It’s been several years since I first read “Medicine Men Extreme Appalachian Doctoring” written by Carolyn Jourdan. I can’t recall who suggested the book to me, but after I read it I contacted Jourdan about interviewing her for the blog. Somehow we never worked out the details and the interview never happened.
The book is full of “Hilarious, Heroic True Stories of Miracle Cures, Ghost Dogs & More…” To quote Jourdan “In addition to the stories from my own family, a dozen other Southern Appalachian Highland doctors graciously added their own most memorable medical moments to this anthology. This wide-ranging collection of jewels covers seventy-five years of medicine, from 1930 to 2005. Each of the doctors in this book practiced for over fifty years.”
I’m giving a used copy of the book away as part of my Thankful November series. I really enjoyed the stories and I think you will too. To be entered in the giveaway leave a comment on this post. *Giveaway ends November 21, 2021.
Long time Blind Pig reader Larry (AWGRIFF) and his lovely wife Anita lost their only son on Veteran’s Day to a heart attack. He was only 42 years old. Please remember their family in your prayers.
Last night’s video: How to Make a Pumpkin Roll in Appalachia.
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I love that type of thing and would love to read the book! I love the blind pig family too! I’m always telling someone about something y’all are doing.
My grandmother treated a lot of neighbors as well as her family. She even sewed cuts in many men and a few women. She wouldn’t sew up cuts in children but sent them to the town doctor so the site could be deadened first. She treated many cuts on me and even treated a broken bone in my hand and a broken finger, Both work fine some 75 years later.
Prayers for the family.
So sorry to learn of the death of AWGriff & Anita’s son. We are holding them up in prayer. May God wrap his loving arms around the whole family and comfort them as only He can . May they find peace that passes all understanding in this time of grief and heartache.
I have studied alternative medicine for many years. I would rather use herbs and natural means for my ailments. In fact, I have successfully driven a diagnosis of both diabetes and hemochromatosis (too much iron in the body) out of my life by finding the correct combination of herbs, diet and other natural means to mitigate the diseases and safely put them in remission. My doctor is amazed. She told me whatever I was doing to keep doing it because it was definitely working. I don’t like to be dependent on modern medicine. I was always told by my elders that for every disease we suffer, God has a remedy in nature or through prayer. I employ both. I continue to build my green pharmacy and bathe it all in prayer.
You have made the association with jewelweed and poison ivy. Where one grows, the other is usually nearby. I take that as God has placed it there for when we need it. This is only one example. I have found many more in my years of study.
I am wondering of these mountain/country docs went to medical school and if so, did they also use natural remedies? I read every book on this subject I can find, but have not read this one.
I would love to read this book because “country doctoring” without a degree of course is my passion.
I’ve been on several medical mission trips throughout Appalachia & thoroughly enjoyed them & learning the culture of the area. I would love to read these passed down traditions and folklore. Beautiful people there !!
Now that’s the kind of reading i like. A lot of the old folks’ healing has been found to have a scientific basis.
May God comfort Larry and Anita and all their loved ones.
Natural medicines have always been useful and interesting to me. I don’t know a whole lot but I’d like to learn more about the good old time remedies. Thank you for being so generous with your offerings this beautiful month of November. I look forward to hearing from you each and every day. I love you and you feel like kin folks!
Praying for the couple who’s son passed away. Our 37 yr old son passed away in 2020 so I feel their sorrow. May the peace of God continue to settle over them & keep them.
Would love that book.
Again another’s great gift. I’m a book person. Love the old ways. Thanks Tipper. You never disappoint on Blind Pig subject ideas.
I’m so sorry about Larry and Anita’s son. May the Lord surround them with His love and peace! May they feel His presence with them each new day!
I would love to read the book!
I like books about “doctoring”. One of my favorite books is Folk Medicine in Southern Appalachia. It is full of interesting
information. I refer to it often. Tipper I know you have this book because you have made reference to it. Dennis Morgan.
