Remedies

We have made a hobby out of collecting 'home remedies’, which have been handed down, from generation to generation. Over the fifty plus years we have obtained many stories from aged persons who have long departed this old world.

I am certain there are many readers who can still remember some of these 'cures' and could add others to this list. Some of these were actually applied to this writer when he was a child. We do NOT claim what we list here will actually 'cure' the reader, however, we must not over look the fact that the people who used them really had faith in their use. They had, most of all, faith in themselves and what they could do.

They did not practice before throngs under a canvas tent, nor did they have a radio or TV program to carry their act. They did not accept money for their services. When a neighbor or stranger asked for help they responded with a gesture of friendship and faith.

One of the most popular remedies for the common cold used by our grandmothers was 'Boneset Tea'. Many old timers still remember when their mother kept a pot of this tea on the old cook stove. You were supposed to take a 'little swig' of this several times a day. It kept you from getting a cold or the grippe. Oh, was that stuff bitter! It had to be used when cold. If used while hot, one usually became more ill. Most of our ancestors collected each Fall quantities of peppermint, spearmint, catnip teas and other plants for winter ailments of their families. These herbs were dried, then stored in bags and placed in a pantry for safekeeping. Onions, fried in butter and sugar, was good for coughs. Another favorite remedy was the use of rock candy and rye whiskey. When rock candy was not available, honey was substituted. For chest colds, camphorated oil was rubbed on the chest and a woolen cloth placed over the area. To relieve a chest congestion, many old timers would wear a flannel shirt all winter on which was added turpentine and lard. Some would also add a small amount of kerosene. A poultice of rye bread and milk was another of grandmother's receipt. Eating several spoonsful of rendered skunk fat or the making of an onion poultice placed in a wool rag also helped congestion. The juice would soak the rag, then it was applied to the chest. Mixing coarse salt and bran in a cloth bag was also placed on the chest. The congestion would soon disappear.

In the winter months many a school child wore an asofedia bag to ward off certain diseases. A bag of this was also tied about a baby's neck to prevent colic.

For the relief of coughs, Grandmother's receipe called for the use of a handful of wild cherry bark boiled in water with a small amount of maple syrup added. Various spices placed in a cloth were laid upon the chest area for treatment of pneumonia.

Our early colonists were not able to run to a doctor every time someone became ill or injured. They had to depend upon their own remedies. Many remedies were brought with them from the Old Country.

Edmund Spencer, poet, born about 1552, in his great epic "the Faerie Queen" said, "Oh who can tell the hidden power in herbs and the might of magic spell".

Many a settler and explorer owed his life to a friendly Indian. We must remember they were here thousands of years before the white man first set his feet on these shores. They had a vast knowledge of the wild plants and their curative powers. To illustrate this point, in May 1535 the French explorer, Jacques Cartier, set out to explore the shore line of the St. Lawrence River. They became stranded at Stadacna, Canada by a severe storm. Nearly a quarter of his men died from scurvy. The survivors were saved by a group of friendly Indians feeding them a brew of pine bark and needles. (These ingredients are now known to be rich in vitamin C).

We recently read an interesting novel on the life of Simon Kenton. He mentions that both explorers and Indians would use the down or small feathers from the neck of a turkey buzzard to stop bleeding from musket or arrow wounds. Many methods were used to stop the flow of blood. One was the placing a spider web over the wound, another was the application of lamp black over the injury. Sometimes lard was mixed with the carbon.

Many older generations can recall their grandparents talking about the faith healers who could stop bleeding, not only in humans but also in animals. Each person had his or her own variation of the ritual. Generally, the method consisted of repeating certain mystic words or certain parts of the Bible mentally. Some would, in addition to the latter, make motions with their hands over the wound.

This same method was and is still used today by many people in 'drawing out fire' in burns. This is true not only locally, but is most prevalent in the Southern and Appalachian Mountain areas. Yes, there are many remedies for burns. Many of them seem ridiculous to us. To illustrate this point, we read recently that to draw out pain and fire from a burn, one would place hot coals on the burned area, then place cold water on the coals. The steam was thought to draw out the fire and stop the pain. Another method of a lesser degree might include scraping of a white potato, then place the material on the burn. The poultice was allowed to remain on the burn until the scrapings turned black and the flesh white. Then talcum powder and vaseline was applied. A solution of boiled chestnut leaves was thought to be a good remedy, too.

