What home or OTC remedies did you grow up with?

[kaytieeldr]

Does anybody know what the idea of a mustard plaster was? I can’t off the top of my head think of how that was supposed to help chest congestion.

Yup. Like what Vicks does.

 

[ronandannette]

Yup. Like what Vicks does.

What is that, exactly? Besides the menthol providing a warming sensation to the skin and a bit of relief for nasal congestion? I know some people actually put it on their feet for a cold and that baffles me entirely.

 

[scrhsa]

We used primarily food items as treatments. Here are a few I can think of.
A paste of baking soda on bee stings. The claim was it would draw or neutralize the venom.
Ginger Ale for an upset stomach. Ginger does act as an antiemetic, so I still use this.
Gargling salt water for a sore throat. I could see how this might help, but it was never pleasant.
Epson Salt baths for sore muscles. I really don't know if this is truly effective or not. My quick search didn't bring any true studies or reliable websites.
Oatmeal Baths for dry skin. I had to look up why this was recommended. Apparently, the oatmeal creates a 'skin barrier' to keep it better hydrated.
Coffee for wheezing/asthma. This is a really old one. Again, I can see how it might have had benefits prior to more modern treatments.

My Mom had me do all of these except the coffee one Plus, anytime there was anything in-grown on our bodies she'd slap some fatback on it. I guess the salt on it would pull the icky stuff out!

 

[cabanafrau]

What is that, exactly? Besides the menthol providing a warming sensation to the skin and a bit of relief for nasal congestion? I know some people actually put it on their feet for a cold and that baffles me entirely.

The mustard stimulates bloodflow and helps with congestion.

Vapo rub on your feet at night can be very helpful to quiet a cough.

 

[barkley]

ground black pepper applied to a cut to slow/stop bleeding (and no, it does not burn when applied).

 

[J'aime Paris]

My grandma used to put this on us anytime we had a scrape.

 

[tvguy]

My mom was a nurse, so pretty much nothing.
When other kids scraped their knees their parents put Mercurochrome on it. My mom just washed scrapes with soap and water. If I got the flu or a cold, I had to drink lots of fluids, no over the country treatments because my mom pretty much didn't thing anything non-prescription worked.
My wife was one of those who took something for a cold, and I took nothing. She has discovered what I discovered. You can do nothing and be sick for a few days, or you can take OTC stuff and be a little less sick, but for twice as long.

 

[cabanafrau]

ground black pepper applied to a cut to slow/stop bleeding (and no, it does not burn when applied).

Never heard of that.
Not suggesting doubt, just new to me.

 

[cabanafrau]

My mom was a nurse, so pretty much nothing.
When other kids scraped their knees their parents put Mercurochrome on it. My mom just washed scrapes with soap and water. If I got the flu or a cold, I had to drink lots of fluids, no over the country treatments because my mom pretty much didn't thing anything non-prescription worked.
My wife was one of those who took something for a cold, and I took nothing. She has discovered what I discovered. You can do nothing and be sick for a few days, or you can take OTC stuff and be a little less sick, but for twice as long.

So your mother believed that Native Americans and other indigenous peoples around the world knew absolutely nothing of value to ease aches, pains and minor ailments?

 

[tvguy]

So your mother believed that Native Americans and other indigenous peoples around the world knew absolutely nothing of value to ease aches, pains and minor ailments?

Certainly she did. Just the ones that now require a prescription.

 

[cabanafrau]

Certainly she did. Just the ones that now require a prescription.

So aspirin offers no benefits?

 

[Hikergirl]

Ginger Ale for an upset stomach.
To this day my Grandmother tells me to make sure we have it in the house for when the kids are sick

 

[Christine]

For a bad cough (which was likely pertussis), my grandmother would give me a big spoon of whiskey, lemon juice, and honey to suppress the cough. It did seem to help a bit.

 

[disneychrista]

I swear using a humidifier during the winter helps prevent colds/bronchitis . I went through three years of bad BAD bronchitis in the winter. Year four I started using the humidifier as soon as I turned on the heater. I have one in my bedroom and one in the front room. They are running anytime I am in the room/ area of the house. I haven’t had a cold/bronchitis since. It’s been about 3 years.

 

[tvguy]

So aspirin offers no benefits?

For what? I took a baby aspirin every day for years, and my new Doctor (not my mom) says the increased risk of a stroke by a burst blood vessel it brings off sets any benefit of preventing a stroke from a blood clot.
Kids shouldn't take it due to a risk of Reye's Syndrome. Over the counter drugs can kill you.

 

[RedAngie]

 

[cabanafrau]

For what? I took a baby aspirin every day for years, and my new Doctor (not my mom) says the increased risk of a stroke by a burst blood vessel it brings off sets any benefit of preventing a stroke from a blood clot.
Kids shouldn't take it due to a risk of Reye's Syndrome. Over the counter drugs can kill you.

Death via prescription meds never happens.

 

[eileenjez]

My mom would heat up some orange juice with Karo syrup and whiskey. Worked wonders for colds.

 

[tvguy]

Death via prescription meds never happens.

Didn't say that, so don't put words in my mouth.
But my Doctor's medical group does have a big chart up in the waiting area about the importance of clearing EVERY OTC and "Natural" supplement with your Doctor before taking them.

https://www.kshb.com/news/health/5-...ines-that-could-kill-you-if-you-take-too-much

 

[dish rag]

Our parents would rub Arnica on our bruises.