Acne on the Face
Paint with a lotion of 2 drachms of soft soap, an ounce of rectified spirit, and an ounce of spirit of lavender.
Source: Fray’s Golden Recipes for the use of all ages, E. Fray
Rhubarb
The primary action of rhubarb is that of a mild purgative, but it has also tonic and astringent properties, so that its secondary effects are to confine the bowels; hence it is well fitted for use in diarrhoea, but not in constipation, or any affection in which a continuous aperient action is necessary. It is not fitted for inflammatory or febrile cases, although it seldom acts as an irritant; its stimulating, combined with its aperient properties, render it valuable in dyspepsia. Generally speaking, it suits children and aged persons best. Where the bowels are sluggish, combined with ginger and a little extract of dandelion, it makes an excellent dinner pill. The ordinary dose of the powder is from 20 to 36 grains. Some persons have no objection to chew the root, and to such as have not, this is a very good way of taking it. There is an immense variety of medical compounds of which rhubarb forms an important ingredient. Mixed with an equal proportion of carbonate of soda it is an excellent remedy for the irritation of the bowels, common with children when teething. As a common aperient for the young, it is best given combined with magnesia. With both children and adults it has the property of communicating a deep tinge to the urine — this should be known, as the change of colour in the secretion of the kidneys may occasion alarm and misconception. Garden rhubarb when used as food has a slight aperient action upon the bowels In some cases this may be beneficial, but not in all; those who have a tendency to relaxed bowels should not take it. Generally speaking, it is a wholesome and cooling article of diet.
Source: Baldwin’s Herbal Guide To Health, G. Baldwin
For Inflammation
Nine handfuls of mountain moss, dried on a pan to powder. Nine pinches of it, and nine pinches of the ashes from the hearth, to be mixed in whey, taken every Tuesday and Thursday.
Source: Ancient Cures, Charms, and Usages of Ireland, Lady Wilde
Creme de L’Enclos
Take 4 ounces of milk, 1 ounce of lemon-juice, and 2 drachms of spirit of wine. Simmer over a slow fire, and then bring it to the boil, skim off the scum, and when cold apply it to the skin.
It is much used by some persons to remove freckles and sun-burnings.
Source: The Ladies’ Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness, Florence Hartley
Filed under Remedy | Tags: freckles, hartley, lemon juice, milk, skin, spirits of wine, sunburn, wine | Comment (0)Nettle Rash
Nettle Rash, though not dangerous, is a very troublesome and annoying complaint. It breaks forth, as its name implies, into an eruptive rash, discovering itself in large red patches, mostly white in the centre. The irritation is very great, resembling that of a sting of a nettle, and is most troublesome when the patient is in bed, or before a fire, or heated from any other cause. It is a very uncertain complaint, often appearing on one part of the body, and then leaving that and appearing on another part.
The most popular remedy for this complaint is nettle tea, made by boiling a good bunch of stinging nettles in three pints of water, till reduced to a quart.
Dose– Half a teacupful or more, three or four times a day.
Nettle rash mostly appears in the spring. Sometimes, however, it is not so easily got rid of; when this is the case make the following: Take two ounces of sarsaparilla, one ounce of clivers, and one ounce of the herb archangel; boil in three pints of water till reduced to a quart, strain and keep in a bottle. Dose— A large wineglasaful three or four times a day.
When the irritation is very great, ease may be obtained by washing with a strong decoction of common garden parsley; boil about half a pound of the green herb in a quart of water till reduced to a pint, apply this to the body as a lotion, warm, just before going to bed. Celandine tea will have the same effect, so also will camphor water. A slight purgative should also be taken, about twice or thrice a week. Under this treatment it will seldom last more than a week or so, but if neglected, will sometimes poison the blood, causing scrofula, or some other constitutional complaint.
Source: Baldwin’s Herbal Guide To Health, G. Baldwin
Filed under Remedy | Tags: archangel, baldwin, blood, blood poisoning, camphor, camphor water, celandine, celandine tea, clivers, decoction, nettle, nettle rash, parsley, pyrgative, rash, sarsaparilla, scrofula, stinging nettle, tea | Comment (0)Oil for the Hair
A very excellent ready-made oil for the hair which answers all common purposes, is made by mixing one part brandy with three parts of sweet oil. Add any scent you prefer.
Source: Our Knowledge Box, ed. G. Blackie
For Bilious Diarrhoea, attended with Wind and Headache
Take Mountain Flax, 1 ounce.
Turkey Rhubarb, 1/4 ounce.
Ginger Root, 1 ounce.
Calumba Root, 1 ounce.
Bruise all the roots, and boil together with the Mountain Flax in one quart of water until reduced to a pint and a half, let stand till cold, and strain off.
Dose– Half a wineglassful two or three times a day according to its aperient effect, two hours after a meal.
Source: Baldwin’s Herbal Guide To Health, G. Baldwin
Filed under Remedy | Tags: aperient, baldwin, bile, bilious, bowels, calumba, calumba root, diarrhea, diarrhoea, flax, ginger, ginger root, head, headache, mountain flax, rhubarb, stomach, turkey rhubarb, wind | Comment (0)Heart Disease
Heart disease is greatly relieved by taking a tablespoonful of whisky in a little milk.
Source: Fray’s Golden Recipes for the use of all ages, E. Fray
Pearl Water for the Complexion
Castile soap, one pound; water, one gallon. Dissolve, then add alcohol, one quart; oil of rosemary and oil of lavender, each two drachms. Mix well.
Source: Our Knowledge Box, ed. G. Blackie