Good Old Mother's Remedy for Sore Throat

"Steep a medium sized red pepper in one-half pint of water, strain and add one-fourth pint of good vinegar and a heaping teaspoonful each of salt and powdered alum and gargle with it as often as needed. This is a very good remedy."

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

Tickling in Throat, Tested Gargle for

"Gargle from four to six times daily with following:--

Strong Sage Tea 1 pint
Salt 2 tablespoonfuls
Cayenne Pepper 2 tablespoonfuls
Vinegar 2 tablespoonfuls
Honey 2 tablespoonfuls

Mix thoroughly and bottle for use."

The above ingredients are all excellent for sore throat and it is an old tried remedy and can easily be obtained. If it is too strong dilute with warm water to the desired strength.

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

Gargle for Sore Throat

"Equal parts of alcohol and glycerin make a good gargle, or use three tablespoonfuls of vinegar and one of salt to a tumbler of water. Or simply hot water and salt when nothing else is to be had. The hot water alone is very good."

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

Bleeding from the Lungs. Salt Water for

"Give the patient half a teaspoonful of common salt every hour or two until hemorrhage abates."

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

Bleeding, Salt and Flour Successful Remedy for

"Equal parts of fine salt and flour placed on cut. I have seen this tried and it proved
successful." The salt will stop the bleeding by its astringent action and mixed with flour forms a coating over the cut.

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

Sprains, Turpentine Liniment for

"Equal parts of spirits of turpentine and vinegar and the yolk of one egg make a valuable liniment in cases of sprains, bruises and rheumatism poultice. Take common salt, roast it on a hot stove till dry as possible. Take one teaspoonful each of dry salt, venice turpentine and pulverized castile soap. Excellent for felon, apply twice daily until open." This is a very good liniment and if applied often will draw, which is one of the essential things for a felon.

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

Removing Granulations from the Eye

Take a stick of tag-alder about two feet long, boring a hole nearly through the middle of the stick, filling it with salt, and plugging it up; then put one end into the fire and char it nearly to the salt, then the other end the same way, and finally pulverizing and applying the salt, the same as the above, once daily only.

Source: Dr Chase's Recipes, or Information for Everybody, A.W. Chase

Biliousness, Salt and Water for

"Take a teaspoonful of salt to a cup of water and drink before breakfast for a few mornings." It is a well-known fact that a little salt in warm water before breakfast is
laxative and also cleanses the system and bowels on account of its purifying action.

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

Eye Water

Table salt and white vitriol, of each, 1 table-spoon; heat them upon copper or earthen until dry; the heating drives off the acrid or biting water, called the water of crystallization, making them much milder in their action; now add them to soft water 1/2 pt.; putting in white sugar 1 table-spoon; blue vitriol a piece the size of a common pea. If it should prove too strong in any case, add a little more soft water to a vial of it. Apply it to the eyes 3 or 4 times daily.

Source: Dr Chase's Recipes, or Information for Everybody, A.W. Chase

Biliousness, Salt Lemonade for

"Hot salt lemonade night and morning. Juice of one lemon and teaspoonful salt to as much hot water as you can drink."

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

Liniment for Old Sores

Alcohol 1 qt; aqua ammonia 4 oz; oil of origanum 2 oz; camphor gum 2 oz; opium 2 oz; gum myrrh 20 oz; common salt 2 table-spoons. Mix, and shake occasionally for a week.

Source: Dr Chase's Recipes, or Information for Everybody, A.W. Chase

Apoplexy, Simple Injection for

"Place dry salt on the tongue and give an injection as follows:

Warm water 1 quart
Common salt 2 teaspoonfuls
Brandy 1/2 ounce

This injection is recommended for any kind of a shock which affects the circulation."

The injection of the bowels will relieve the congestion by drawing the blood away from the brain.

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

Sore Throat, Gargle and Local Application for

"Common salt 2 tablespoonfuls
Strained honey 2 tablespoonfuls
Vinegar 3 tablespoonfuls
Camphor 1/2 teaspoonful"

Use as a gargle. External applications, wring a cloth out of salt and cold water and keep it quite wet, bind tightly about the neck and cover with a dry cloth. It is best to use this at night."

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

Snake Bites, Onions and Salt for

"Good drawing poultice for snake bites is an onion and a handful of salt pounded together. We also use this for a common poultice."

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

Sick Headache, Lemon Good for

"One lemon before breakfast will help to keep off sick headache. Have never found a remedy to cure sick headaches. A sack of hot salt will always help the pain." The lemon will help to tone up the stomach and the salt applied to the head will help the pain by relieving the congestion. It is always well to take a good cathartic after a spell of sick headache.

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

Catarrh, Cleansing Antiseptic Remedy for

"Snuff about one teaspoonful of salt in cup of warm water every morning in nostrils. I have found this remedy simple but fine for catarrh and also having sleeping room well ventilated summer and winter will help in curing disease." This remedy will be found very effective in catarrh because it loosens up the secretions and cleanses the nose of the foul secretions and also has an antiseptic action. This can be used twice daily. Snuffing should be done very gently so as not to draw the water too far back.

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

Gargle for Sore Throat

Very strong sage tea 1/2 pint; strained honey, common salt, and strong vinegar, of each 2 tablespoons; cayenne, the pulverized, one rounding teaspoon; steeping the cayenne with the sage, strain, mix and bottle for use, gargling from 4 to a dozen times daily according to the severity of the case.

