Home Remedies And Herbal Medicines

Alum

2010-09-25T15:03:00.001-07:00

Alum was traditionally used in France as a treatment for chilblains on the hands. A small piece was taken and melted in enough hot water to cover the hands.

After the alum was melted, the chilblain-sufferer put in or her hands in the liquid and covered the hands with gloves. These were to be kept on all night and as long as possible during the day.

Alum was also used to alleviate the effects of excessive perspiration.

Anemia

2010-08-26T03:44:00.000-07:00

This was sometimes informally known as bloodlessness and is a condition in which there is a lack of red blood corpuscles, or hemoglobin, caused either by inadequate production of red blood cells or prolonged loss of blood.

Traditional cures fro anemia includes nettle tea, which is rich in iron, often sweetened with some honey, or dandelion tea. Alternatively, an infusion of herbs could be taken, the herbs including alfalfa, centaury, dandelion root, rose-hip, watercress and yellow dock, both nettle, and yellow dock being exceptionally high in iron content.

Watercress, being rich in iron, was also used as a cure for anemia, as were wheat, carrots, cabbage, onions and apples. Comfrey was also an ancient cure for anemia, and angelica, barberry, fenugreek, fumitory, St. John’s wort and vervain were also used in treatment.

Anemone

2010-08-26T03:42:00.000-07:00

Another common name is pasqueflower. The whole plant was used in traditional herbal remedies.

It was used in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough and respiratory disease generally. Disorders of the digestive system were also treated with it, as were some nervous problems.

Angelica

2010-08-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

Angelica was once thought to have magical powers. It was thought to have the power to protect anyone using it from the powers of darkness.

It is chiefly used in crystallized form in cake decoration, but it was used widely in folk medicine. The roots were thought to be able to ward off infection, and in the Great Plague of 1665 many Londoners chewed pieces of angelica root in the belief that it would prevent them from catching the disease.

The plant was also used to stimulate the appetite. Flatulence and indigestion were also thought to be helped by it.

Angelica was also used as an expectorant in respiratory disorders, being used to alleviate colds, coughs, sore throats, influenza, and bronchitis. It was also used to bring down fevers.

It was thought to have extremely wide-ranging powers, being also useful in the treatment of urinary disorders and disorders of the kidneys. Muscular cramps and chilblains were also treated with it.

This is an impressive range of treatments, but these were not all. The plant was also thought to be instrumental in improving bad eyesight and deafness.

Antiseptics

2010-08-04T19:40:00.001-07:00

Various herbs were known for their antiseptic powers in folk and herbal medicine. These included avens, costmary, garlic, oak, thyme, violet and woundwort.

Boric Acid

2010-07-16T02:49:00.000-07:00

Boric acid, also called boracic acid or orthoboric acid or acidum boricum, is a weak acid often used as an antiseptic, insecticide, flame retardant, in nuclear power plants to control the fission rate of uranium, and as a precursor of other chemical compounds.

It exists in the form of colorless crystals or a white powder and dissolves in water. It has the chemical formula H3BO3, sometimes written B(OH)3. When occurring as a mineral, it is called sassolite.

Many consumers are searching where to buy borax or where can i buy boric acid because of it's medicinal uses.

Boric acid can be used as an antiseptic for minor burns or cuts and is sometimes used in dressings or salves or is applied in a very dilute solution as an eye wash in a 1.5% solution (1 tbsp per quart or 15 cm3 per L) of sterilized water.

As an anti-bacterial compound, boric acid can also be used as an acne treatment. Boric acid can be used to treat yeast and fungal infections such as candidiasis (vaginal yeast infections) by inserting a vaginal suppository containing 600 mg of boric acid daily for 14 days or for yeast infection of the male pubic region (jock-itch or strong genital odor) by applying the powder to the skin all over the pubic region for several days to a week.

It is also used as prevention of athlete's foot, by inserting powder in the socks or stockings, and in solution can be used to treat some kinds of otitis externa (ear infection) in both humans and animals. The preservative in urine sample bottles (red cap) in the UK is boric acid.

TBE buffer is widely used for the electrophoresis of nucleic acids and has a higher buffer capacity than a TAE buffer. It can be used for DNA and RNA polyacrylamide and agarose gel electrophoresis.

Weak Ankles

2010-07-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

Some illnesses, such as scarlet fever, were thought to leave the patient with weak ankles after the illness was cured. A cure that would now seem rather exotic involved oysters.

