Tincture for Wounds

Digest flowers of St. Johnswart, one handful, in half a pint of rectified spirits, then express the liquor and dissolve it in myrrh, aloes, and dragon’s blood, of each one drachm, with Canada balsam, half an ounce.

Source: Our Knowledge Box, ed. G. Blackie

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

Blood Purifier, A Recipe Invaluable

The simplest and best blood purifier known is a sliced lemon, two tablespoonsful of black currant preserves, and ten red sage leaves, to a quart of boiling water, sweetened to taste, which makes a most agreeable drink.

Source: Fray’s Golden Recipes for the use of all ages, E. Fray

Health, To Enjoy: A Very Useful Recipe

One tablespoonful of lime-water taken in a little milk in a morning keeps a person in good health; or to look well and keep well, simply boil one pennyworth of watercress ten minutes in one pint of water, the water to be drunk in milk in equal parts; to each teacupful add one tablespoonful of lime water, and the best of health is the result; use it freely and at any time; the cost is a mere trifle. This entirely dispenses with all sorts of 2s. 6d Blood Mixture bottles, for everyone knows the value of the watercress, and most people know the value of lime water, and all know the properties of milk.

Source: Fray’s Golden Recipes for the use of all ages, E. Fray

Another Receipt for Purifying the Blood and Strengthening the Stomach

Take mace, flour of sulphur, cloves, cinnamon, half an ounce of each, eleven penny bits worth of saffron and about half an ounce small snake root, put it altogether into a bottle and add one quart good wine, let it stand 24 hours and it will be fit for use. A teaspoonful may be taken in the morning before breakfast, or it may be taken three times a day.

Source: Recipes: Information for Everybody, J.F. Landis

A Cure for the Stomach and Purification of the Blood

Take gentian root, ginseng root, elder bark, elder root, the rind of sassafras root, hoarhound, burdock, half an ounce of each and rosin of pine, as much as the size of a hickory nut, put the whole together into a bottle and add a quart good rye whisky. After this has stood for 24 hours you may use it.

A grown person of a strong constitution may take a teaspoonful of it at a time, and it can easily be ascertained whether more or less will do. It is to be taken in the morning before breakfast, at noon and in the evening.

Source: Recipes: Information for Everybody, J.F. Landis

Burdock

The value of this plant cannot be too much known for its direct action on the blood, whether for scurvy, skin eruptions, leprosy, scrofula, venereal, ulcers, kidney disease, convulsions, fits, &c. It is invaluable. Two ounces to be used to three pints of water. This simmer down to two pints; take a gill three times a day.

Source: Fray’s Golden Recipes for the use of all ages, E. Fray

Bleeding, To Stop

Take some agaric (that is, the fungus known as touchwood), beat it into a pulp and apply to the wound. The fungus will be found growing on the branches of the oak and other trees, and is best gathered in the autumn, when the weather is fine, and after periods of great heat.

Source: Recipes for the Million

Hives

Take a teaspoonful of flour in a glass of water. This is one dose. Repeat several times a day until relief is obtained. Hives are caused by too much acid in the blood and the flour counteracts this.

Source: The Inglenook Cook Book

Boils

Bring these tumours to a head by hot poultices of camomile flowers or white lily root, fermenting with hot water, or by a plaster of shoemakers’ wax. When ripe prick the centre with a needle or slit it with a lancet, and apply bread poultices till the discharge is cleared away. Purify the blood with a course of medicine.

Source: Recipes for the Million