spring tonic noun A home medicine taken in early spring and purported to purge the system and thicken the blood. It most often consists of sulfur and molasses, sometimes with whiskey or an herb such as ginseng added. See also sulfur and molasses. 1982 Powers and Hannah Cataloochee 256 Spring tonic: One teacup of molasses, three tablespoons of sulphur. Stir and take some for spring tonic. 1992 Cavender Folk Hematology 28 During the spring a “spring tonic” was necessary to…
Category
Appalachian Medicine
“Being fair-skinned and blond, I freckled easily in the summer sun. I tried everything that was purported to be a…
I’ve probably written about sickness and accidents this week because the flu and other maladies are still making their way…
Dolores: I always wondered about the old ways of curing things. My dad used a combination of soft brown soap and…
Have you ever heard about people who could talk the fire out of a burn? I’ve heard about the phenomenon…
Have you ever heard folks use nonsense words to describe their sickness? I’ve heard folks in my area of Appalachia…
A few month’s back a friend asked if I knew any other sayings for having the hippo. I didn’t even…
Seems like every day I hear more about the flu that is rampant across the country. Schools and hospital wards…
dew poison, dew poisoning noun Sores or a rash on the feet or ankles believed to be caused by contact…
This time of the year folks are worrying about bug bites and the dreaded case of poison oak or poison…