Old family remedies...got any?

[denisenh]

Partial

Vicks Vapor Rub for chest colds/sinus' (love the baby scent one!). Now they have the plugin ones that are a real Godsend!

My Mom's oncologist (who like her, is also a breast cancer survivor ) drinks water all day with a TBSP of vinegar as antioxident, as does her aunt who swears by it at the age of 90!!

I love vicks vaporub! Also a throw back to my grandmother, no doubt. If you ever get really bad chapped lips a bit of vicks rubbed on to them heals them overnite. (I am a vickvaporb addict. It is so embassassing.)

My grandmother used to drink a bit of cider vinegar daily. I don't think I could do it. I wonder if pickle juice would work?

At the onset of a cold, eat a tablespoon or so of raw garlic. You won't get the cold. If you wait even a day past the start of a cold it doesn't work as fast, it may take a couple or three doses spread a few hours apart to get rid of the cold.

 

[nkjzmom]

This one is not so off the wall but amazed me when I was little. If we got a sunburn Grandma would head right to one of her aloe vera plants, cut a leaf off, slice it in half and rub all the gel on us. It felt great but was a little embarrasing when friends were over...Grandma rubbing a plant part all over us!

 

[Simba's Mom]

My grandmother used to melt butter on a spoon (she'd hold it over an stove top flame) to which she added a bit of ground black pepper and gave it to us kids for a dry cough treatment.
(I don't remember if it worked.....I think it must have. I haven't coughed since. LOL.)

Do you recall any homestyle remedies that worked, or didn't?

Boy, I'm glad I had my grandmother! When I was a little kid she swore by Turpenhydrate (which contained codeine) for coughs. Back then you could buy it, codeine and all, over the counter. That didn't bother my parents, but the candy cigarettes she gave me did!
In our family, a cup of tea is the cure for a wide variety of minor maladies. Cramps, headache, upset stomache, "whatever ails ya".

 

[bevtoy]

Partial

I love vicks vaporub! Also a throw back to my grandmother, no doubt. If you ever get really bad chapped lips a bit of vicks rubbed on to them heals them overnite. (I am a vickvaporb addict. It is so embassassing.)

My grandmother used to drink a bit of cider vinegar daily. I don't think I could do it. I wonder if pickle juice would work?

At the onset of a cold, eat a tablespoon or so of raw garlic. You won't get the cold. If you wait even a day past the start of a cold it doesn't work as fast, it may take a couple or three doses spread a few hours apart to get rid of the cold.

Vaseline works well overnight for chapped lips, and for the "other end" if it gets chaffed.
Pickle juice or half a banana will ease those night time leg cramps or "Charley Horses" that drive you up the wall.

 

[bevtoy]

If you can get your hands on a copy of the original "White House Cookbook" from the 1800's the back section is just on medicine/home remedies. The book is a compilation of the recipes used by chefs who worked in the white house. I'm going to have to dig up my copy and see what all is in there. I do remember there are things like mustard poultice, etc.

http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/cookbooks/html/books/book_40.cfm#top

hope this works.

 

[sk8ingmom]

Gosh, i had a flying nanny once who always said something about a spoonful of sugar . . .

 

[Liberty Belle]

We used Noxema and/or vinegar on our sunburns. They both took the sting right out.

I remember when I was little my mom would blow smoke in my ear to cure an earache.

My grandmother also had a jar of Dr. Proos' (or Dr. Prose - something like that) Wonder Salve. That stuff made any skin ailment better right away.

We also put meat tenderizer on bee stings.

I can't think of any more right now.

 

[maddi]

Tried and true remedies:

Cigar or cigarette smoke blow in an ear and then a piece of cotton will cure an ear-ache.

Vicks vapor rub on the bottom of your feet, then a warm pair of socks and wear it to bed gets rid of a cold.

For a sprained ankle, put your foot in a bread sack and then a sock over it and wear it to bed for the night...takes the swelling down and reduces pain.

Nail fungus: put a thick layer of vicks on it and wrap with a band-aid. Do it everyday for a week and the fungus will disappear.

