folk medicine
noun
: traditional medicine as practiced nonprofessionally especially by people isolated from modern medical services and usually involving the use of plant-derived remedies on an empirical basis
Examples of folk medicine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The flowering shrubs known as witch hazel are perhaps best known for their use in folk medicine and as a natural topical skin ointment.
—
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 28 Aug. 2023
Sun bears’ gall bladders are used in some Chinese folk medicine, and their paws are a high-end delicacy.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Aug. 2023
Kratom has traditionally been used in Southeast Asia for centuries as a folk medicine and mild stimulant.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2022
Instead of making the cleansing of impure spirits the exclusive domain of a shadowy arm of the Church that answers to the Vatican, the movie throws in Pentecostal holy rollers, spiritual healing methods and folk medicine rooted in African culture and — God save us — the power of group solidarity.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
It’s been used for thousands of years in traditional and folk medicine to treat a range of issues from bronchitis to skin infections.
—Katie Camero, NBC News, 5 Aug. 2023
Rachel Yoder returns to the land of her family’s Amish roots, seeking folk medicine and answers.
—Peter Rubin, Longreads, 11 July 2023
The pills are made with maca, an herb used in folk medicine for centuries, as well as several other natural ingredients.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 9 Mar. 2023
Discover skills of ancestral folk medicine making.
—oregonlive, 3 June 2022
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 28 Aug. 2023
Sun bears’ gall bladders are used in some Chinese folk medicine, and their paws are a high-end delicacy.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Aug. 2023
Kratom has traditionally been used in Southeast Asia for centuries as a folk medicine and mild stimulant.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2022
Instead of making the cleansing of impure spirits the exclusive domain of a shadowy arm of the Church that answers to the Vatican, the movie throws in Pentecostal holy rollers, spiritual healing methods and folk medicine rooted in African culture and — God save us — the power of group solidarity.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
It’s been used for thousands of years in traditional and folk medicine to treat a range of issues from bronchitis to skin infections.
—Katie Camero, NBC News, 5 Aug. 2023
Rachel Yoder returns to the land of her family’s Amish roots, seeking folk medicine and answers.
—Peter Rubin, Longreads, 11 July 2023
The pills are made with maca, an herb used in folk medicine for centuries, as well as several other natural ingredients.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 9 Mar. 2023
Discover skills of ancestral folk medicine making.
—oregonlive, 3 June 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'folk medicine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Folk medicine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folk%20medicine. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
folk medicine
noun
: traditional medicine as practiced especially by people isolated from modern medical services and usually involving the use of plant-derived remedies on an empirical basis compare home remedy
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