This month’s quiz is based on our upcoming Appalachian Tour, which will explore the healing traditions, folklore and culture of the Southern Appalachians. Experience firsthand how this rich history has influenced the herbal and healing traditions of America.

From Phyllis D. Light— herbal teas:

1. Flowers are generally _______ to extract volatile oils.

a.		boiled
b.		simmered
c.		steeped
d.		infused

2. Which of the following herbal teas has traditionally been used to soothe an upset stomach?

a.		ginger
b.		milk thistle
c.		yellow dock
d.		red clover

3. _______ teas should only be steeped and never boiled in order to prevent the evaporation of the volatile oils.

a.		Black
b.		Mint
c.		Dried
d.		Fresh

4. When brewing herbal teas, which part of the plant needs the longest brewing time?

a.		flowers
b.		stems
c.		leaves
d.		roots

From L.C. Moon— infusing oils and herbs into soaps:

5. The process of making an oil infusion involves:

a.		combining essential oils with water.
b.		extracting oils from organic matter using distillation.
c.		soaking or steeping organic matter in oil—using solar or heat methods—to extract therapeutic components.
d.		blending oils into a base—such as beeswax—in order to make a salve.

6. What is an emollient?

a.		A component that moistens the skin while providing a protective barrier
b.		The combination of sodium hydroxide and fatty acids
c.		An oil that has been blended to a base—such as beeswax—in order to make a salve
d.		Anything that removes impurities from the skin

7. Why are melt-and-pour and hand-milled soap methods used?

a.		To protect the integrity of the added therapeutic ingredients as well as to make creative soaps
b.		To provide more moisturizing benefits in a cost-effective manner
c.		To make soap that is better for sensitive skin
d.		To make soap in the “old time” way

From Darryl Patton— herbs:

8. It is hard to find a large tree of this variety in the South. Both the Native Americans and settlers cut vast quantities for both food and medicine. Still popular today, it is used for its mucilaginous qualities. One clue to its identity is the rough, sandpapery leaves.

a.		white oak
b.		slippery black willow
c.		slippery elm
d.		mulberry

9. In the South, a poultice or a fomentation was often used by folk healers for various external conditions such as poison ivy rash and erysipelas. Which of the statements below is/are true?

a.		A poultice is a soft mass of plant material heated in hot water, spread on a cloth and applied to the skin to relive itching, rashes, and other external conditions.
b.		A fomentation is a soft mass of plant material heated in hot water, spread on a cloth and applied to the skin to relive itching, rashes, and other external conditions.
c.		A fomentation is a mass of plant material heated in hot water and applied directly to the skin to relive itching, rashes, and other external conditions.
d.		a and c

10. In the deep South, this herb is traditionally used for mouth ulcers, canker sores, and stomach ulcers as well as diabetes. It contains the bitter alkaloid “berberine”—proven to kill the ulcer-causing bacteria, H. pylori. It has the common name of “yellowroot.”

a.		goldenseal
b.		shrub yellowroot
c.		gold thread
d.		yellow dock