Folk Medicines.

I posted a thing for Mimsy, then started thinking about the old cures my mother used to use. She had a brilliant cough cure.
An ounce of Honey
A tablespoon of syrup of Squills (Dont Ask)
A tablespoon of Oil of Talue (Again Dont Ask)
And a large measure of Irish Whisky.
I think her cure had a lot more to do with the Irish Whisky than anything else:-D

 

Did your ma happen to own a pointy hat and a broomstick? Those ingredients sound like something out of Harry Potter. :-D
Only pulling yer plonka, T. As far as I can gather, there's something in old and natural remedies. Ray Mears is always banging on about them. Lichen that has anti septic properties and charcoal and wild mint that alleviates the effects of food poisoning. The charcoal has to be burnt wood, of course. Just two that I know of. Think I'll google for more. Could be interesting. I draw the line at licking toad slime, though.

 

Ray Mears!
Bet when he turns up in some remote village the natives shout look out LARD ARSE is back

 

Hehehe, interesting thread. Honey is also good as an antiseptic for a wound, bacteria don't grow in honey. If you have a big assed cut, say from a stray axe, pine sap is a fantastic and natural substance to close and protect wounds from infection and is flexible for a good time. That one came from my dad who sliced his knee open while lumberjacking, the pine crust fell off after a week and you could hardly see the scar.

Burns: Mum used to believe that putting butter on helped. Ya, it did for about 5 seconds, sorry mum. Run or soak the area in cool water until the burning hurt stops, sometimes several hours in my case. I accidentally leaned on a hot wood stove for just a couple of secs and the pain was horrid! After three hours I could keep my hand out of the water, because of the pain, and never got one blister.

This is not a cure for crispy black skin. Aloe is good too for the mild to moderate burns, ER for the rest eh?!

The left one if you don't know what aloe looks like.

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/5038/plants3ii.th.jpg

 

Fridge cold cucumber works too.

I'm reminded of this quote now...

A Short History of Medicine:
"Here, eat this root.
That root is heathen, say this prayer.
That prayer is superstition, drink this potion.
That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill.
That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic.
That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root."
-Unknown

 

The more you can stay away from doctors the better off you are IMO. If I were to fill the prescriptions written out I would need a pantry. Actually I'm in pretty good health for my age other then having a good portion of lungs removed (due to years of smoking).
I've bookedmarked this, can't remember why off hand but has some good tips.
http://www.grandmashomeremedies.com/

Also Dr, Weils site has a lot of good stuff http://www.drweil.com/


PS Love that quote Mimsy, going to steal it, my girls will love it.

 

no she didn't! but, she knew wilde lettuce has the same alkloids as canabis

 

Hey after you have the Irish whiskey cure, then rub Vick's vapor rub on the soles of your feet and go to bed. Works great for colds and flu. No really, no I kid you not!! Yah! no shit.

 

Something similar got mentioned on West Wing, namely ginger root plus a shot of wiskey, eventually ending up with 'throw out the root and get better anyway'

 

Same here with honey, creamolson, & whiskey, but my mother put the Vick's on the chest to help breath better.
"On your Feet?" :confused
Home made mango wine for stomach cramps(Actually any wine)
Caster Oil to remove bruising faster & scars
If out in the woods and get stung,pack mud on it.
When I feel sick to my stomach I find ginger ale usually settles it.also coke sprite and/or 7-up
peroxide for teeth whitening

 

Cure for mild migraine/headache make an infusion of feverfew or leaves of feverfew in a sandwich. I usually add a couple of slices of cucumber. Feverfew belongs to the chrysanthemum family.