Echoes of Appalachia

Allow me to share with you a bit of history about the Granny Witches who once lived in these hills, women who practiced their craft using nothing more than the gifts of nature. The term “Granny Witch” might conjure up images of something dark or mysterious, but in truth, it was a title of respect. These women were the backbone of their mountain communities, possessing extensive knowledge of herbs, roots, and natural remedies sourced from the wild and untamed landscape around them.

My own grandmother was one of these remarkable women. She embodied the spirit of the Granny Witch, though her “magic wand” was made from the wealth of knowledge she had gathered from the land. Let me share an example of how she applied her expertise.

I once had a small wart on my hand—an irritation, nothing serious, but bothersome nonetheless. My grandmother took a look and assured me there was no need for a doctor or any formal treatment. She gathered an onion peel, a small stone roughly the size of the wart, and a white cloth. First, she rubbed the wart with the onion peel, explaining that this would help “draw out” the problem, as the old beliefs went. She then rubbed the wart with the stone before carefully wrapping both the onion peel and stone in the white cloth. With that, she walked to the nearest crossroads, murmuring some words I couldn’t quite hear. Remarkably, within a week, the wart was gone. I never questioned her methods—only marveled at the results.

When it came to treating a chest cold, my grandmother had another remedy. She made a salve from groundhog grease—its pungent odor was enough to clear anyone’s sinuses. The stronger the smell, the more effective it seemed. It may not have been pleasant, but it worked wonders, leaving the patient feeling much improved afterward.

Her skills extended far beyond warts and colds. She had a wide variety of tinctures, teas, and other remedies made from roots and herbs she would gather from the hills. Her knowledge of natural medicine was profound, a legacy passed down through generations. She kept an old, treasured book—a compendium of recipes and cures, rich with the wisdom of ages, handed down through her family.

Unfortunately, after my grandmother passed, that book disappeared as well, as though a piece of our heritage had been lost with her. The carefully preserved remedies and recipes vanished, leaving us only with memories of her healing hands and the folk wisdom she had shared with us.

While that physical book may be lost, her legacy remains. We remember how she nurtured and healed us using the natural resources around her, teaching us that the best remedies are often found in the earth itself. So, the next time you find yourself seeking traditional wisdom, remember that the Granny Witches understood how to heal with the gifts of nature.

***The picture above is my Granny. ***