Source: Dr Chase's Recipes, or Information for Everybody, A.W. Chase

Hay fever, Quick Relief from

"For hay fever and other slight forms of diseases which produce sneezing, there is no remedy more quickly effective, and often curative, than a vapor of heated salt and alcohol. Heat it very hot and breathe the vapor for ten minutes at a time, four or five times a day."

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

Snake Bites, Simple Poultice for

"Poultice of hops or salt and grease; grease is to keep salt together. Hops are always kept to be used in berry season." As a poultice it draws the poison out.

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

Bites, Salt Water for Mosquito

"Take salt and water in a little dish and keep wetting the bite for a few moments. This will soon destroy the poison," This will be found a very simple but effective remedy, especially in children or small babies, as we mothers all know how very annoying a mosquito bite is to children. The salt water will remove all the poison and at the same time relieve the itching and swelling. Care should be taken not to make it too strong for a small baby.

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

Stings, Simple Remedy for

"Take a dresser key or any with a good sized hole and press over the sting. If used very soon this will remove the stinger, then cover with wet salt."

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

Poison Ivy, Buttermilk and Salt Heals

"Add considerable salt to buttermilk and bathe poisoned parts in it frequently."

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

Toothache, Dry Salt and Alum for

"Equal parts. Take common salt and alum. Mix and pulverize these together, wet a small
piece of cotton and cause the mixture to adhere to it and place in the hollow tooth. At first a sensation of coldness will be produced, which will gradually disappear, as will the toothache. This is an excellent remedy and should be given a trial by any person suffering with this trouble."

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

News: Home Remedies

"At a time when federal advisories on drug risks and side effects are common and health-care costs often high, you might be tempted to turn to home remedies to treat your children.

Sometimes parents can soothe children's symptoms just by using something from the pantry -- perhaps learned from their mother or grandma.

"Each culture has its own little set of remedies that they use; it's just part of the upbringing," said Dr. Lynn Smitherman, a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics."

Full story: The Courier-Journal, March 6th 2008

Convulsions in Children, a Grandmother's Remedy for

"Dip the feet and limbs in warm water; give dry salt in mouth." Care should be taken not to give too much salt as you may choke the child. Also apply cold cloths to the head, to draw the blood from the brain.

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

Heartburn, Home Remedy for

"A few grains of table salt allowed to dissolve in the mouth and frequently repeated will sometimes give relief." People who have too little acid in the stomach will be much benefited by this remedy.

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

News: Remember days of home remedies?

"Modern medicine could be spelled m-i-r-a-c-l-e, and I wouldn't object. It seems that even as more and more unbelievable strides are made, the gains come even faster and faster.

I still marvel at the progress of medicine even in my lifetime. When I was a kid, medicine had not stumbled much beyond home remedies, some of which worked, and some didn't."

Full story: Beaumont Journal, 13th February 2008

Weak Back, Vinegar and Salt for

"One tablespoonful of salt and one tablespoonful of vinegar to a quart of hot water. Bathe the back, then rub well with sweet oil and relief will soon follow."

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

Night Sweats, Salt Bath for

"Bathe the body in salt water every other day. Just before retiring take a cup of sage tea, and eat nourishing food," The salt acts as an astringent as it slightly closes up the pores, and the sage establishes a better circulation and at the same time helps the sweating. This is a very simple and effective remedy.

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

Tickling in Throat, Tested Gargle for

"Gargle from four to six times daily with following:--

Strong Sage Tea 1 pint
Salt 2 tablespoonfuls
Cayenne Pepper 2 tablespoonfuls
Vinegar 2 tablespoonfuls
Honey 2 tablespoonfuls

Mix thoroughly and bottle for use."

The above ingredients are all excellent for sore throat and it is an old tried remedy and can easily be obtained. If it is too strong dilute with warm water to the desired strength.

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

Sore throat, Simple Gargle for

"Soda 1 teaspoonful
Salt 1 teaspoonful
Borax 1 teaspoonful

Dissolve in pint of warm water; use as a gargle frequently."

This is a very good gargle. It contracts the parts and acts as an antiseptic and thoroughly cleanses the parts.

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

Remedy for Sick Head-ache

A table-spoonful of table salt; dissolved in a pint of water, as warm as you can drink it; take at two doses, and drink freely of luke-warm water, until it causes vomiting; put a hot brick to the feet, and avoid the air, which will check the perspiration.

Source: Domestic Cookery, Useful Receipts, and Hints to Young Housekeepers, Elizabeth E. Lea

For Rheumatism

Persons are liable to have the rheumatism from taking cold in the winter. Where the pain is most violent, put on plasters of Burgundy pitch, spread on leather. Persons that are subject to it, should always keep pitch in the house to use, as it will give relief; a silk handkerchief tied round the joint, keeps it warm and relieves stiffness. If the pain is in the back part of the head, put a blister on the neck, by all means. When persons have a bad spell of rheumatism, they should always take medicine, and avoid eating meat for a few days. Equal parts of rhubarb and castile soap, made into pills, with a little water, is a valuable medicine for rheumatism, and suits aged persons; the pills should be taken at night on going to bed. They are easily made, and should always be at hand: it is valuable as a cathartic in almost every case where mild medicine is necessary. The use of the shower bath is also beneficial. Flannel should always be worn next the skin, and the feet kept dry. Bathing with camphor sometimes relieves the pain, but there is a danger of driving it to a more vital part. Salt and water is useful to bathe for the rheumatism, when it is of long-standing.

Source: Domestic Cookery, Useful Receipts, and Hints to Young Housekeepers, Elizabeth E. Lea