Back in the 1950's it seemed that almost every homestead in south Louisiana had one or more of a particular shrub in the backyard. It was a plant called "mamou" and its real identify may have been sassafras. Legend says that early Cajun exiles learned its secrets from the local Indian population. The mamou plant reputedly had various uses, and one of its most potent contributions to human health was a tea concoction which Cajuns consumed as a remedy for flu symptoms.
To prepare mamou tea, roots of the plant were carefully dug up and cleaned. Root pieces were placed in a stockpot and boiled. The liquid was strained and kept hot prior to consumption. Usually the sick person was given a cup or glass of mamou tea flavored with lots of sugar and lemon. Whether or not the drink was effective in alleviating flu symptoms is a matter of debate, but certainly the added vitamin C didn't hurt. And for some reason, the hot tea was actually helpful in the relief of headache with or without flu.
For those whose cold or flu symptoms included annoying coughs, the Cajun remedy was likely to be a mixture containing baking soda and honey. It was not unusual for a little whiskey to be added to the homemade cough medicine so the patient could get a good night's sleep (this was long before the days of Nyquil and other over-the-counter products laden with alcohol).
One of my favorite Cajun remedies involved a superstition considered to be a sure-fire way to cure a case of measles. It was thought that a child stricken with the disease was in danger of smothering if the red spots stayed inside. To prevent such a tragedy, the measles were encouraged to come out by giving the young patient lots of Nehi "pop rouge" (strawberry soda). With the advent of modern vaccinations, this old-fashioned approach became obsolete but it was fun while it lasted!
Of course, there were those mysterious treatments done with rituals and prayers for those suffering from a variety of ailments. Every Cajun knew at least one "traiteur" (treater) and sometimes that person was a member of the immediate family. If someone complained of a bothersome crick in the neck, it was standard practice to have a left-handed friend or relative rub the painful area. To cure a child who had "sunstroke" the cool leaves of branches cut from a chinaberry tree were worn like a botanical hat while the healing prayers were quietly recited by the treater (often a grandparent).
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