Thanks for the info, z3n. The book, and the movie. According to the synopsis on Wikipedia it does tell of the herbs gathered to help the local pharmacists.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_the_Lilies_Bloom
Will explore and see what might develop.
As an aside, the book must have made a powerful impact on you. For the past several years, attempting to remember a book once read and have yet to find the title. Personal memory here is certainly not as sharp as yours. :-)
Thanks, again.
No, in fact, I could not remember the title without assistance. I thought for a few moments, then I googled “book orphans appalachia”
Now that I think about it, as a theme, when I was in 4th grade we read a book called “My Side of the Mountain” about a boy surviving in the Catskills.