Encyclopedia of Folk Medicine: Old World and New World Traditions

416 Pages·2003·4.16 MB·English

by  Gabrielle Hatfield

Encyclopedia of Folk Medicine

Encyclopedia of
Folk Medicine
Old World and New World Traditions
Gabrielle Hatfield
Santa Barbara, California Denver,Colorado Oxford,England
Copyright(cid:1)2004byGabrielleHatfield
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Hatfield,Gabrielle.
Encyclopediaoffolkmedicine:oldworldandnewworldtraditions/
GabrielleHatfield.
p.;cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN1-57607-874-4(hardcover:alk.paper)ISBN1-57607-825-6(eBook)
1. Alternativemedicine—Encyclopedias.2. Traditional
medicine—Encyclopedias.
[DNLM:1. Medicine,Traditional—Encyclopedias—English.WB13H362e
2004]I.Title.
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To my husband, John, with love.

Contents
Guide to Related Topics, xi
Acknowledgments, xv
Introduction, xvii
Encyclopedia of Folk Medicine
A Bites and stings, See Insectbitesandstings,
Abortion, 1 211
Abscesses, 3 Black, William George, 32
Acne, 4 Black cohosh, 32
African tradition, 5 Blackberry, Bramble, 33
Alder, 7 Blacksmith, 34
Aloe vera, 9 Blackthorn, 35
Amber, 10 Bleeding, 35
Amulet, 10 Blisters, 38
Anemia, 13 Blood, 39
Apple, 14 Bloodroot, 40
Arthritis, See Rheumatism and arthritis, Bogbean, 41
287 Boils, 42
Ash, 16 Boneset, 44
Asthma, 17 Bread, 45
Breast problems, 46
B Bruises, 49
Backache, 21 Bryony, 52
Bad breath, 23 Burdock, 53
Baldness, 24 Burns, 54
Balm of Gilead, 25 Buttercups, 57
Bartram, John, 26 Button snakeroot, 57
Beans, 27
Bed-wetting, 28 C
Bee, 29 Cabbage, 59
Birch, 31 Cancer, 61
;
viii Contents
Catnip, 65 E
Caul, 65 Earache, 129
Cayenne, 66 Earth, 131
Celtic tradition, 67 Echinacea, 132
Chamomile, 68 Eczema, 133
Chapped skin, 69 Eggs, 135
Cherry, 71 Elder, 136
Elm, 138
Chickweed, 72
Epilepsy, 139
Chilblains, 73
Eryngo, 142
Childbirth, 74
Erysipelas, 143
Colds, 78
Evil eye, 145
Colic, 80
Excreta, 146
Colonists, 82
Eye problems, 148
Color, 83
Columbo, 85
F
Comfrey, 86
Fat, 153
Concepts of disease, 87
Felons, 154
Constipation, 89
Fevers, 155
Consumption, See Tuberculosis, 352
Figwort, 159
Contraception, 91
Fish, 159
Corn, 93 Flax, 160
Corns, 95 Forge water, 162
Coughs, 97 Foxglove, 163
Cowslip, 100 Fractures, 164
Cramp, 101 Freckles, 165
Cricket, 102 Frogs, See Toads and frogs, 341
Croup, 103 Frostbite, 167
Cuts, 104
G
Garlic, 169
D
Ginger, 172
Dandelion, 109
Ginseng, 174
Dead man’s hand, 111
Gold, 175
Deafness, 111
Golden seal, 175
Depression, 113
Gout, 176
Dew, 115
Gravel and stone, 178
Diabetes, 116
Diarrhea, 118
H
Dizziness, 119 Hair problems, 181
Dock, 120 Hand, Wayland D., 183
Doctrine of signatures, 122 Hawthorn, 184
Dog, 122 Hay fever, 185
Dropsy, 124 Head lice, See Hair problems, 181
Drunkenness, 126 Headache, 187
Dysentery, 127 Healer, 190
:
Contents ix
Heart trouble, 191 Moss, 244
Heartburn, See Indigestion, 209 Mouse, 245
Hemlock, 195 Mugwort, 246
Hemlock spruce, 195 Mullein, 248
Hemorrhoids, See Piles, 263
Hiccups, 196 N
Hives, 197 Native American tradition, 251
Holly, 198 Nausea, 251
Honey, 200 Nettle, See Stinging nettle, 332
Hops, 201 Nosebleed, 252
Horehound, 203
Houseleek, 204 O
Hunger, 206 Onion, 255
Otter, 257
I
Indigestion, 209 P
Insect bites and stings, 211 Palsy, 259
Insomnia, See Sleeplessness, 310 Peach, 260
Ivy, 213 Piles, 263
Pine, 265
J Plague, 267
Jaundice, 215 Plantain, 269
Jimson weed, See Thornapple, 339 Poison ivy, Poison oak, 271
Josselyn, John, 219 Poke, 273
Poppy, 274
K Potato, 276
King’s Evil, See Tuberculosis, 352 Poultice, 279
Pregnancy, 280
L Prickly ash, 281
Lobelia, 223 Puffball, 281
Lumbago, See Backache, 21
Q
M Quinsy, 285
Mad dog, bite of, 225
Mallow, 226 R
Mandrake, 228 Renal colic, See Colic, 80
Medicine man, 230 Rheumatism and arthritis, 287
Menopause, 231 Rickets, 291
Menstrual problems, 232 Ringworm, 292
Mexican tradition, 235 Rose, 295
Midwife, 235 Rowan, 296
Migraine, 237
Milk, 238 S
Mistletoe, 239 St. John’s wort, 299
Molds, 241 Sarsaparilla, 300
Moon, 242 Sassafras, 301