!!!Volksmedizin

Folk Medicine, collective term for the knowledge of diseases and 
methods of treatment that exists within a population. In many cases, 
methods of folk medicine originated in past practices of classical 
medicine and are either natural or handed-down methods of treatment 
and remedies, which can, for the most part, be produced at minimal 
cost. They can also take the form of preventive measures (e.g. 
amulets). Even after the Second World War lay doctors still had an 
important function, particularly in rural areas. They supplied their 
knowledge and remedies against payment of a small fee or a voluntary 
donation. A well-known specimen of these so-called "doctor-farmers" or 
"bone fixers" was Johann Reinbacher from Styria (popularly 
called "Hoellerhansl", 1866-1935). The "Wender" 
(literally, "wenden" is here used to mean "turning around evil") also 
treated sick animals by means of "analogical magic". In some 
respects, the irrational, mythical and magical elements show parallels 
with practices of ghost healers who are still active in the 
Philippines today.

!Literature
E. Grabner, Volksmedizin, 1967; E. Grabner, Grundzuege 
einer ostalpinen Volksmedizin, 1985; M. Kundegraber, Bauerndoktor und 
Volksmedizin, 1977.


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