Old Time Remedies

The remedies our ancestors used -- or, at least, were told to use! Folk remedies, old wives' tales, mediaeval cures... they're all here.

NOTE: these remedies are listed only for information and/or amusement. They are not to be construed as medical advice of any type, nor are they recommended for use. Consult your doctor for any medical advice you require.

 

Thursday, 7 February 2008

Articular Rheumatism

A gentleman sends us the following treatment for articular rheumatism and writes as follows: "I send you the following treatment for articular rheumatism because I used it myself and was cured in a very short time, in fact, about ten days. It was a number of years ago in the early spring when my knee joints, ankles and wrists began to pain me and continued to become worse for about a week, at the end of which time both my knees were perfectly stiff. I sent for my physician; he wrapped my knees with common baking soda; taking long wide bandages he was enabled to have the baking soda a fourth of an inch thick around the knee, raising the bandage as he laid the soda on; after this was completed I had heavy wet hot cloths laid around my knee and renewed every fifteen or twenty minutes for probably eight or ten hours. In the meantime I was taking the salicylate of soda and the cathartic, veronica water, as directed below. The following day I sat up with my legs resting on a chair, straightened out, and hot flat irons at my knees. I began this treatment on Saturday, and the following Thursday was able to walk about and go out of town, and never had rheumatism since, but at two or three different times I suspected it was coming on and used the salicylate of soda and veronica water as a successful preventive; at least the rheumatism did not materialize.

Veronica Water.-- Dose:-- Glassful every two and one-half hours till bowels are free, then one dose a day.

Also
Salicylate of Soda 1 ounce
Water 6 ounces

Large teaspoonful every two hours with a quinine pill every other dose."

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

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Tuesday, 22 January 2008

Colds, Quinine and Ginger for

"Give plenty of quinine and drink hot water with ginger in it." Quinine, as we all know, is an old remedy for colds and therefore we all know how it acts. The ginger warms up the system and produces sweating. Care should be taken when using this remedy not to take cold, as the pores are all opened by the quinine.

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

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Tuesday, 8 January 2008

Baldness

"A first class hair restorative is made of sage tea and whisky in equal parts with a dash of quinine in the bottle."

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

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Friday, 4 January 2008

Boils

Boils should be brought to a head by hot fomentations. Use boric wool. When perfectly ripe and ready to break, they may be discharged by a needle or the lancet. Constitutional treatment: Quinine, port wine, and sea-bathing are desirable.

Source: Enquire Within Upon Everything.

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