folk medicine

folk medicine

See also: folk-medicine

English

Alternative forms

• folk-medicine

Noun

folk medicine (countable and uncountable, plural folk medicines)

1. (uncountable) Traditional medical practices developed and used by nonphysicians, typically involving customary homespun techniques and medicinal remedies derived from native plants.
   • 1935 Sept. 2, "Medicine: Chemotherapy," Time (retrieved 8 June 2014):

     He learned medicine and surgery "from executioners, bathkeepers, gypsies, midwives, and fortune tellers and incidentally acquired an unusual knowledge of folk-medicine and a permanent taste for low company."

   • 2008 March 11, Eric Nagourney, "Nostrums: Aromatherapy Rarely Stands Up to Testing," New York Times (retrieved 8 June 2014):

     Aromatherapy is a big business, and its roots run deep in folk medicine.

2. (countable) A particular medicinal remedy used in such traditional medical practices.
   • 1996 Aug. 2, Liz Hunt, "Flower-power remedy proves equal of anti-depressant drugs," The Independent (UK) (retrieved 8 June 2014):

     A folk medicine traditionally used to treat depression is as effective as standard anti-depressant drugs and has fewer side-effects, according to a new study.

Synonyms

• indigenous medicine, traditional medicine

See also

• nostrum

References

• folk medicine at OneLook Dictionary Search