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Volume I, No. 4, Summer 1974 |
Old - Time Cures
Back in the days when doctors were hard to come by, people had to learn to take care of themselves. Medicines, even then were expensive, so people learned to make their own remedies. Here are some that are still useful today.
If you have CORNS, quarter an onion and soak in a strong vinegar until pickled. Bind a fresh slice of the pickled onion to the corn for three nights to remove the soreness and the corn. Another remedy is to work equal parts of beef tallow, sugar and ordinary kitchen soap into a salve. Bind on corns with a small piece of adhesive tape.
For BOILS, NAIL WOUNDS, or Inflammation of any kind, make a poultice by stirring buttermilk and flour to a very thick batter. Cover a cloth with this and bind to inflamed area.
Drink a glass of warm water with a half teaspoon of salt dissolved in it every morning before breakfast for a splendid TONIC.
Two or three applications of sassafras oil will destroy both head LICE and EGGS. Just rub the oil over the infected parts.
For BURNS, make a paste of flour and water as quickly as possible and spread over the area. Also honey rubbed directly on a burn will keep it from blistering. Vanilla extract will take away soreness and keep it from blistering.
If you have WARTS, put two parts of mutton suet, one part of turpentine, and apply to warts every other night.
Take two teaspoons honey at each meal to relieve CRAMPS IN THE LEGS.
If you have SINUS, chew a piece of honey comb about the size of a piece of gum for about fifteen minutes every few hours for a week, or take two teaspoons of honey at each meal.
Take one tablespoon of corn oil at each meal for HAY FEVER.
Mix two teaspoons vinegar and two teaspoons honey in a glass of water and drink at each meal for ARTHRITIS.
For PNEUMONIA, take six large onions, chop fine, put in a pan over the fire, and add enough corn meal and vinegar enough to make paste. Stir thoroughly and let simmer for about ten minutes. Then put in two cotton bags and apply to chest as hot as can be borne. As soon as one cools, apply the one which has been kept hot in a steamer. Keep changing, making fresh poultices from time to time.
Here are some remedies using apple vinegar that Marie Smith told me.
Add one tablespoon vinegar and one tablespoon turpentine to a beaten egg yolk for LAMENESS.
For FOOD POISONING drink one teaspoon vinegar in a glass of water every five minutes.
Take two teaspoons vinegar and two teaspoons honey in a glass of water at each meal for HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
If you have TARTER ON YOUR TEETH, put a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water and sip slowly.
For a RINGWORM, apply vinegar six times a day directly on infected area.
Take two teaspoons vinegar in a glass of water for NOSE BLEEDING.
If you have a SORE THROAT, gargle a teaspoon vinegar to a glass of water every hour. As soreness goes away gargle every two hours.
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Copyright © 1981 BITTERSWEET, INC.
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