Granny Women: Healing and Magic in Appalachia
Appalachian cabin.
Self-Reliant People
In the old days, people living deep in the Appalachian Mountains had to be very self-reliant. Granny women are who people went to for healing and magic in Appalachia.
It was not easy to get to a doctor and rarely could a doctor reach anyone in time to help them get through an illness. Accidents happened and doctors were nowhere around in emergencies, but there was always a Granny close enough to fetch for help.
Granny women knew the way of herbs and home remedies and also used witchcraft methods.
It was not the modern Wiccan type magic, but the magic of the Old World witchcraft passed down for generations by elders teaching their daughters and granddaughters.
It was the healing magic that came from Ireland and Scotland with the early settlers.
Granny Women Grew Most of Their Own Herbs
Healing With Herbs
Every village or community in the mountains had at least one Granny Woman to run to for help and healing.
These women knew exactly which plant, herb, root, or bark would heal each malady or injury that came up.
When the Irish and Scottish people began immigrating to America in the 1700's they brought with them their own culture and traditions. Some of these traditions were from the Ancient Ones of northern Ireland.
They knew the healing powers of herbs, roots, bark, and other plant parts -- and they knew which combinations of herbs would be the best remedy for each treatment.
Plantation of Ulster
Most of these immigrants were descended from Scottish and English families who colonized Ireland during the Plantation of Ulster (an organized colonization) in the 17th century. They are referred to as Scotch-Irish or Scots-Irish.
During the 1700s over 200,000 people from the province of Ulster in northern Ireland immigrated to America. Another 100,000 arrived between the years 1783 and 1812, in the years following the American Revolution. Throughout the 1800s more Scots-Irish, over one million, continued to arrive.
Ulster Province in Northern Ireland
Ulster is the Colored Areas.
Herbs and Witchcraft
Among the immigrants were the women who knew the ways of the Old World witchcraft and herbalism. Many of the immigrants settled in Southern Appalachia and the Ozark Mountains. The women were healers and midwives and often the only practitioners of health care for the poor living in rural areas. They did not take payments for their healing. As with other settlers, they shared what they had -- gratitude for help and knowledge was often in the form of food, quilts, or other needed items, but it was not expected.
These women became known as "Granny Women". They relied heavily on herbal medicine. For instance, a regular remedy for whooping cough was made and bottled to give to the caretaker of the ill one. The Granny would boil one ounce of fresh red clover blossoms in one pint of water, strain, then add one cup honey. This was to be given to the child, one teaspoon twice a day until the cough cleared up.
Herbs Have Been Used for Healing for 1000s of Years
Midwifery and Birthin' Babies
Women who had children of their own were often called upon for "Birthin' Babies". Since they had gone through the process of giving birth, they were expected to be able to help other women in labor. These lay-midwives had no formal training. Over time, the midwives became more experienced and were of great assistance and need.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Granny Women and their midwifery skills were the main help for about half the births in Southern Appalachia. Childbirth was a great concern and a dangerous time in the old days and it was the Granny Woman who played an integral role in seeing that the babe and the mother survived.
Babes Were Birthed at Home With the Help of Midwives
Old Farmhouse Bedroom
Fetch Granny!
When someone was sent to "fetch granny", the Granny Woman would grab her bag, get on a mule or horse and leave her own family, often for days, to care for the woman in labor. She often stayed for a few days after the child was born to make sure mother and babe were "gettin' on okay". The Granny had her herb remedies in her bag and her rituals to perform to ensure a safe birth.
One common ritual of a Granny Woman when attending a birth, was to put an axe under the bed of the mother during labor. This was symbolic of "cutting the pain". Also, if all the windows were opened during labor, that was symbolic of opening the birth canal for easier delivery. Spells and charms were not looked on as odd or strange and the settlers trusted their Granny.
It was not until 1923 that the first professional training for midwives was established in Kentucky by Mary Carson Breckinridge. The Frontier Nursing Service, which Breckinridge established, is still in existence today.
Contact With Cherokee People
When the settlers came in contact with the Cherokee people a bond of respect and support was created. One of the most beneficial methods they shared was herbalism and healing.
