Ancient Folklore & Health
some examples
Healing Powers of Nature
The Power to Heal
Magical Places
Magical Animals
Magical Drinks:
Alcohol as medicine 
Magical Plants botanical folk medicine
moulds (Wainwright, 1989)
Magical Charms and Amulets
Seemingly Magical People
Galen "All who drink of this remedy recover in a short time except those whom it does not help, who all die"
"We call it Aqua Vitae and the name is remarkably suitable since it is really water of immortality. It prolongs life, clears away ill humors, revives the heart and maintains the youth." Araldus de Villonnova (1240-1315)
Hippocrates
The four humors (McDaniel and Hammond, 1997b)
wandering womb (Faraone, 2011)
dream therapy and ritual healing (McDaniel and Hammond, 1997a)
Evil eye
Sanatoria beads
offer protection and connect the wearer to the spirit world (Carter, 2007)
charms protect agents evil eye from others
many cultures believe in evil eye
Lee Stone (Varner, 2008)
remove illness
protect the mind and body
used until 19'th century
Petrified Dear Eye (Varner, 2008)
ward off bad air
Latin America
Coral and fish eyes used in different regions (Varner, 2008)
Copper relieves Arthritis traced to Egyptians (Varner, 2008)
Jade (Varner, 2008)
In India protects from reptile bite
In England protects from evil charms and spells
added to water to preserve freshness (Phillips, 2020)
Greeks used alcohol as medicine (Phillips, 2020)
Improves circulation and digestion (Mrgic, 2017)
Prevalent in almost every culture (Phillips, 2020)
Holly wells (Perriam, 2015)
Pilgramage (Perriam, 2015)
Shrines and churches (Perriam, 2015)
Reproduction, physical and mental healing (Perriam, 2015)
584 species in Latin America Alvez and Alvez)
Boa constrictor
Portuguese man of war
Asthma
Rhumatisim
Lung disease
Boils
Cracked feet
Back ache
+25 other
Bilad al-Sham; Syria, Lebonon, and Jordon (Lev, 2006)
animals, animal products and insects
Desert partridge
strengthens stomach
Bever testicles
Eye diseases, animal bites and stings, cramp, epilepsy, hysteria.
some examples
The doctrine of signatures (Priest & Puma, 1991)
Enduring Greek belief
A plant cures what it looks like
Heart shaped leaves cure heart ailments
Yellow plants cure bile
the precursor to penicillin