This book is written for those who are interested in rediscovering and learning about some of the "Old Home Remedies" used by our grandparents and others who have gone before us: In the days of old, many had no other options when illness occurred, but to use herbs and natural remedies for themselves and those who came to them for the "cure". Herbs and other remedies were used also, to prevent illness and disease. The descriptive information is written mostly from my memory of my Grandmother, but even more so, from the memory of my Great-Grandmother, both of whom I have come to realize, played a very important role in who I am, and even more so, in whom I am becoming today.

“Nature itself is the best physician. The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore the physician must start from nature, with an open mind.” -Paracelsus This book is written for those who are interested in rediscovering and learning about some of the “Old Home Remedies” used by our grandparents and others who have gone before us. In the days of old, many had no other options when illness occurred, but to use herbs and natural remedies for themselves and those who came to them for the “cure”. Herbs and other remedies were used also, to prevent illness and disease. Many of the remedies I learned that you will read about come from farmers, producers, collectors, herbalists, healers and village women who all have some ideas about plants and foods that can be used as medicine. The book will be a wonderful reference and resource for those interested in natural healing techniques. I am happy to share what I have learned both in Missouri and from afar with those who are interested in African influenced Home Remedies. Here’s Some Of What You’ll Learn: -The History Of My Healing Ancestors -Food Used As Medicine -Preparation And Usage Of Herbs -Preparing An Herbal Tea -Preparing A Tincture -Preparing Herbal Capsules -Preparing Herbal Poultices -Preparing A Decoction -Preparing An Ointment -Preparing A Compress -Preparing Herbal Powders -Essential Oils That Encourage Relaxation & Reduce Stress And Over 40 Home Remedies

Cure a nosebleed by holding a silver quarter on the back of the neck. Treat an earache with sweet oil drops. Wear plant roots to keep from catching colds. Within many African American families, these kinds of practices continue today, woven into the fabric of black culture, often communicated through women. Such folk practices shape the concepts about healing that are diffused throughout African American communities and are expressed in myriad ways, from faith healing to making a mojo. Stephanie Y. Mitchem presents a fascinating study of African American healing. She sheds light on a variety of folk practices and traces their development from the time of slavery through the Great Migrations. She explores how they have continued into the present and their relationship with alternative medicines. Through conversations with black Americans, she demonstrates how herbs, charms, and rituals continue folk healing performances. Mitchem shows that these practices are not simply about healing; they are linked to expressions of faith, delineating aspects of a holistic epistemology and pointing to disjunctures between African American views of wellness and illness and those of the culture of institutional medicine.

African American Slave Medicine offers a critical examination of how African American slaves' medical needs were addressed during the years before and surrounding the Civil War. Dr. Herbert C. Covey inventories many of the herbal, plant, and non-plant remedies used by African American folk practitioners during slavery.

African-American Slave Medicine offers a critical examination of how African-American slaves medical needs were addressed during the years before and surrounding the Civil War. Drawing upon ex-slave interviews conducted during the 1930s and 1940s bythe Works Project Administration (WPA), Dr. Herbert C. Covey inventories many of the herbal, plant, and non-plant remedies used by African-American folk practitioners during slavery. He demonstrates how active the slaves were in their own medical care and the important role faith played in the healing process. This book links each referenced plant or herb to modern scientific evidence to determine its actual worth and effects on the patients. Through his study, Dr. Covey unravels many of the complex social relationships found between the African-American slaves, Whites, folk practitioners, and patients. African-American Slave Medicine is a compelling and captivating read that will appeal to scholars of African-American history and those interestedin folk medicine.

Back To Our Roots -- For Good Health The good news for African Americans is that the secrets of getting healthy and staying healthy are rooted in time-honored traditions of our own heritage. Staying Strong: Reclaiming the Wisdom of African-American Healing explains how natural healing techniques, handed down through generations, can be used as a complement to modern medicine to help African Americans live fuller, happier, healthier lives -- to "live wholly." Discover how you can overcome the frustrations of chronic fatigue, depression, illness, or just not feeling well, by applying the principles of Whole Living -- Whole Living is natural -- using herbs, touch, foods, and the power of the mind to achieve good health. Whole Living is spiritual, helping you find the natural African-American spirit that means living life to its fullest. Whole Living combines modern medicine with the healing traditions of the past to provide the rich benefits of both methods. Whole Living looks at the complete person -- not just isolated parts to revitalize you in body, mind, and spirit. Staying Strong also addresses the specific health concerns of African-Americans, providing reliable alternative healing approaches to more than thirty diseases and health problems, as well as safe and effective natural remedies and advice on prevention.