The Granny Women brought Old World healing methods and the Cherokee provided extensive knowledge of herbs and their own methods of healing. The sharing, training of each other, and trading knowledge was extremely beneficial to both sides.
Between the Cherokee and the Scotch-Irish was also some strong similarities with the wee folk. The Granny Women worked closely with the Faerie Folk that followed them from the Old World to the Appalachians. The Cherokee had always worked with their kindhearted spirits, The Little People.
Both group of peoples often left 'offerings' for the little ones who helped them. This could be a bowl of cream sat on the back porch, berries, small pieces of cake or cornbread. This was believed to appease and delight the Faeries or the Little People.
Divination
The Granny also practiced divination, such as reading tea leaves, watching for signs in the clouds and several other methods.
Scrying, with a bowl of water was another method of divination. These methods are still done today by many people, like the Wiccan, Pagan, and witches of the Old Order.
Witchcraft as it was practiced in the old way by the Ancients still exists in the Appalachian Mountains. It is passed down from generation to generation -- and the Granny knows instinctively which member of her family is the next healer, so encourages that child to learn.
The healing power of witchcraft is not a thing to shun or fear. It is a true and greatly beneficial method of healing.
The folks of Appalachia in the early days, and many of today, still turn to a Granny for help with healing, or have learned the old ways themselves.
Some people are born with the gift of healing and in time become aware of this as their knowledge just naturally comes out.
Many think of witchcraft as something bad to stay away from -- yet it was the witchcraft and knowledge of the Granny Women who saved many, many lives in the early days of the settlers, and brought the new babes into the world. True witchcraft from the Old World was based on the healing arts.
Reading Tea Leaves is Still Used for Divination
Tea Leaves.
A Story About Granny Magic
Note From Author
Thank you for reading this article. I appreciate your time and interest.
My sources for this article are:
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
© 2013 Phyllis Doyle Burns
Comments
Phyllis Doyle Burns (author) from High desert of Nevada. on July 29, 2020:
Hi Christina. Check out the following link:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/southern-app... also look into https://www.learnreligions.com/appalachian-folk-ma...
Christina on July 27, 2020:
I want to go visit the granny witch areas in NC. Can help me find some good areas? I lIVE in Georgia.
Phyllis Doyle Burns (author) from High desert of Nevada. on July 17, 2020:
Hi William and thank you for reading and commenting. You are right, the old ways and herbs work wonders. I use raw honey, lemon juice, and oatmeal for a face cleanser/mask. I take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar every morning to break up connection due to COPD. Thanks again.
William Beshears on July 17, 2020:
Theres many old time remedies that work today that i use like raw local honey and ginger for example herbs and the old ways if used right can work but most people would rather take a pill its our history
Phyllis Doyle Burns (author) from High desert of Nevada. on July 25, 2019:
Hi Olivia. You are most welcome. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Olivia Bishop on July 25, 2019:
Beautiful! Thanks for this!
Sandra S Fustin on July 17, 2019:
My Grandmother was a Granny and I spent most of my young childhood with her and my grandpa. She taught me many things as did my Mother did abut healing and I am able to perform many healings of non threading conditions and use this knowledge daily.
Phyllis Doyle Burns (author) from High desert of Nevada. on June 29, 2019:
Hi Christina. Yes, it is sad all her knowledge on folk medicine died with her. Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
Christina Summers on June 21, 2019:
My Mom’s family lives in Kentucky, and my Great Grandmother was a Granny. Sadly all our folk medicine died with her.
Lee Ann Fuentes on February 17, 2019:
I'am researching my family tree and I believe my Great Grandmother Barbra Hollifield was one of these healers,it is said that my father had smallpox and she cured him.
Phyllis Doyle Burns (author) from High desert of Nevada. on February 08, 2019:
Hi Rdp68. Thank you for reading and commenting. I enjoyed reading about your Great Aunt Molly. She knew the ways of healing the natural way. Thanks for sharing.
