Appalachian Collection

Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians


 

 

Scope

The Southern Appalachian region is the most botanically diverse of any of the world's temperate zones. The relationship of human beings to these plants has a history rich in traditions and is the basis of modern medicine. This document is designed as an introduction to the literature about medicinal plants of the Southern Appalachian Mountains available in the Belk library or the W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection.

 

A good Introduction to medicinal plants in the Southern Appalachians can be found in:

Jacobs, Marion Lee and Henry M. Burlage. An Index of Plants of North Carolina With Reputed Medicinal Uses. self-published, 1958. 322 pages. ASU APP COLL STACKS: QK99.J3.

 

Some relevant Library of Congress Subject Headings
     ( Search by "Subject" in the online catalog using these headings) :

 

Frequently used Library of Congress Call Number ranges:

 

More information can be found in the Appalachian Collection Clippings File under the subject heading:

  • Botany, Medical

 

Some Frequently Cited or Relevant Books include the following:

Bolgard, Judith L. Medicinal Plants and Home Remedies of Appalachia. Springfield, IL: Thomas, 1981. 187 pages. ASU APP COLL STACKS: RS164 .B63.

Crellin, John K. and Jane Philpott. Herbal Medicine Past and Present . Durham: Duke University Press. ASU APP COLL STACKS: RS164 .B324 C74 1989, vols. 1-2.

Duke, James A. Handbook of Northeastern Indian Medicinal Plants. Lincoln, MA: Quarterman Publications, Inc. 212 pages. ASU APP COLL STACKS: E98 .M4 D84 1986.

Erichsen-Brown, Charlotte. Medicinal and Other Uses of North American Plants: A Historical Survey with Special Reference to Eastern Indian Tribes. New York: Dover Pub. 512 pages. ASU APP COLL STACKS: GN560 .U6 E75 1989.

Vogel, Virgil J. American Indian Medicine. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ASU MAIN STACKS: E98 .M4 V6.

 

Journals containing articles on medicinal plants of the Southern Appalachians include:

Economic Botany . New York: New York Botanical Garden. ASU Microforms: vols. 1-18, 1947-1964. WCU has current subscription.

 

Bibliographies that contain materials on this topic include:

Blake, S. F. and Alice C. Atwood. Geographical Guide to Floras of the World: An Annotated List with Special Reference to Useful Plants and Common Plant Names. New York, Hafner Pub. Co., 1942-63. ASU REFERENCE: Z5358 .A12 B52, in 2 vols.

Simon, James E., Alena F. Chadwick, and Lyle E. Craker. Herbs: An Indexed Bibliography, 1971-1980: The Scientific Literature on Selected Herbs, and Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of the Temperate Zone. Hamden, CT: Archon Books. 770 pages. ASU MAIN STACKS: Z5996 .H37 S56 1984.

 

Guides, Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

 

Coffey, Timothy. The History and Folklore of North American Wildflowers. New York: Facts on File. 356 pages. ASU REFERENCE: QK110 .C56 1993 .

Foster, Stephen and James A. Duke. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants: Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. 366 pages. ASU APP COLL STACKS: QK99 .U6 F68 1990.

Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses: A 400 Year History. Sylva, NC: Herald Pub. Co., c1975. 65 pages. ASU APP COLL STACKS: E99 .C5 H224.

Krochmal, Arnold; Russell S. Walters, and Richard M. Doughty. A Guide to Medicinal Plants of Appalachia. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Forest Service, 1971. 291 pages. ASU APP COLL STACKS: QK99 .K696.

Uphof, Johannes Cornelius Theodorus. Dictionary of Economic Plants. New York: Hafner. 591 pages. ASU MAIN REF: QK9 .U6 1968.

 

Other Relevant Materials:

HRAF Files (Human Relations Area Files). ASU APP COLL Microfiche.
    Cherokees (NN-8)*
     Mountain Whites (NN-5)*

*In each of these sets, look for series number 278--Pharmaceuticals and 757--Medical Therapy.

Video :

Catfish: Man of the Woods. Whitesburg, KY: Appalshop, 1974. 28 mins. ASU APP COLL VIDEOS: VC 18.

 

Compiler:   David N. Cozzo, 21 October 1997