traditional medicine

Presents an introduction to the folk medicine of North America, providing a definition of folk medicine, discussing its origins, and looking at the medicine traditions of Native Americans, African-Americans, Hispanics, and other cultures.

Explores the history of medicine, looking at some of the unusual methods that have been used to try to make people feel better, and traces links between the medicine of the past and modern-day treatments.

Discusses the medicinal uses of various plants and the practices of primitive and contemporary societies such as initiation rites, witchcraft, and medicine men.

On title page: The history and folklore of customs and superstitions of early medicine, funerals, burials, and mourning.

Examines traditional folk remedies such as bloodletting, using honey or maggots to clean wounds, and urine as an antiseptic, exploring the history of these remedies and their increasing popularity in recent years.

Reports the facts on over 600 items of medical folklore and misconceptions.

Describes the experiences of an ethnobotanist in South America as he learns from Trio Indians the medicinal value of rainforest plants, and struggles to record the data before these ancient traditions vanish.

A collection of timeless home remedies for curing common illnesses and complaints.