Hair Dressing

A favorite hair dressing is made of three ounces of olive oil, three-quarters of a drachm of oil of almonds, two drachms of palm oil, half an ounce of white wax, a quarter of a pound of lard, and three-quarters of a drachm of essence of bergamot. This strengthens the hair and prevents baldness.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

Whooping-Cough Cure

Olive oil, 2 ounces; Jamaica rum, 2 ounces; brown sugar, 2 ounces; laudanum, 1 drachm. Melt the sugar in a little water and add the other ingredients. Give a teaspoon after every paroxysm.

After the third week of whooping-cough, put 1 ounce strongest liquid ammonia in a gallon of boiling water in an open pan. Keep up the steam by putting in a red hot brick. Place in the center of the room where the patient is. This will frequently terminate the malady in 3 or 4 days. Try it each night until relieved.

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

Gall Stones, Tried and Approved Remedy for

“Drink about a wineglass of olive oil at bedtime followed in the morning by a cathartic, as seidlitz powder, or cream of tartar and phosphate of soda; teaspoonful each morning in wineglass of water. This treatment to be pursued several weeks. Massage the part over the liver lightly night and morning. If the suffering is intense use an injection of thirty drops of laudanum to two quarts of water.” In many cases the cathartic may not be needed as the olive oil will move the bowels freely. Massaging the parts over the liver will cause it to work better and has proven successful in many cases.

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

Constipation, Substitute for Castor Oil

“Take good clean figs, and stew them very slowly in olive oil until plump and tender, then add a little honey and a little lemon juice, and allow the syrup to boil thick.
Remarks.–Keep this in a covered glass jar and when a dose of castor oil seems necessary, a single fig will answer every purpose. Not unpleasant to take.”

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

Deafness, Often Tried Remedy for

“Take one dram each of tincture of lobelia, tincture of gum myrrh, oil of sassafras, tincture of opium and olive oil, mix and apply lint wet with the liniment in the ear, night, and morning, then syringe out with warm water and castile soap.”

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

Catarrh, Successful remedy for

“Dissolve in one-half ounce olive oil as much camphor gum as it will take up. Moisten a
little finger with the oil, rub into the nostrils and snuff well up into the head.” The olive oil is very soothing to the diseased parts and the camphor contracts the swollen mucous membranes, thereby relieving the catarrh. This is an excellent remedy.

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

Chilblains, To Cure

Mutton tallow and lard of each 3/4 lb; melt in an iron vessel and add hydrated oxide of iron 2 oz; stirring continually with an iron spoon, until the mass is of a uniform black colour; then let it cool and add Venice-turpentine 2 oz; and Armenian bole 1 oz; oil of bergamot 1 dram; rub up the bole with a little olive oil before putting it in.

Apply several times daily by putting it on lint or linen — heals the worst cases in a few days.

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

Finger Nail Powder, Old Tried Remedy for

“Violet Talcum Powder 1/2 ounce
Pulverized Boric Acid 1/2 ounce
Powdered Starch 1/2 ounce
Tincture of Carmine 15 drops

If the nails become hard or brittle, immerse them in warm olive oil every
night or rub vaselin into them.”

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

Inflammation of the Bowels, Excellent Remedy for

“First bathe the abdomen with warm salt water, then lay over the navel a piece of lard the size of black walnut. Hold the hand over this until it softens; then rub well into the bowels. This often relieves when pills and powders fail.” The massaging brings about action of the bowels without a cathartic usually. Sweet oil or olive oil, instead of lard, will do as well.

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

Constipation in Babies, A Pleasant Treatment for

“One-half teaspoonful olive oil, one-half teaspoonful orange juice, three times a day after feeding.”

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