Praying for Larry & Anita. May God bless them with His peace. ✝️. The book sounds great. I’d love to read it.
Wow!! There are a lot of people commenting on this book! I will keep my fingers crossed I win! I’m in my 3rd cancer and maybe the cure is in this book!
That sounds like a great read!
I’m so sorry for your friends loss. That’s so sad…
My condolences to Larry and Anita. Losing a son changes your life/heart forever. I lost my dear 39 yr. old son five years ago. It’s a wound that never heals. As usual Tipper you are offering a very interesting book that I would love to read!
As I read the posts about those who have lost their beloved sons and daughter, my heart ached with pain. My condolences to you all. I’ll keep you in my prayers.
I’m 70 years old and my most heartbreaking experience was when my mother passed on. I felt like an orphan.
I would love to win that book. I’m bedridden, now for a year, and love to read. My mother was a firm believer in holistic medicine. Best ever!!
So sorry to hear about their loss. Sending prayers their way. God, I pray send them peace and comfort at this time. I would live this book Tipper.
Breath stealing grief eventually eases and tears stop coming, but the hole in the heart never heals.
May God’s mercy and healing come to Larry and Anita.
Tipper,
Is his book in print now? where can I buy it?
I enjoy your posts. they fit most of Southern Ohio where I live. Sorry for the couples loss of their son, no parent should have to bury their child. One of my grandmother’s favorite sayings was “I’ve got a mind to…”; meaning she intended to do something. And although she never finished grade school – she was the wisest person I ever knew. I would like to read the book you mention, the “old ways” still work today.
My prayer goes out for Larry and Anita in the loss of their only son. May the Lord hold them close.
I don’t personally know the family that lost their son but my heart goes out to them and I will try to remember them in my prayers. I have a real good friend that lost his 23 year old daughter to a heart attack about a month ago, I can’t imagine what him and his wife are going through. She had some health problems but it was unexpected.
The book sounds interesting, I’ll have to add it to my list of wanted books.
Sending prayers for Larry, Anita, and their son.
My heart and thoughts are with Larry and Anita. I can not imagine losing a child.
The book sounds absolutely amazing. I’d love to read it. Is ot available to purchase anywhere?
Thank you Tipper
I’m so sorry to hear that Larry and Anita have suffered such a terrible loss. Praying for them.
I would love to win the book.
I’m so sorry for Larry and Anita’s loss. May they somehow find peace. I would love to read Medicine Men Extreme Appalachian Doctoring.
Prayers for Larry and Anita. Love reading other’s stories of home remedies. My mother had one for every ailment. Would love to read the book. Happy holidays.
I’m so sorry for Larry & Anita’s loss. Outliving a beloved child is an experience no parent should have to endure. But God has a plan for all his children and we can be uplifted to know that as His children we will be together again in Paradise with our loved ones and our Savior.
Sure enjoyed this little excerpt from “Extreme Doctoring…”! Would love to read it. If I don’t win, I may have to find a copy! Thank you for all that you share. You really have a calling on your life and you minister to my soul. We have memories for a divine reason. God bless!
I will keep Larry and Anita in my prayers knowing God will be looking out for all three of you.
Thanks, Tipper, for shining a light on all these great authors. I’ve got some books to buy!
Our love and prayers going out to Larry and Anita. May God’s love and grace surround and comfort them now and in the days to come.
I am certain reading this book would be enlightening and entertaining as well as old school educational. I would be honored to own this book.
I am so sorry that Larry and Anita lost their son.
Your book about the miracle healing, etc. sound quite intriguing—just the type book I enjoy!
Sending heartfelt sympathy from Wisconsin, to Larry and Anita. No words can express the loss they are feeling. My prayers are with them. Children are so precious.
For sure I will remember Larry and Anita regarding the loss of their only son. What a heartache. And as always, the book sounds like something I would really enjoy reading.
Thanks so much.
So sorry for their loss. Prayers for the family. I would enjoy this book! God bless you, Tipper, and your family. Pumpkin roll looked delicious!
