Bronchitis, General Relief for

"Dose of castor oil every night; one teaspoonful for child. Grease well with camphorated oil or any good oil." The castor oil is very good for carrying off the phlegm from the stomach and bowels that children always swallow instead of coughing up like an older person. It is well in addition to the above remedy to give a little licorice or onion syrup to relieve the bronchial cough.

Source: Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Bronchitis, Lard Poultice for

"Take a piece of cotton batting large enough to cover chest and fit up close to the neck; wring out of melted lard as hot as the patient can stand it, and apply. Change as often as it gets cold. Also give dose of castor oil."

Source: Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Cholera Infantum, First Thing to Do

"The first thing to do is to give a teaspoonful of castor oil, so as to thoroughly clean out the bowels. Then add one tablespoonful of turpentine to one quart of hot water and wring cloths out of this and apply to the bowels to relieve the pain that is always present in this disease. The turpentine is especially good for the bowels when they are bloated and have much gas in them."

Source: Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Constipation, Substitute for Castor Oil

"Take good clean figs, and stew them very slowly in olive oil until plump and tender, then add a little honey and a little lemon juice, and allow the syrup to boil thick.
Remarks.--Keep this in a covered glass jar and when a dose of castor oil seems necessary, a single fig will answer every purpose. Not unpleasant to take."

Source: Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Cholera Morbus, Castor Oil For

"Castor oil one tablespoonful for an adult, one-half tablespoonful for children." This is an old, tried remedy and very good.

Source: Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Nervousness, Five Ingredient Remedy That Relieves

"In extreme nervous debility with tendency to fainting fits, use the following:

Spirits of Camphor 1/2 ounce
Aromatic Spirits of Ammonia 1/2 ounce
Spirits of Lavender Compound 1 ounce
Tincture Valerian 1 ounce
Tincture Castor 1 ounce

Mix.

Dose.-- From one to three teaspoonfuls at intervals of from fifteen minutes to three hours, according to urgency of symptoms. This mixture should be kept on hand by all persons subject to fainting fits."

Spirits of camphor and aromatic spirits of ammonia stimulates the heart, while the tincture of valerian quiets the nervous system.

Source: Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Headache, Castor Oil Will Relieve

"One tablespoonful of castor oil. Have used this and found relief." This remedy gives relief as the castor oil carries off the food that is distressing the stomach. It is well to take two tablespoonfuls of lime-water in a glass of milk three times a day for about a week after the castor oil has operated.

Source: Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Earache, Castor Oil for

"Put a drop of castor oil in the ear. Fill hot water bag and warm the ear that aches."

Source: Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Boil, Another Vinegar Remedy for

"If taken at first a boil can be cured by dipping the finger in strong vinegar and holding on the boil until it stops smarting. Repeat three or four times then apply a little oil to the head of boil."

Source: Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Corns, Castor Oil for

"Apply castor oil; rub it thoroughly, then soak feet. It will soften and remove corns."

Source: Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Constipation, Glycerin and Witch-Hazel Remedy Where Castor Oil Failed

"Equal parts of glycerin and witch-hazel." Dose:-- One teaspoonful every night at bedtime. In severe cases where you have been unable to get a movement of the bowels by the use of other cathartics, take a teaspoonful every two hours until the bowels move freely. This remedy has been known to cure when castor oil and other remedies have failed.

Source: Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Convulsions in Children, Old Tried Remedy for

"Put patient in hot bath; give castor oil and rub vigorously." The castor oil does good in cases where the bowels are too loose or constipated, as the case may be, by carrying off the impurities, and the hot bath equalizes the circulation, relieving the convulsion.

Source: Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

News: Old remedy breaks new ground

"WHILE most old wives' tales are shrugged off with modern day scepticism, one proved true this week for Nina Tarei -- castor oil can induce labour.

Only a couple of hours after mixing castor oil with her Coca-Cola, Mrs Tarei had made history and was holding her new baby boy."

Full story: Gisborne Herald, 23rd February 2008

Pin worms, Pink Root for

"Take one ounce pink root, and one pint of water. Make a decoction of this by boiling the above to half a pint. Give a teaspoonful three times a day for two days, following this up by a good dose of castor oil or cream of tartar to thoroughly cleanse the system."

Source: Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Castor Oil Pomade for the Hair

Four ounces of castor oil; two ounces of prepared lard; two drachms of white wax; essence of jessamine, or otto of rose.

Melt the fat together, and when well mixed, and becoming cool, add whatever scent you prefer, and stir it constantly until cold; then put it into pots or bottles for use.

Source: Warne's Model Cookery and Housekeeping Book, Mary Jewry

Tape Worm, Successful Remedy for Children or Adult

"Turpentine 15 drops
Castor Oil 1 teaspoonful
Milk 1 teacupful

Mix and for adult take at one dose. If not successful repeat the next day. For child under ten years, one-half the quantity."

Source: Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Ihle's Mixture for Baldness

Resorcin 1-1/2 drams
Castor Oil 1-1/2 ounces
Spirits of Wine 5 ounces
Balsam Peru 10 drops

Mix. Rub into the scalp daily with a piece of flannel.

Source: Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Tape Worms, Pumpkin Seed Tea for

"One pint pumpkin seeds skinned and steeped. Add water enough to make three tumblers. Take one tumbler every half hour, then a good dose of castor oil. The worm will come with oil. My mother helped prepare the seeds and saw the tapeworm which came from a woman as a result of this dose."

Source: Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter