Old cures and remedies

CraftiEst · Joined: 28 Feb 2004 Posts: 205 Location: Northern Ireland

I am collecting old cures and recipes for ailments etc and making them into a small book.

As a lot of the old country folk that knew about this sort of thing are unfortunately no longer with us, I wondered if anyone out there has some interesting ones they want to share/pass on. :cat:

Cure for hiccups - swallow a teaspoon of neat white vinegar.....gone!

Thanks :)

twinkletoes · Tell a Friend Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 2:48 pm Post subject:

Very interesting topic this. I always try and use natural things where possible. I have a book that I made somewhere and will try and dig it out.

Does it have to be *old folk* or can it also be modern day natural things ?

twinkletoes · Tell a Friend Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 3:02 pm Post subject:

NB ...... WHILE NATURAL REMEDIES CAN HELP MINOR DISCOMFORTS, PLEASE USE COMMON SENSE. IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

PIMPLES ...... Dab distilled witch hazel on.

NAPPY RASH..... Fullers Earth powder or even normal Cornflour.
BLOCKED DRAINS ..... pour 1/2 cup of baking soda, then 1/2 cup vinegar down the drain.

GLASS CLEANER ..... Add half a cup of vinegar to a liter of warm water.

FRIDGE SMELLS .......An open container of bicarbonate of soda absorbs odors

NAUSEA..... Boil 1/2 cup of rice in 1 cup of water for about 10-20 minutes. After it is boiled, drain the water into a cup and sip at the rice water until symptoms are gone.

OILY SKIN.... For oily skin, mix 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal, 1 egg white, 1 Tbls. lemon juice, and 1/2 cup mashed apple into a smooth paste. Apply to face and leave on 15 minutes. Rinse.

MILD PAIN RELIEVER..... Mix 3 Tbls. of honey in boiled water and drink. Honey has natural pain-relieving powers.

SORE THROAT...... Mix 1 tsp. lime juice and 1 Tbls. honey. Swallow tiny amounts slowly 2-3 times a day.

YELLOW TEETH.... Mix salt with finely powdered rind of lime. Use this as toothpowder frequently.

BREATH FRESHNER........ Parsley leaves are rich in chlorophyll, nature's own deodorizer. Chew some leaves regularly and your breath will remain fresh

CraftiEst · Joined: 28 Feb 2004 Posts: 205 Location: Northern Ireland

[quote="twinkletoes"]NB ...... WHILE NATURAL REMEDIES CAN HELP MINOR DISCOMFORTS, PLEASE USE COMMON SENSE. IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

I absolutely agree :)

Great contribution Twinkletoes and thanks very much. No it don't have to be old cures from old folk. It's just that many of the "older" sayings and cures have now been lost as they either were not passed down or died with their owner.

I love this stuff.......keep it coming folks.

Another hint......to eliminate fish smells when cooking it in the kitchen, always have a raw onion cut in half sitting on your worktop. This absorbs the fish odours.

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A quick recipe for Homemade Bath Salts:-

1 packet of washing soda crystals (very cheap to buy)
A few drops of food colouring
1 plastic bag
1 empty nicely shaped jar with lid (coffee jars are good)

Pour washing soda crystals into plastic bag, add a few drops of food coloring. Holding the neck of the bag tightly shut and shake the bag gently until the food coloring absorbs evenly into the crystals. Now empty the contents into your empty jar and screw down the lid. Decorate your jar with a nice handmade label and some curly ribbon around the neck.

CraftiEst · Joined: 28 Feb 2004 Posts: 205 Location: Northern Ireland

1. Prevent Blisters on Feet

To prevent blistered feet rub some Vaseline around the under edges of new footwear before wearing. Also rub Vaseline directly on to teh skin area where you know the footwear edges will be neat against your skin. This is especially good for Toe-Post footwear - rub Vaseline around the toepost aprt of the footwear and liberally in between your big toe and the toe next to it.

2. Heartburn remedy

Dissolve half to 1 teaspoon of Bicarbonate Soda (Baking Soda) in a small amount of water or milk and drink. This is excellent for the relief of heartburn/indigestion and so much cheaper than off the shelf remedies. Please note, you may "burp" quite loud and often after drinking but this is normal and relieves trapped wind as well.

I have terrible trouble with heartburn and trapped wind and I find this is the only thing that helps.....quickly.

shellyx · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 184 Location: Sheffield uk

when i was a kid and bumped myself, my gran always used to rub butter onto it, she said it would stop bruising :?

i dont know why my gran used to smother my head in lurpak?!?! does it really work on bruises and bumps or did my gran just get great pleasure out of buttering me? :lol:

shell x

CraftiEst · Joined: 28 Feb 2004 Posts: 205 Location: Northern Ireland

shellyx wrote: when i was a kid and bumped myself, my gran always used to rub butter onto it, she said it would stop bruising :?

i dont know why my gran used to smother my head in lurpak?!?! does it really work on bruises and bumps or did my gran just get great pleasure out of buttering me? :lol:

shell x

Yes Shelly, apparently this does work. This remedy for bruising was used a lot by boxers :boxing:

Another remedy for bruising is:-
Place a metal spoon in freezer for ten to fifteen minutes then place it on the bruise. Your body will draw the blood away from the surface of your skin the same way it does when you go outside on a cold winters day. This is not as good as the butter remedy though.

Butter is also good for preventing stretch marks. No good once they are already there though :(

shellyx · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 184 Location: Sheffield uk

wow, thats really cool. I'm supposed to be a nurse :cry: . well when i have kids i'll have to rememeber the butter trick :D

shell x

twinkletoes · Tell a Friend Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 10:23 am Post subject:

I had terrible heartburn the other day and a friend from SA who has been staying gave me this remedy. I was very sceptical, but i promise, it DID work.

Strike 4 matches, let them burn just below the head of sulphur, break the little heads off and swallow them. I took them with water.

CraftiEst · Joined: 28 Feb 2004 Posts: 205 Location: Northern Ireland

twinkletoes wrote: I had terrible heartburn the other day and a friend from SA who has been staying gave me this remedy. I was very sceptical, but i promise, it DID work.

Strike 4 matches, let them burn just below the head of sulphur, break the little heads off and swallow them. I took them with water.

Hey Twinkle that is an interesting one :o I will have to try that remedy next time around.

This is very good for Arthritic and Rheumatic pain.
Beat one egg slightly and measure the beaten egg. Add to the egg the exact amount of turpentine as egg and the exact amount of apple cider vinegar as the egg. Mix altogether well and store in a covered jar.