Rdp68 on February 06, 2019:
I just happened to stumble upon this article, let me thank you for reminding me of childhood memories. I grew up in Wyoming county, WV. I had a wart on my hand that I could not get rid of when I was around 15. My mother had me see my great-aunt, Molly, who lived well beyond 100. She pricked the wart with a needle and cut two beans in half, dabbed the beans on the wart and told me to forget about it. Within a week, the wart disappeared, never to return. It left a neat scar that is still on my hand to this day. I don’t know what she did but it worked. I will never forget it. Again, thanks for the article. It reminded me that I need to get back and visit more often and not lose sight of my heritage and where I am from.
Phyllis Doyle Burns (author) from High desert of Nevada. on January 18, 2019:
Hi Herbnurse13. Thank you for reading and commenting. You have a strong history of healers in you family. Thank you for sharing and for your very kind praise on my article.
Phyllis Doyle Burns (author) from High desert of Nevada. on January 18, 2019:
Hi Betty. Thank you for reading and commenting. Your family history is very interesting, thank you for sharing.
Phyllis Doyle Burns (author) from High desert of Nevada. on January 18, 2019:
Hi Cheryl. Thank you for reading and commenting. I do know someone who could help you, but I will have to get his permission to give out the contact information information. Some good books to check into are any book by Scott Cunningham; and The Way of Herbs Book by Michael Tierra.
Herbnurse13 on January 14, 2019:
This is a wonderful account of history. Being a Healer and Herbalist and the descendant of Healers, I can attest that what you have here is accurate. My Family came from Scotland and were Healers and “Granny Women”. My Great Grandfathers were Healers and also used divination to track Water for wells.
Thank you for posting this. It is excellently written.
Betty Brewer on January 13, 2019:
This is very interesting. I do use herbs. I grew up in the country and this is the only way mom and grandmas had to treat and Dr. us kids. And 10 of us turned out fine. We didn’t know what a Dr. or a Hospital was. We had one old lady that was supposed to be a midwife that surve the the whole part of the country where we lived.
cheryl on January 13, 2019:
Love this article and I have not had an antibiotic in 20 years..I go to God's medicine cabinet..do you know if there is a teacher that will show folks the healing ways..I would love to spend time with them , Blessings
Phyllis Doyle Burns (author) from High desert of Nevada. on November 19, 2018:
Hi Anita. Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, a lot of people use herbs for healing and do quite well. Thanks again.
Anita Hasch on November 15, 2018:
Such an interesting hub. Many people, myself included are going back to using herbs for healing.
Phyllis Doyle Burns (author) from High desert of Nevada. on November 09, 2018:
Hi Melissa. I am so glad you enjoyed the article so much. Thank you for such a lovely comment. I agree with you about valuing the ways of our ancestors. T'is sad, indeed, to see their era fade away. Thank you. Take care.
Melissa Meadow from United States on November 09, 2018:
Fascinating read, truly.
I love learning and reading about times gone past and I so wish people today would value the way things were done in the days gone by. People have lost touch with the ways of our ancestors and the knowledge they had through experience and trial and error. It's so sad that instead of valuing the ways of those that have come before us, so many condemn, judge, and fear what they clearly don't understand. Tragic, really.
I'm born and raised in the Appalachia region and have always cherished and marveled at the old ways and the history of this region. I loved this article and cannot thank you enough for this enriching read!
Phyllis Doyle Burns (author) from High desert of Nevada. on January 14, 2018:
Hi Mary. Thank you for reading. I am glad you enjoyed the article.
Mary on January 10, 2018:
My grandmother was one who helped birth babies and Wake the Dead. I was raised in rural Ky. and wished i had been more appreciative of what was around me. I enjoyed the article.. Thanks.
Phyllis Doyle Burns (author) from High desert of Nevada. on November 03, 2017:
Hi Susan. Thank you so much for sharing your story - I love to hear from folks in Appalachia. Life experiences in your area are so interesting. I recently wrote a story about a man who was a seventh son of a seventh son and was thinking about writing another one about him, so I am glad you reminded me about that. Thank you for visiting and sharing.
Phyllis Doyle Burns (author) from High desert of Nevada. on November 03, 2017:
Hi Kim. How exciting to find that and signed by a Granny Valentine. I bet she was relied on by many folks in her time. Thank you for sharing that. And thank you for reading.