So sorry about Larry and Anita’s son. It is heartbreaking. They are in my thoughts and prayers. I lost my youngest son when he was 27.
I like reading about cures from the past. That would be an interesting book.
So sorry to hear of the loss of their son, this is my first day of receiving this letter but it’s like reading from an old friend! My family are from Jackson and Swain counties although I was the only one of nine children not born in these GLORIOUS Mountains I’m the only one that returned, I now live in the metropolis of Clyde, NC. I have listened and watched your talented daughters grow and make beautiful music for a few years and really enjoyed their music!!
The only thing I can think is I just wish I had found and joined this letter sooner, and I also would ABSOLUTELY love to win a book I don’t walk very good and don’t really care for TV so I read a lot, and watch several thing’s on YouTube that I really enjoy about mountain life and farming.
I’ll quit rambling, enjoying the Pig and Acorn and back in 1983 this blind pig found his Acorn the Love of my life Karen!!
GOD BLESS
When we lived in the Foothills, we had the best doctor I’ve ever had. They actually had their own pharmacy in front of his doctor’s office (pills in large brown bottles lined the shelves). He could also give the best shot…quick and done…you never felt it. He actually made housecalls, too. Now the doc’s wouldn’t think of doing that. He also knew many folk remedies that would help. He was amazing. I am so grateful he was a part of our lives! Thanks for your work, Tipper, and for reminding us of how blessed we were and are! Happy Thanksgiving to your whole family!
This book sounds like another good one!
I need God so much right now.
Mary Anne-sending prayers your way.
I think the Appalachian Doctoring book would be a very interesting read. I was on the receiving end of a few of these treatments when I was a child.
Please enter my name to win this book…thank you Tipper.
I mentioned in this blog a long time ago that my Appalachian elders doctored everything with moonshine and turpentine ! I forgot that my papaw used onions a lot…cooked them, wrapped in a cloth, laid on the chest for croup or bronchitis….he ate them daily ,too, along with apples ….lived to 89. I think we must have been tougher then. We did not seem to get as sick as folks do now. We ate better…we walked everywhere we went. Of course kids got hurt but going to the doctor was rare. I went only once I remember…when I woke with a bad swollen eyelid and mommy somehow got me to a doctor that said it was a spider bite. I still react like that to insect bites. I remember putting spider web in a cut to stop the bleeding…tobacco juice on a bee sting…butter and salt used on mosquito and other insect bites….warmed sweet oil dropped in a child earache. My maternal papaw was a miracle man….was born with powers….could draw out burn and stop bleeding by saying a Bible verse…could cure thrush in a baby’s mouth by breathing his breath into that baby. My paternal mamaw could buy your wart away.
A century ago , my own great granny learned to read and write at age 50 so she could pass the state test to be a midwife in our Va…Ky mountain area.. ..she was said to carry a knife in her bag to slip under the bed of the woman in labor then whisper to her….I’m here and I have cut your pain in half now. Great grandma Nancy Emmeline Mc Guinness Collins own signature is on my mommy’s birth certificate.
Oh what amazing people we have in our family trees!!!
I’m sorry to hear about Larry and Anitas son. Praying for a comfort that only God can give. I love your posts Tippy.
Oh my goodness I can’t imagine the pain of losing a child. Bless them. Please pass on my sympathy.
I so enjoy herbal remedies and would love to have a copy of the book.
The best doctors in the world couldn’t compete with my mom and her mom when it came to miracle cures.
Praying that God will wrap His loving arms around Larry and Anita during this most difficult time. I will continue to pray for the family through my tears.
I’m so sorry for Larry & Anita’s loss. Praying for the family.
