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

Long used in folk medicine, the berries have more recently been promoted as a popular way to relieve respiratory symptoms from the common cold, COVID-19, and other viruses. —Hannah Singleton, Health, 29 Jan. 2025

Historically, celery and its components (leaves, stem, juice) were used in traditional folk medicines throughout the world to treat a multitude of ailments.1 Celery is found to be high in the two health-promoting compounds flavonoids and polyphenols. —Hannah Coakley, Msph, Rdn, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2025

Summary Celery has been used throughout history as a folk medicine to relieve many ailments. —Hannah Coakley, Msph, Rdn, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2025

The herb has a long tradition in folk medicine and is often used to stimulate digestion. —Maria Berentzen, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for folk medicine

• biomedicine
• telemedicine

Kids Definition

folk medicine

noun

: traditional medicine that usually involves the use of plant-based remedies especially by people isolated from modern medical services

Medical Definition

folk medicine

noun

ˈfōk- 

: 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