Joan Wilen - Chicken Soup & Other Folk Remedies

When we first signed the contract for the original edition of Chicken Soup & Other Folk Remedies, we went to all our relatives, asking for their home remedies. We heard wonderful old-country stories about remarkable cures, but times and places have changed dramatically. Going to the outskirts of Lomza Gubernia in Russia-Poland to pick bopka blettles is no longer practical. And we knew we wanted this book to not only be SAFE and EFFECTIVE, but PRACTICAL, too.

Yes, PRACTICAL! Every herb, fruit, vegetable, vitamin, mineral and liquidin fact, all the ingredients mentioned in the bookcan be bought at your local health food store, supermarket, or greengrocerthat is, if they arent already in your home.

Our directions are easy to follow and, for the most part, specific. If exact amounts are not indicated, it means we could not find them, but we thought the remedy was important enough to include. Please use common sense and listen to your body every step of the way.

We (the Wilen Sisters) are not medical authorities. The closest either of us comes is that Joan used to date a pharmacist and Lydias favorite playwright is Doc Simon.

That brings us to an important pointthis book being SAFE. Our publisher did its part by having an M.D. who practices integrative medicine (see Authors Note) review all of the remedies in the book, and deem them safe. Now you have to do your part by consulting with your health professional before starting any self-help health treatment.

Please, for your own well-being, heed the NOTES throughout the book. They stress the fact that our home-remedy suggestions are scientifically unproven and should not take the place of professional health care that may be needed for certain ailments and for persistent symptoms. Effective proven medical treatment is available for almost all conditions mentioned in this book. You can use the remedies in addition to, but not as a substitute for, professional help.

How do we know that the remedies work? Its as though our parents saw the future when they named us. Lydia is named after our mothers aunt, who was the town herbalist/midwife. Joan is named for our fathers cousin, the town hypochondriac. It worked out great. As we researched and wrote each chapter, Joan would get symptomsand we got the chance to try lots of remedies! The ones with which we dont have firsthand experience come highly recommended, usually by more than one source. Weve reasoned it out: The remedies that work have been passed down from generation to generation, and the ones that didnt work most likely havent survived the trip here.

While not all the remedies will be cure-alls for everyone, theyre worth a try, and as Grandma used to say, It wouldnt hurt! (Actually, our grandmother used to say, It vouldnt hoit!)

Since you seem to be interested in home remedies, we would love your input. Have you tried any of these remedies? What has been your experience with them?