I want to first send my heartfelt sorrow to AWGRIFF and his family concerning their great loss of their son. No parent should have to suffer that I think we would all agree. As a RN who’d like to burn my degree, let me tell each one of you if you cannot doctor it or folk cure what ails you, you’re as good as a goner! The days of caring in medicine have been over for at least 30 years. I’ve picked up more and better remedies than I ever learned in Rockefeller medicine working for BIG companies. I’d recommend reading and learning all you can about doctoring of oneself and family. Your very life depends on it. I’d also like to plug for TESLA BIOHEALERS. If you’re interested, look it up. There’s too little time to explain this here… You may just learn some stuff. Gods love and sense to all. We surely need it. And never underestimate THE GREAT PHYSICIAN…
I would find the book very interesting. I have often thought of the old company doctors growing up. They not only had a practice, but had to make visits to homes sometimes late at night. One that comes to mind is old Dox Bennett. He was a thin man who minced no words. In the process of doing genealogy I find his name on numerous death certificates. I wonder how he ever had any family time, as he seem to have never ending hours and had hastily applied his signature to many documents. Another was Dr. Penn who delivered so many babies in Wyoming County including me and many cousins.
My heart goes out to AWGRIFF. My prayers and thoughts are with Larry and Anita. We lost one of our dear young nieces recently, and it will change the entire season for the family. I am assured the Lord is in charge and will help everybody through all these losses.
The only doc in my family came from Ireland with his family in the 1800’s to Texas. Lots of nurses in our family and so this book intrigues me.
As a side note …… I found “Grandma’ Gatewood’s Walk” in a local used bookstore. I snatched it up for $4.50. Thanks for passing on these story treasures.
I’m so sorry for the loss of the son. Peace prevails eventually & love sustains.
AW & Anita, I pray you will experience this in a very personal way. 2CO1:03 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 2CO1:04 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
I think the ‘old time’ doctors tried to treat the whole person and patients felt the difference without any words. I expect that’s what Jourdan’s book shows. It is, I think, a better way than hundreds of specialists. I expect they feel it themselves.
By the way, Tipper, do folks up your way use the expression “I’m of a great mind to”? I thought of tht yesterday for some reason. I’m of a great mind to send you some garlic chive seed, though I’m a bit doubtful you would care much for them.
Ron-that is a great phrase that I am familiar with 🙂
I agree about wishing we had more of the doctors of yesteryear. Today they just want to prescribe pills with all their side effects. I’ve collected some old time books on medicine which has helped but I would love your book Tipper. My heart and prayers go out to the folks who lost their son. It’s something very hard to deal with as we lost our daughter to cancer 3 years ago.
My great grandfather was a school teacher in Red House West Virginia in the 1920s. Then, moved to Ross Co Ohio. There weren’t any teaching jobs and he wasn’t a good farmer, so he found a book on veterinarian science and became an animal doctor for the community.
I always find it funny that at that time the only qualifications you needed for a job was someone willing to pay you!
As a licensed Chiropractor, my mother, Alyce, practiced holistic medicine all my young life. Often, she would gather dandelions to make a delicious salad. I wonder if this green is familiar to you? Mom delivered many babies in rural Vermont and taught mothers how to observe good hygiene and eating habits for their families, Mom lived to be 97 years old. She left me with a keen appreciation for the power of natural remedies. I would love to own the book you are offering. PS. I am 82 years old and in fine health!
Eunice-I have heard of it! Here’s a post I think you’ll enjoy: https://blindpigandtheacorn.com/dandelion-salad-for-christmas/ 🙂
My great grandfather was a country doctor in Kentucky. Everybody loved him as he tried his hardest to care for his patients, first on horseback and later in a Model T Ford. Having eight children himself, he would sometimes take garden produce or eggs as payment. I still have some of the furniture that he used in his office. Highly revered in their church, I have never heard anybody speak anything but wonderful things of my great grandparents. They left a wonderful legacy to their family.
I’m sending prayers for Larry and Anita at this heartbreaking time.
The doctoring book sounds very interesting.
Please pass all of our condolences on to Larry and Anita. Such a tragedy! Their family is in our prayers.