One of the old remedies to combat infection was the use of turpentine, sugar and kerosene. The latter in the early days was not plentiful. When it was available, it was usually kept in an old jug in which a corncob was inserted as a stopper or plug. Later when cans and lamps came into use, a potato was stuck on the spout to prevent leaking. Many poultices were used to draw out infection. If a member of the family stepped on a nail and the wound was deep, the injured part was placed in warm fresh cow manure for several hours. A plaster of this same material was also applied to the throat for quinsy.

A popular remedy for arthritis was to dissolve powdered rhubarb in white whiskey. Some believed that holding a magnet over the joint would draw out the pain, while others claim that eating sour cherries relieved them of pain. A tea from cornsilk was used, too, for arthritis pains This same tea was used to clear up kidney conditions Black cherries are claimed by many to cure gout.

There were many remedies for asthma. Some were, in our estimate, quite hilarious. One was to have the victim stand against a blackoak or sourwood tree. A hole was drilled in the tree just above the head and a lock of hair was placed in the hole. When the victim's growth passed this hole, he would be cured. If the victim died, so would the tree. Another 'cure' was to swallow a handful of spider webs, which were rolled into a ball. Some believed in smoking a real strong tobacco. (Wonder if Cutty Pipe or Five Brothers would work?) A concoction made from the center of a pine log was another remedy. The chips were placed in a bottle of gin. When the wood turned brown, a teaspoon full of the liquid was used twice a day. A mixture of honey and lemon juice and rye whiskey was considered good.

The treatment of an earache were varied. To stop the ache, it was necessary to break off the heads of several bed bugs and squeeze several drops of blood in the ear. Several drops of warm urine in the ear cavity was an old practice, or holding the ear over the chimney of a kerosene lamp or have someone blow smoke in the ear have been claimed by many to be good. Relief of pain was obtained by placing wood ashes in an old rag dampened with hot water. This was placed over the ear.

To remove a sty from the eye was accomplished by rubbing the tip of a black cat's tail over it.

T o reduce the fever in an ill person, it was necessary to have someone trim his toenails place the cuttings in a cloth bag and tie the bag to a live eel. The fever was then carried away. Drinking large quantities of cold tea will reduce the fever. Many varieties of tea have been used. The settler's wife grew her teas in her garden for this purpose.

To cure headaches, old mountaineers would never permit their hair to be thrown away or burned after a haircut. Instead, they would gather all the curls and strands, then bury them under a large stone. This was sure to cure.

Many old timers knew that a 'cud of chewin tobaccy' would draw out the poison and kill the pain of a bee sting. Collecting seven different leaves from plants, twisting and crushing them and applying them as a poultice on the sting would kill the pain. One man insists he still uses chewing tobacco on cuts. Another uses applications of pork fat to cure wounds.

To remove freckles, one must, on the first day of April, walk in the early morning dew in your bare feet.

Several bottles of birch soda pop will bring out measles and if you let a chicken fly over a child's head it will cure him of chicken pox. To reduce the swelling in mumps, one must draw both sides of the neck over the edges of a hog trough nine times.

A short haircut and an application of kerosene will free one of head lice. Burning sulphur in a closed room will kill bed bugs.

The Indians knew the value of Jewelweed in curing poison ivy. This plant is also called 'touch-me-not'. The crushed stem juices are rubbed on the affected parts. Other remedies include the inside part of a banana. Juice from a green tomato, or, a strong tea from boiled willow leaves placed on blisters has been used by many victims. A common remedy was washing the skin with heavy lather from home made soap, made from wood ashes and fats plus some alkali, to help to neutralize the acid oil.

Years ago, kids in the summer while running barefoot used to get sores between the toes. They called it 'cow itch'. Mothers used to tie woolen strings around each toe. Sometimes fresh cow manure was also used.

Men and women of the mountains, when affected with pain from rheumatism, would gather pokeweed roots and roast them by the fireplace. When dry, they were ground into a powder. This was certain to draw out the pain from any part of the body. There are still a few old timers who think that carrying a 'Buckeye nut' in their pocket will prevent one from this condition. Once in a while an ad will appear in a magazine where these nuts can be purchased. Many a pot of tea was made from alfalfa seeds for relief from this ailment.

To cure a sore throat, an old worn-out sock was placed about the neck for a week or longer. The soreness would disappear. Gargling with hot salt water, or a mixture of honey and vinegar were favorites in many families. Persons suffering from hoarseness can have this condition cleared up by chewing freshly dug root of a horseradish plant.

