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1994). Chevallier (2000) reported that it can effectively be used to treat hay
fever and can reduce the duration of the flu. Fontenot (1994) found slaves
used it for bladder infections. WPA Respondent Rachel Goings (Missouri)
recollected,  I d a took elder leaves en boiled em to make a tea den I d a
poured dat in de sore en it ud got well. Harriet Collins (Texas) recalled in-
fants wearing elder around their necks to help with teething. Henry Barnes
(Alabama) made an elderberry tea for fevers.
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
The ancients used fennel, as also known as yellow weed or dog fennel, for
visual problems. In folk medicine, fennel is a popular remedy for tooth and
earaches. In Southern folk medicine, folk practitioners used it for its as-
sumed positive effects on the stomach (Moss 1999). Fennel has been used
for colic in infants and for gas and indigestion (Maiscott 2000; Youngkin
and Israel 1996). Modern science indicates that fennel has anti-inflamma-
tory effects. It also has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and lowers
blood pressure (Weiner and Weiner 1994). It has been approved for cough,
bronchitis, and dyspeptic complaints (Fleming 2000).
Works Project Administration respondents referred to fennel as dog fen-
nel in their narratives. The WPA narratives and they indicate that fennel was
used as a tea for a variety of common ailments. For example, Lou Smith
used fennel in a tea for chills and malaria. Other slaves used it as a treat-
ment for fevers and whooping cough.
Feverfew (Tanacethum parthenium or Chrysanthemum partenium)
The herb feverfew, also known as fever weed or fever grass, is used mostly
for migraine headaches, arthritis, rheumatic diseases, and allergies (Bald-
win et al. 1987; Fleming 2000). Folk practitioners used it to treat fevers, mi-
graine headaches (Chevallier 2000; Weiner and Weiner 1994), and gas and
indigestion (Maiscott 2000). Peirce (1999) noted that there is no research
that indicates that the plant reduces fevers but more research is needed.
Works Project Administration respondent Rev. Wade Owens (Alabama)
shared,  When us  ud git sick, dey would bleed you, stick somp n in your
arm and draw de blood. He added,  Den dey would giv us scurry grass and
fever weed.
Flax (Linum usitatissimum)
Flax seed, also known as linseed, is referred to in the WPA narratives.
Flax seeds are the only part of the plant that is used for medical purposes.
96 Chapter 5
According to Heatherley (1998), current medical interest is in flax is in its
properties for as preventing blood clots, removing heavy metals from
body tissue, and dealing with lowering cholesterol. Chevallier (2000) re-
ported its use as an effective laxative, treatment of cough, urinary prob-
lems, and other medical uses. Peirce (1999) noted modern evidence of
flax s value as a soother of mucous membranes and intestinal disorders.
According to modern research, flax seed contains ingredients that have
cancer-fighting qualities (Chevallier 2000). Slaves used flax tea as a rem-
edy, but only for mild ailments (Morias 1967). Ex-slave Griffin Myrax,
(Arkansas) used it as a tea for  disordered stomach.
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Garlic has thousands of years of medicinal use. Herbalists have used
garlic to treat earaches, fungal skin infections, urinary tract infections,
warts, pinworms, insect stings, and several bacteria and viral infections
(Maiscott 2000). Early Southern folk medicine used garlic placed in the
ear as a treatment for deafness (Moss 1999). Herbalists have used garlic
in one form or another to treat ache, colic, gout, sore throat (called
 quinsy ), typhus, asthma, bronchitis, and a variety of other ailments
(Heatherley 1998).
Garlic contains selenium, which is known to lower blood pressure, and it
has antibacterial and diuretic qualities (Weiner and Weiner 1994). Besides
improving circulation, garlic has also been used in modern science to ad-
dress high cholesterol and as a treatment for blood disorders (Chevallier
2000; Heatherley 1998). Modern research indicates that garlic has medici-
nal value for lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol, as a mild anti-
septic, and has other benefits (Chevallier 2000, Fleming 2000; Peirce 1999;
Wichtl 2004; Youngkin and Israel 1996).
Slaves used garlic in a wide variety of ways. According to Kiple and King
(1981: 164), slave children, on the first day of sunshine following the win-
ter, received a dose of spring tonic to ward off illness. One tonic was a com-
bination of garlic and rum. Garlic was also worn around the neck as a pre-
vention measure. Fontenot (1994) reported child slaves wore small bags of
garlic around their waists to ward off worms and stomach infections. She
added that garlic tea was used by adults to clean the bowels. Mother Duffy
of Louisiana (Clayton 1990: 64) recalled that garlic wrapped in cotton and
put in an ear was good for treating earaches. Eva Martin (Texas) remi-
nisced,  Dey uster wear a li l bag wid garlic and dat other t ing what smell
strong,  roun dey neck so dey don t ketch no disease. Harriett Robinson
(Oklahoma), who was born in 1842 in Texas, stated,  We had the same
doctors the white folks had and we wore asafetida and garlic and onions
to keep from taking all them ailments. Chency Cross (Alabama) recalled,
Slave Herbal and Plant Treatments 97
 Then us chillun got tuck wid any kind of sickness or zeezes, us tuk azzi-
fizzity an garlit. He added,  You know, garlit what smell lack onions. Den
we wore some roun us necks. Dat kep off flu-anz. Some of the WPA nar-
ratives, including those of Ella Harris (Alabama) and Mary Colbert (Geor-
gia), referred to mixing garlic with other plants or substances to treat
worms.
Golden Rod (Solidago virgaurea)
The PDR of Herbal Medicines (1998) reported that golden rod is a diuretic,
and mildly antispasmodic. Herbalists report that the herb is anti-catarrhal,
anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent, diaphoretic, carminative, and
a diuretic. Chevallier (2000) observed the plant s value in treating yeast in-
fections, fungus, sore throat, chronic nasal congestion, and other ailments.
George Pretty (Florida) used golden rod for fevers. Other WPA narrative ref-
erences to golden rod mention it as a treatment for fever and unspecified [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]