Cure for a Felon

July 21st, 2015

Mix well one teaspoonful of burnt salt, one teaspoonful of Indian meal, and the yolk of one egg, ten drops of spirits of turpentine, a small quantity of home made lye soap, shaved fine. Apply as a poultice for twenty-four hours. If applied early, it will certainly effect a cure.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

Warts – To Remove

July 19th, 2015

Apply oil of cinnamon to the wart for three successive days, and it will disappear very shortly.

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

For a Cough

July 17th, 2015

An excellent remedy for a cough is made by slicing two lemons thin and adding to them ten cents’ worth of whole flaxseed, ten cents’ worth of licorice root, ore gill of water, and a little sugar. Boil until quite thick and strain.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

Rosemary for remembrance

July 15th, 2015

The BBC report that the smell of rosemary has been shown to improve “future memory” — that is, remembering to do things in the future — and that the smell of lavender impairs this type of memory.

Other remedies reputed to improve memory:

French Lip Salve

July 15th, 2015

Lard, twenty-six ounces; white wax, two ounces; nitre and alum in fine powder, of each one-half ounce; alkanet to color.

Source: The Ladies’ Book Of Useful Information

Milk Soothes Sunburnt or Rough Skin

July 13th, 2015

There is nothing that will more quickly soothe a sunburnt skin than a frequent bath of milk, and if the skin has become dry or rough with wind, washing in warm milk is excellent.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

For Colic

July 11th, 2015

For colic, or pain in the bowels, take two large, thick dinnerplates, put into hot water, let heat until you cannot bear your hand on them, then wrap one in a thin towel and lay over the seat of pain, changing as often as the plate grows cool. This is much easier than wringing cloths from hot water and quite as efficacious a remedy.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

Cure for Ringworm

July 9th, 2015

Wash the part affected with a little lemon juice; then rub in with the finger a little indigo which has been bruised in a mortar. Do this gently about twice a day.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

A Very Useful Liniment

July 7th, 2015

One ounce oil of origanum, two ounces spirits of turpentine, shake up well and apply on soft linen; to some persons this liniment has an unpleasant odor, but it is very efficacious; there is no better for burns, sprains, cuts, etc., in cases where the skin is not broken; pour a little into the hand, and rub well on the parts affected two or three times a day.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

To make the very best Surfet-water

July 5th, 2015

Take one Gallon of the best French Spirits, and a Pint of Damask-Rose-water, half a Pint of Poppy water, one pound of white Sugar Candy bruised, then take one pound and half of Raisins in the Sun stoned, half a pound of Dates stoned and sliced, then take one Ounce of Mace, one Ounce of Cloves, one Ounce of Cinamon, one Ounce of Aniseeds rubbed clean from the dust, then take a quarter of an Ounce of Licoras clean scraped and sliced, and all the Spices grosly beaten, let all these steep in the Spirits four days; then take a quarter of a peck of Red Poppy Leaves fresh gathered, and the black part cut off, and put them in, and when it hath stood four or five days, strain it, and put it into your Glass, then put in your Sugar-Candy finely beaten, twelve peniworth of Ambergreece, six peniworth of Musk, keep it close, and shake it now and then, and when you use it, you may put some kind of Syrrup to it, what you please.

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

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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.