Vasa Pelagić’s Narodni Učitelj is often described as a 19th-century guide to health, daily life, and moral wisdom in the Balkans.

Beyond ethical guidance, it contains dozens of folk remedies, recipes, and herbal preparations—perfect for modern herbalists seeking traditional inspiration.

Folk Remedies

1. Fatigue and Weakness

“First, by moving around in pleasant company and doing light work, one should remove thoughts that bring sadness and grief; walking or otherwise getting fresh air is helpful; and to forget one’s worry, deep whistling may change one’s state of mind. Eat kačamak, soft boiled eggs, fresh and dried fruit, and sauces made of raw onion and raw radish.”

Modern twist: Nettle tea, rosemary infusions, or a warming yarrow porridge echo Pelagić’s idea of using wholesome foods and herbs to restore strength.

2. Cold and Flu Prevention

“Whoever washes and rubs his chest with cold water and ensures that he never sweats in the room will not catch a cold. And whoever does catch a cold, let him immediately take an ax and split wood until he is drenched with sweat over his whole body.”

Modern herbal addition: Pelagić emphasizes the body’s circulation; today, warming teas with elderflower, thyme, or sage can complement movement and fresh air for cold prevention.

3. Digestive Health

Pelagić frequently recommends raw or lightly cooked vegetables like onions, radishes, and leafy greens, along with fermented dairy or kačamak. These are used to:

  • Stimulate digestion
  • Prevent bloating or sluggishness
  • Support overall vitality

Herbal parallel: Caraway, fennel, and mint teas for digestion echo the same principle.

4. Plant-Based Remedies

While Pelagić provides dozens of plant recommendations, English sources highlight:

  • Nettle: Strengthens hair and nails, purifies the blood
  • Yarrow: For minor wounds, cleansing, and as a gentle tonic
  • Chamomile: Soothing for the stomach, gentle anti-inflammatory
  • Rosemary: Circulation, mental clarity, hair tonic

He often combines diet and herbs, not relying on a single remedy.

5. Household and Hygiene Tips

  • Regular washing with clean water
  • Ventilation for rooms
  • Sunlight exposure for both people and stored foods
  • Emphasis on preventing disease through lifestyle rather than only medicine

Many of Pelagić’s favorite cures—nettles, chamomile, mugwort—still anchor today’s witchy apothecaries.

For practical ways to bring these folk remedies into a modern witch’s garden, see Witchy Herbalism 101, a guide to working with the same healing plants in both ritual and everyday medicine.

But hold on, we got even more Remedies from Pelagić’s Narodni Učitelj that blur the line between folk magic and medicine.

Pelagić’s love of simple village medicine echoes the older Vlach magical practices of Negotin, where herbs and charms guard health and home.

This summary shares folk remedies from Vasa Pelagić’s Narodni Učitelj for cultural and educational purposes. It is not medical advice.

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