Clove for a toothache

Horseradish for a stuff nose...sure cure.

belly aches-peppermint water, works great for babies

kidney infection- cranberry juice or a beer

Lol...can you tell I live by my grandma's cures

 

[foxfire]

I have to say I've not tried this because I only just heard about it. My DH has a nasty cold and I was telling a new friend about how lousy he is feeling. She has been a nurse for 30+ years and told me I was going to laugh at this but she suggested he try taking a tsp of cayenne pepper per day.

She said you can put 1 tsp into a cup of warm water and drink it like a tea or mix it with 2T apple cider vinegar and chase it with a glass of water. She said it really helps to relieve congestion. It has many other benefits too: anti-inflammatory, cardiac (cholesterol/heart attacks/strokes), for pain and also weight loss.

I mentioned this to another friend and she said she had done this and it actually did work for her....so, I guess we will give it a try.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Sore throat:
gargle with two cups of heavy saltwater with two drops of iodine

laboring hard today and expecting to be sore tomorrow:
eat some fruit in the evening

Mikeeee

 

[mandy200587]

This isn't from grandma, but from a CM at Poly's gift shop several years ago. Sister would always burn really bad but they said to use liquid myltanta then take a cold shower and no more heat in the sunburn.

 

[dogsmom]

How about these from my grandmother:

For a wart: cut a potato in half, rub it on the wart and bury it in the back yard.

For a fever: Put slices of onions on the bottom of your feet, under a pair of socks.

Black salve for boils and Carters Little Liver pills for everything else.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

How about these from my grandmother:

For a wart: cut a potato in half, rub it on the wart and bury it in the back yard.

For a fever: Put slices of onions on the bottom of your feet, under a pair of socks.

Black salve for boils and Carters Little Liver pills for everything else.

Gross!! I can't stand socks and I would go absolutely nuts if there was anything between my feet and the socks.

 

[dogsmom]

Gross!! I can't stand socks and I would go absolutely nuts if there was anything between my feet and the socks.

She was Irish and very into potatoes and onions. She could make an onion poltice! Very smelly!!

 

[irishbosoxfan]

My step-mom used to make us Hot Toddys when we were sick. I think it was honey, tea and whiskey. I don't know if it worked or if it just knocked you out until you were well.

We got these also--I always felt so cool sitting at the table drinking alcohol that my parents had given me! I don't know if it really worked but I know I was always ready for bed afterwards...Maybe I should try that for my insomnia!

 

[irishbosoxfan]

A couple more I remember

Paragoric for tooth aches--Don't know if you can get it anymore

Noxema for sunburns--Now DH slathers me in hand lotion which surprised me by working.

Black Salve--If you know where I can get some let me know!!! We used this all the time for slivers and it worked like magic!!

Mineral Ice--for muscle aches/pains--My dad used to come into my room at night and rub my legs with it because I used to get Charley horse's really bad from running track

Vicks Vaporub-I put it on the chest when stuffed but my dad used to put it right under his nose to clear congestion

Novahistine DMX--Nastiest crap you ever had in your life!!! Stank to high heavens and tasted worse than it smelled and was so thick it would stick to your teeth---My parents swore by it--I ran from it

 

[poohandwendy]

I have to tell a story about the 'Noxema for sunburn' remedy.

I was probably about 9 or 10 years old and got a really bad sunburn. My mother always told me "Put Noxema on it to ease the pain" With that in mind, the next day I lathered myself up good. I mean, if I was complaining about my sunburn, I couldn't go out and play. Of course, mom never told me that the Noxema was not a sunscreen...not only NOT a sunscreen, but it is made up of several oils.

I went outside and played with my friends for a few hours in the middle of the day and came back feeling really sick. Ended up with sun poisoning. Had to go to the hospital for that one. I was a mess for over a week.

 

[Simba's Mom]

A couple more I remember

Paragoric for tooth aches--Don't know if you can get it anymore

Yes, my Mom used to use Paragoric on my gums. I don't think you can get it any more-I looked for it when my kids were babies. I think I vaguely remember that Paragoric, like Turpenhydrate cold medicine, had something in it that's now classified as a restricted drug.

 

[Goofyluver]

Matza Ball soup will always cure what ails you!

 

[lucyanna girl]

Lord, my Nanny ( my Father's Mother) believed in Vick's Salve for EVERYTHING. She not only rubbed it on any hurt from a cold to a bruise, she ATE a little for a sore throat.

Happy Holidays!

Penny