Appalachian Granny healer: will Cumberland talks to a Scaly Mountain Herbalist.

The first time I met Granny was in 1978 on Scaly Mountain. I was very young at the time we met and remember her as a spry, quick-witted and honest lady with a thick mountain drawl. She was the first person that got me really interested in herbs, Appalachian living and storytelling. She considers herself to be one of the last remaining traditional mountain herbalists of Appalachian decent, so we wanted to share her knowledge with our readers.

When did you first learn mountain medicines?

I grew up with them all my life; it was the medicines that were used here; we didn't have no doctors. I first learned them from my mom.

What is an herb that you remember from growing up? Yellow root is a good remedy for sore mouth (ulcers). You take the root and you chew on it. But if you have stomach problems, you make a tea. Doctors will tell you not to use it because it picks up lead, but you can use a small amount when necessary.

How about for headaches? You use a willow's bark for headaches. Strip off the bark, use the inside lining: just chew it and it will stop a headache.

Which herbs and plants are the most beneficial as a tonic? Ginseng root. It's real good for your nerves and when things aren't right. Goldenseal is another good tonic. You just brew it and make a tea out of it and that's what you do. Ginseng works better if you put it in a little white liquor and take you a little sup of that.

What would you use for poison ivy rashes, stings and such? (For poison ivy) I would recommend Clorox, that's an old home remedy that people would use. If the old folks back in the days would get Scabbies, they'd boil out Dog Hobble and combine it with hog lard ... they would put it fight on the itch. That would ease the scratching.

For a big sting, you can use two weeds. Rub these two weeds together by the time you get the sting, don't matter what kind of weed, just any two plants that are not poisonous, and you rub their juices together, put in on and it will get rid of the sting.

(For ear aches) Go to a persimmon tree, cut off a limb and burn it over a coal fire. When the sap comes out of a limb's cut end, catch it in a spoon. Let it cool and use it for earache medicine; perfect cure.

The juice out of wild pokeberries is good for a sore (especially) if the sore won't heal ... use Epsom salts and water ... create a wash from the berries and the salts. Wash the sore in it.

When you get a rise (sore) on your skin, you use pine resin on it. For heartburn, you'd chew the needles off of a white pine.

Some of the older town people I talked to say they used pokeroot; what do you say?

No, don't use pokeroot; it's a deadly poison.

Could you tell me about planting by the Signs? Why yes! Well it's always been there (the Signs), like the tide's controlled by the moon and that influences everything else, so it is with the Signs.

With beans, you plant while Signs are in the Arm, that's the way you have tall stalks. You plant taters, underground roots, beets and peanuts on a dark moon. The right kind of calendar lists all of that, like a farmer's calendar and almanac. My dad taught me how to do that. You go by the Signs ... you don't plant by the moon or sun though.

Do you think the old knowledge and herbs are becoming a lost art? Yes, definitely! People are moving in from all over and destroying the traditional mountain knowledge. I would like to see this knowledge passed down to the younger ones and saved. A lot of it came from the Cherokees and some from Ireland ... it's been handed down from generation to generation and taught from parents to kids. This (tradition) is important.

What do you think of the new organic food and herb movement? If it's for real, it's good. Organic food is real; processed food is not good. Organic food n' herbs that are pricey are a rip off, they do that to make big bucks. Most (store) food is bad now; it's not no good for human consumption. Most food producers are in it for the money.

How do you feel about the new Appalachian cultural revival being brought on by the younger generations? It does my heart good to know the younger people know their (modern) food is poison, want to know the herbs and are trying to seek out the old Appalachian ways.

Mountain Plant Knowledge

Dog Hobble or Gray Fetter Brush--Leucothoe axillaris: Root secretions of this hillside shrub were used to heal dog mange.

White Pine--Pinus pungens: Pine needles and their juice have long since been used as an astringent.

Yellow Root--Xanthorhiza simplicissima: Traditionally used in the Appalachians as an astringent and nerve tonic. Also used as yellow dye. The green stalk is believed to have cancer-fighting properties. Root tea can be used for cramps.

Ginseng--Panax quinquefolium: Used for vertigo, 'nerve problems' and headaches. Wildcrafted Appalachian ginseng is considered to be one of the most potent varieties.

Persimmon Tree--Diospyros virginiana: For sore throats, thrush and similar ailments. Fruit is good for food. The bark is used in medicines and extractions. Used to help treat venereal diseases.

Pokeberry--Phytolacca americana: Very common plant that produces purple berries (used as dye). Good for rheumatism, sores and ulcers. Shoots and young leaves can be boiled and eaten.

Goldenseal--Hydrastis canadensis: Leaf and stalk tea is used for system cleansing and immunity boosting. Also believed to help fight cancer and to reduce the swelling of inflammations.

Weeping Willow--Salix babylonica: Bark and stems have various uses in teas and tonics. The teas could be used to help reduce pain and break fevers. When brewed with honey, helps to ease the pain and hoarseness of a sore throat.

Will Cumberland is a native of North Carolina, has studied mountain herbs since childhood and writes about Appalachian related issues. Currently, he is a green builder with Three Rivers Valle. [e-mail]