by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Sep 22, 2021 | Appalachian, folklore cures, Nature, superstition
CATCH A FALLING LEAF – Today is the first day of autumn–yay! I LOVE fall with cooler days, blue skies, glorious leaves, and apple picking. But TODAY is extra special in Appalachia because this is your chance to guarantee you stay healthy this winter (and...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jul 22, 2021 | Appalachian, books, folklore cures, Nature
I love it when friends keep an eye out for items they know I’ll treasure. Last week my friend Jessie slipped me a copy of Appalachian Folk Medicine: Native Plants and Healing Traditions. It was a donated to the thrift store at the ministry where I work and I...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jul 15, 2021 | folklore cures, Nature, Writing
In The Finder of Forgotten Things one of my characters gathers and dries flowers to make Oswego tea. It’s a drink I’d heard of over the years, but didn’t really know much about. So I did a little research. Other names for the plant are bergamot,...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jun 25, 2020 | Appalachian, folklore cures
I have freckles. More than an adorable smattering across my nose. More than a dusting across my cheeks. I have a freckle on my lip, on my eyelids, my ears. And when I was a kid I wanted them GONE. Luckily (or not) there are quite a few folklore remedies for freckles...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Mar 12, 2020 | Appalachian, folklore cures, superstition
Ever get a cut that just won’t stop bleeding? Or a nose bleed that goes on and on? Or maybe your dog cut his paw and you can’t figure out how to get the blood to stop! I know . . . yuck. But there are some Appalachian remedies/superstitions that could be...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jul 25, 2019 | Appalachian, dogs, folklore cures, Nature, superstition
You’ve almost certainly heard this time of year referred to as the “dog days” of summer. But do you know WHY it’s called that? I always thought it’s because this hot, muggy time of year isn’t hardly fit for a dog. And I had a...
