For Morphew, or Freckles, and to clear the Skin

June 29th, 2015

Take the Blood of any Fowl or Beast, and wipe your Face all over with it every night when you go to bed for a fortnight together, and the next day wash it all off with White Wine, and white Sugar Candy, and sometimes hold your face over the smoke of Brimstone for a while, and shut your eyes, if you add the Juice of a Limon to the white Wine, it will be the better.

Source: The Queen-like Closet or Rich Cabinet, Hannah Wolley

Claret Gargle

June 27th, 2015

A gargle of hot claret often affords much relief in cases of acute sore throat.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

Remedy for Asthma

June 25th, 2015

The following is said to be a cure for the distressing disease, asthma: The ingredients are: Sulphur, one half ounce; cream of tartar, one ounce; senna, one ounce; aniseed, one-half ounce. Pulverize and thoroughly mix the ingredients, and take one teaspoonful in about two tablespoonfuls of molasses on going to bed, or at such time through the day as may suit the patient. The dose, once a day, may be diminished or increased a little, as may best suit the state of the bowels of the individual.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

Lemon for Corns

June 23rd, 2015

A piece of lemon, or stale bread moistened with lemon juice, bound on a corn will cure it. Renew night and morning. The first application will produce soreness, but if treatment is persisted in for a reasonable length of time a cure will be effected.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

The Melancholy Water

June 21st, 2015

Take of the Flowers of Gilliflowers, four handfuls, Rosemary flowers three handfuls, Damask Rose leaves, Burrage and Bugloss flowers of each one handful, of Balm leaves six handfuls, of Marigold flowers one handful, of Pinks six handfuls, of Cinamon grosly beaten, half an ounce, two Nutmegs beaten, Anniseeds beaten one ounce, three peniworth of Saffron; put them all into a Pottle of Sack, and let them stand two days, stirring them sometimes well together; then distil them in an ordinary Still, and let it drop into a Glass wherein there is two grains of Musk, and eight ounces of white Sugar Candy, and some Leaf-Gold; take of this Water three times a week fasting, two spoonfuls at a time, and ofter if you find need; distil with soft fire; this is good for Women in Child-bed if they are faint.

Source: The Queen-like Closet or Rich Cabinet, Hannah Wolley

Baldness – To Cure

June 19th, 2015

One pound pressed hemlock bark. Break in pieces and put into a 3-quart tin-pail. Pour over it 2 quarts boiling soft water, and simmer slowly. When reduced to 3 pints set it aside to cool and pour off the clear liquid for use. Wet the whole scalp thoroughly four or five times a day, rubbing gently with the finger-ends. When the scalp gets healthier and stronger use more friction. One package will generally be all that is required to tone up the scalp. it will not only prevent the hair from falling out, but will bring a new growth of hair if there are any hair bulbs at all.

Source: Mrs Owens’ Cook Book and Useful Household Hints, Frances Owens

Hay Fever Remedy

June 17th, 2015

A victim of hay fever claims that he has found a solution of olive oil and camphor very effective. Prepare it by gently warming some olive oil and a small lump of camphor together for several hours. Apply it by oiling the inside of the lower part of the nose.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

Onion Poultice for Cold on the Chest

June 15th, 2015

A very old remedy for a cold on the chest is an onion poultice, which is made by heating the onions and putting them in a muslin bag and bruising them. Lay the bag upon the chest over night. Care should be taken about getting in a draught when the poultice is removed in the morning.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

To Make Spirit of Mints

June 13th, 2015

Take three Pints of the best white Wine, three handfuls of right Spear mint picked clean from the stalks, let it steep in the wine one night covered, in the morning, put it into a Copper Alembeck, and draw it with a pretty quick fire; and when you have drawn it all, take all your Water and add as much Wine as before, and put to the Water, and the same quantity of Mint as before; let it steep two or three hours, then put all into your Still, and draw it with a soft fire, put into your Receiver a quantity of Loaf Sugar, and you will find it very excellent; you may distil it in an ordinary Still if you please; but then it will not be so strong nor effectual.

Thus you may do with any other Herbs whatsoever.

Source: The Queen-like Closet or Rich Cabinet, Hannah Wolley

For Gout

June 11th, 2015

For the local treatment of chronic gout the following formula is recommended as being of great utility. Take of ethereal tincture of capsicum, spirits of ammonia, essence of turpentine, linseed-oil, of each one ounce; mix, and apply by rubbing.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

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    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 or other medical professional for any medical advice you require.