Upset stomachs were treated by brewing an odd number of peach leaves. The brew had to be sipped slowly. Also, many mothers believed that placing these leaves in a small bag and tying the bag on the stomach would clear up this disturbance. Believe-it-or-not, many had faith in placing five small flint stones in a glass of water for a few moments, and then drinking the liquid. An old remedy was 'pap-soup'. This was prepared by adding flour and sugar to milk. Some swore by 'Old Man's Tea and Old Woman's tea'. This brew is very bitter.

Many cures for toothache exist. Perhaps the oldest one came to us from the Indians, yet it is the least known. This consists of crushed Broad-leaf plantain. A small portion of the crushed leaf was inserted into the tooth cavity. A drop of Blue Stone solution was thought to be a good remedy for this pain. Holding a cloth bag, in which was placed wood ashes, against the face would draw out the pain. We are certain some still remember the old Corncob pipe. Smoke over the tooth was a popular remedy. Others used a drop of vanilla extract while some used burned alum. Some believe the pain of a toothache can be relieved by picking the tooth with a spinter from a tree that was hit by lightening.

We still remember the warning given to us kids by the old neighbor- 'don't handle those toads. If they 'wet' on your hands you'll get warts'. Every community had a granny who had her own special way of getting rid of them. Some called it 'powowing'. (It must be emphasized that the victim MUST have as much faith in the cure as the person who performs it.) They would rub over the spots with their hands, some would even rub the wart with the juice of a certain vegetable and mentally repeat some mystic words or phrases. The warts were supposed to dry up and fall away in a few days. Another would rub the wart with a penny and also repeat some mystic words. The coin was then buried under a rainspout. One person told me that to remove warts from the hand, you should rub the wart with gauze saturated with castor oil three times daily. I read of another method pick the wart until it bleeds. Place a drop of your blood on a coin, then toss it where it can be found. The finder will get your warts. If this does work, then count the number of warts on your body. Place the same number of small pebbles in a small bag and throw them in a forks of a road. You might also steal your neighbor's dishrag, rub it over the warts and then bury it in the woods. Some insist that the juice of a milkweed plant on the wart every day for fourteen days is an old method.

Many unusual remedies were used by mothers to relieve their babies of worms. Perhaps the most unusual one is starving the WORM. A cup of hot milk was held under the child's nose so it could breathe the vapors. The worms were supposed to detect the odor and to reach the food, they move outward through the nostrils. As they emerged, the milk was moved farther away from the face. Then they could be caught and pulled from the child. A similar belief was the use of baked eggshells. The shells were crumbled into a powder and added to a cup of milk, maple syrup and butter. This had to be repeated for seven days. The theory behind this method seemed to be that the sharp particles of the eggshell would cut the worms into small pieces.

Attacks of Whooping cough were relieved by placing an old horse collar around the neck of the person. If this does not work, draw a live minnow through the victim's lips. (Better get your fishing license first).

An old method of treating jaundice was boiling the scrapings from a cow's horn and drinking the solution. Another remedy was for mothers to secretly gather an odd number of 'sowbugs' from under stones and old boards then boil them and have the patient drink it. This was a sure cure.

To cure grouchyness in a member of your family, have them drink a tea made from violet blossoms daily.

To make your hair grow, collect water from a broken section of a grapevine. This is supposed to stop baldness. I have been told of another method to cure baldness. Boil a number of peach kernels in vinegar. The solution is then applied to the scalp.

If one is subject to leg cramps at night, you might try to remember to turn your shoes upside down before you get into bed.

The secret of an old New England cure for 'hang-overs' after a night's celebration was the use of honey, and to prevent 'home sickness' when one is away from home for a long time, try soaking a piece of bread in water and place it in a small bag and tie it about your neck.

Erysipelas, or wildfire as it was called years ago, was cured by three strands of red silk or wool wrapped around the body. If these are not available, another method can be tried- carry three shovels full of live coals around the person three times.

If one suffers from constant backache, wait until you hear the first whippoorwill call, then turn a somersault. If you can't stand the pain until you hear the call, you might try a mustard plaster. This remedy has been passed down from generation to generation.

Chewing the inside bark of slippery elm was a sure cure for constipation and if a kidney condition exists, it is cleared up by drinking a solution of boiled pumpkin seeds. Years ago mothers would stop diarrhea in their children by browning flour in a pan, adding water enough to make a paste and feeding several spoonsful to the child.

