picked a stalk of “wild Touch Me Not” in the summer to treat poison oak. The plant grows along the creek and looks like wild impatiens with a red and yellow colored flower. The stalk is light green and when you break it open there is a jelly like solution in the center, so just squeeze it out and smear it over your poison oak rash or blisters. It works better than the common over-the-counter brands at the drug store. Jeannie Buchanan picks it in the fall and boils the plant parts and cans the solution so it can be used all year.
Cuts or puncture wounds were treated with turpentine and sugar, or kerosene oil, by pouring it into the wound to kill infection, and it burned like the devil, but allegedly kept you from getting “lockjaw.”
If a mother is breast-feeding her baby and cannot continue for some reason, instead of taking hormone pills to dry up your milk, just put raw cabbage leaves in your bra for several days and your milk will dry up. It really works and there are no side effects.
Arthritis is a common ailment that causes the elderly a lot of joint pain which can be lessened with a mixture of honey and vinegar – drink one tablespoon of vinegar sweetened with honey once a day – and the old-timers say you may add a shot of moonshine for good measure. Also, a lot of the elderly wear copper bracelets or even magnets, which some claim will draw it out of the body.
Burns – peel a potato then scrape the raw potato and lay the scrapings on the burn and leave it until the scrapings turn black, then remove and apply a salve made from Vaseline and talcum powder. Also, some say you can mix castor oil and egg whites, and apply mixture to burn then cover with a clean cloth. Years ago, some folks used Colgate toothpaste or any white toothpaste applied for several days.
Asthma – Mix a tablespoon of lemon juice, a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of moonshine or whiskey, and drink it, repeat in a few hours if needed. Also, some said lightly sniffing salt water in your nose will help the symptoms. Some folks who have asthma get a Chihuahua dog, to lessen the breathing problems.
Chest congestion – The old folks used to make a poultice of lard and turpentine, and rub on the chest area and cover with flannel or soft cotton cloth, or you can use camphor oil. Years later, after they began to produce “Vick’s Salve” you would rub it on your chest to help you breathe and loosen the tightness. Also, drink hot lemonade sweetened with honey to help break up congestion.
Colds – The common cold was treated with a mixture of honey and vinegar, some preferred honey and whiskey. Also, you can make a tea out of ground up ginger root or powdered ginger, add to a cup of hot water, honey and may add moonshine. Red pepper tea is supposed to shorten the cold.
Colic – Give the baby a pinch of soda in a spoon of water. If breast feeding the mother may drink some asafetida and whiskey in milk or water.
Stings and bites can be treated with chewed tobacco or moistened snuff applied to the sting area. Or you can chew or mash “ragweed” and apply it to the sting to lessen the pain. Also, they say to pick some chrysanthemum leaves, then crush them and rub the liquid on the sting.
My daughter makes “Plantain Salve” for stings, bites and skin irritations, with a reduction of plantain, comfrey, calendula and olive oil, then adds lavender, honey and beeswax. It also helps with burns. She also makes “Black
Draw Salve” for splinters, thorns and boils. The salve draws out the objects and brings the boil to a head. The salve is made with kaolin powder, plantain/comfrey, calendula, olive oil reduction, activated charcoal, lavender, honey and beeswax.
Part three will be “Superstitions and Myths.”
Kandy Barnard is a columnist for the Cherokee Scout. To talk about the Andrews Valley, call her at 361-3268 or email kandybarnard@gmail.com.