This would be a very interesting book. My grandmother taught me many old remedies I still use. I would love to read this and see if any of hers might be in it. May Gods give Mr and Mrs Larry peace and comfort during this difficult time. It’s never easy to lose someone but especially your child no matter how old. Thank you Tipper for your blog, I enjoy reading it everyday. God bless
Tipper,
Thank you for recommending “Medicine Men Extreme Appalachian Doctoring”. I just ordered it for my wife as a surprise.
I ordered “Smokehouse Ham, Spoon Bread, & Scuppernong Wine” based on your recommendation and she loves it.
Stay safe and well.
Praying for Larry and Anita, I can’t even imagine their pain as I have an only son the same age. I would love to have this book as I use several of my Mammy’s natural cures. I only wish as a child I would have written down and captured her knowledge to use and share.
Larry and Anita I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved son. My words can’t lessen the hurt, but it is good to know that people care when we lose our loved ones. May God’s never ending love sustain you during this difficult time.
Praying for Larry and Anita and their family during this time .
New friend here. Don’t enter me in contest now. Maybe later.
Thanks
Pat
Doctors used to know more than they do now or at least they were able to do more for you. Now you get a referral to a specialist and you might have 4 or 5 doctors that to see to get help.
May God’s sufficient grace give Larry and Anita comfort during this time of loss.
Praying for this family who lost their son at such a young age. I’m a retired nurse I would love to read this book. I could probably write one myself! Lol
Thanks for the chance to win this book! Washington PA fan here!
If I don’t win this book, I will be buying it. Thank you for your wonderful posts.
This sounds like a very interesting book! It reminded me of the book “Christy” and the local mountain doctor/midwife, Granny Barclay, who helped deliver a baby. She pulled the baby’s hand to the opposite side leg and said it was “liver-growed” and that it wouldn’t live long. I’ve wondered about that for years and wondered what in the world was wrong with the baby and what it meant. If you have any insight on this mystery, I would be thankful if you shared the information. It’s fascinating to read about mountain cures and ailments and how people back then practiced medicine when there were no doctors around.
When I read your blog, I hear your voice reading to me.
So many of your words are still part of my daily vocabulary. I’m from central Mississippi and you sound like family.
I hope you consider me to win your book.
Thank you,
Sherry
My heart is heavy for Larry and Anita. Losing a child leaves a much deeper hole in a person’s heart. My husband and I are loving the books you recommend. In fact, I just found John Parris’ book…our Christmas present to each other. Thank you for all your recommendations…and I hope I win this book!! Have a great day.
Wow! Sounds like a great book.
Praying for Anita and Larry ❤
This book sounds so interesting!!
Prayerfully thinking of this family.
Thank you for the creativity you put into this blog. You hit on so much of the beautiful history and experiences of life in Appalachia. Your work is appreciated.
I’m sure the book is filled with wonders!
Larry and Anita, I will pray for you. I have also experienced the lost of a child , so I know about some of the pain you are feeling. My heart goes out to you. May God be with you.
Lovely post.
The book sounds interesting.
We will pray for the family that lost their son. We can empathize as we lost our son 7 years ago. God comfort them…
Sympathy to Larry and Anita on the loss of their son.
And thank you for the opportunity to win a book.
This book sounds great! If I don’t win it, I’ll have to look it up. I’m very interested in Appalachian medicine. My great granny was well known for her Cherokee Granny Magic.
Praying for the family you named!
Would love a copy of that book.
Larry and Anita- my heart is sad for you. May family and friends surround you with comfort and may the Lord show His love.
This sounds like a great book.
My sympathy to Larry and Anita. Losing a child, at any age, is beyond sad.
I am praying for Larry (Awgriff) and his wife, Anita. I am so sorry to hear their sad news. My heart is with them.
Thank you for your giveaways, Tipper! You are much appreciated. Please don’t enter me in the contest, but I think this book sounds interesting. All of the books have, for that matter, that you have been giving away this Thankful November.
Again- my heartfelt prayers and condolences are offered to Awgriff Larry and Anita. I pray for God’s peace and comfort for them during this very difficult season in their lives.
Donna. : )