To cure a goiter, rub it secretly with the hand of a deceased person. The next time you develop a case of hiccups, try swallowing a spoonful of white granulated sugar. Some people swear by this method.

A small root of a peony plant was tied about the neck of a child so that it could be chewed upon. This was used for years by many mothers to comfort her teething baby.

When our grandparents suffered from rheumatism, they dissolved a large quantity of camphor in a pint of whiskey. This mixture was rubbed on the aching parts.

Many old timers carried a potato or a buckeye nut in their pockets. Other rheumatism cures were tying a piece of cat fur around the affected part. Some believed that if you cut your fingernails only on Fridays the pain would disappear. If this did not work, they then tried to remember to put their left stocking on first.

Many believed that wearing a ring made out of a horseshoe nail was good. (I still have a few left that were given to me years ago.) Some suggested that one chew on part of a Canadian thistle root. This was supposed to knock the 'aches and pains' right out of you. Rattlesnake oil is supposed to cure your rheumatism.If grandmother's sour cream did not form into butter after churning it for a time, a penny was dropped into the liquid contents. Speaking of pennies, those large old coins were placed on the eyelids of persons who expired. This insured that the eyes would remain closed. Wearing coins about the neck was thought to prevent a cough or cold.

For heartburn, wear a match over your right ear. To cure soreness of the throat, many mothers tied a piece of pork rind about their child's neck.

A dose of castor oil was used to cure 'sniffles', and black pepper relieved coughing. (What about sneezing??) Washing your face in water found in an old tree stump removed freckles.

We found a new use for the garlic shoots growing in our yards and gardens. I have been told that placing a few small garlic bulbs in the shoe of a child and wearing the mashed contents for a day will cure a child of worms. In compiling these remedies over the years, we found many references to the use of garlic. Many grandmothers would make a poultice of these bulbs and place them over a wound. Also many believed that eating garlic caused sinus conditions to disappear, and a poultice on heel blisters relieved the pain. The keeping of a garlic bulb in your mouth for several hours, not only will prevent one from becoming thirsty, but it is credited with relieving sore throat and tonsil infection. Chewing and swallowing garlic has been an old cure for whooping cough attacks. Others used this for high blood pressure and headaches.

We also found that the Chinese, Greeks, Romans, Hindus, Egyptians, and Babylonians have all used garlic for treatment of many human ailments. Over the centuries this little plant has been used in salads, soups and with certain meats. Many backwoodsmen stopped the ringing in their ears with a drop or two of garlic juice.

We further found in many areas the use of apple cider vinegar has been used for many ailments such as lameness, burns, poison ivy, impetigo and ringworm. While on the subject of vinegar, we will pass along an interesting custom. This method, as told to me, had been used by a certain group of people in this state. To hurry a barrel of cider into fermenting and becoming vinegar the women would remove the bung on a barrel, holding their mouths close to the opening and shouted the names of three of the meanest or most evil tempered women in that local community.

Many old timers every spring would take a spoonful of sulphur and molasses for their tonic. They also made wine from boneset tea. One of the oldest blood purifiers that came down to us from the Indians was sassafras. The dried bark can still be purchased in many markets. About a year ago an old friend wrote me saying that his great grandmother was an Indian. She died at the age of 98. He said she used many of the remedies we have mentioned. She never had the services of a doctor. She was a firm believer in the use of pennyroyal tea, also called Squawmint for stomach disorders. Sage tea was another of her favorite cures for stomach ailments. For eye infections she used a mild solution made from slippery elm. She made a hot tea for liver complaints from pipsissewa plants that grew in the nearby mountain, and for a cure of poison ivy she used crushed melon leaves on the affected parts. Every spring she used her sassafras and spicewood teas as a tonic.

Research has shown that the original knowledge of plant medicines reached its highest point among the Aztecs. The emperor, Montezuma, grew many trees and herbs in his gardens. He ordered his physicians to make experiments to cure illness of his people.

Wounds were washed with water, salt solutions, including urine and many herb concoctions. Sometimes dressings were made from honey and salt.

Every Indian nation had its medicine man. He was looked upon as a sacred person. He was supposed to have the highest knowledge of curative powers of plants as well as other mysterious powers.

The remedies we have listed are but a few of the thousands that were used by our ancestors, and in some sections they are still practiced. Again, we make NO guarantee that they will or will not cure. We simply state them as we have gathered them over the years.