Utilization of folk/family remedies by community-residing African American elders.

The purpose of this study was to identify the range of folk/ family remedies used by African American elders to promote health. This was accomplished by obtaining self report information from a convenience sample of 200 African American elders. Participants resided in senior apartment complexes in metropolitan Baltimore. Fifteen categories of folk/family remedies were used routinely by African American elders to promote health or prevent illness. There were sixteen purposes identified for the categories of folk/family remedies.