The patient was advised to take a raw oysters in the palm of the right hand and massage the ankles with it until the oyster was more or less rubbed into nonexistence. This practice was to be carried out every evening before the sufferer went to bed and was to be carried on until the ankles grew stronger.

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Ammonia

2010-06-09T02:40:00.000-07:00

Ammonia was sometimes used in cold cures. It was inhaled in the way that menthol was, and still is. And when someone passes out in one of the fights at the ufc 115 live stream this weekend, they would surely use ammonia also as first aid.

It was also used to treat feet that perspired excessively. The feet were washed with ammonia and then they were rubbed with ammonia, particularly between the toes. Tired feet could be bathed in water containing ammonia and bay rum.

Ammonia was also used in the treatment of stings and bites. It was used to alleviate bites made by ants, gnats and mosquitoes.

Aphrodisiac

2010-06-09T02:38:00.003-07:00

Honey and ginger were both considered by the ancients to be aphrodisiac. Onions were also considered to have aphrodisiac qualities, and one custom involved the giving of onion soup to couples on their wedding night.

Celery, dill, fennel, hawthorn, nettle, valerian and watercress were also once considered to have aphrodisiac qualities. Nowadays, some people considered oysters to be aphrodisiac.

Aperients

2010-06-09T02:38:00.001-07:00

An aperient is a mild type of laxative for evacuating the bowels. Herbs used as aperients in folk and herbal medicine included clary, club moss, costmary, couchgrass, dandelion, elder, feverfew, marigold, marsmallow, parsley and rhubarb.

Anxiety

2010-05-05T02:25:00.001-07:00

There were various herbs and plants that were noted for their calming effect on the nerves in folk medicine.

These included balm, catnip, chamomile, cloves, hawthorn, hops, lavender, lime flower, orange blossom, passiflora, skullcap, thyme, valerian, vervain and wood betony.

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Lack of Appetite

2010-04-26T17:10:00.000-07:00

One traditional remedy for lack of appetite involved making a drink from a handful of hops and caraway seeds. This was particularly recommended for loss of appetite following a debilitating illness.

Watercress and angelica were also thought to stimulate the appetite, as was barley. Carrots, too, were thought to encourage people to eat.

Herbs that were considered to be appetite stimulants included chamomile, lavender, sage thyme, tarragon, marjoram, yarrow, hawthorn, myrrh, centaury, gentian, hops and wormwood. Horseradish was also used to encourage people to eat.

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Apple

2010-04-21T14:11:00.000-07:00

Apples were long thought to be exceptionally health giving. Modern medical research seems to back up the old adage ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’ by revealing that apples and apple juice can be powerful tools against viruses.

The apple had many uses in traditional medicines. Its medicinal advantages have been recognized since the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans. In Greek mythology the apple, which was said to taste like honey, was regarded virtually as a cure-all.

Apples were thought to be good for complaints relating to the digestive system. They were thought to be useful both as a laxative and as a treatment for diarrhea, as well as helping to regulate acidity in the stomach.

The liver, gall bladder and urinary problems were all said to be helped by intake of apples. They were used as a cure for fluid retention.

Cooked apples were thought to be helpful in cases of insomnia by promoting a restful sleep. They were also thought to act as a sedative and to relieve anxiety.

Other disorders that apples were meant to be able to help were arthritis, gout and headaches. Heart problems, anemia, lethargy, influenza, fever and decongestion were all thought to be alleviated by the eating of apples. It is obvious why the apple was regarded as a general panacea.

Apples were regarded as dampeners of the appetite but were used in some invalid drinks. These included apple water, which was made by slicing two large apples and pouring two points of boiling water on them. This was then allowed to stand for two hours and was then strained.

Apple tea was made by roasting two large sour apples and covering them with boiling water. The resulting mixture was allowed to cool and was then strained.

Baked apples were used externally for a number of complaints. They were used in earache and, when mashed with some sulfur, they were used on the skin to cure scabies and ringworm. Mixed with a little olive oil, baked apples were used on wounds that were proving difficult to heal.

Grated raw apples were used in poultice for sore eyes and, also in a poultice, was used as a cure for varicose veins.

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Arnica

2010-03-21T19:30:00.000-07:00

Arnica is commonly called mountain tobacco or leopard’s bane.

It was, and often still is, applied externally in the form of poultices or lotion to alleviate bruises and sprains.

Arnica was also used internally as a diuretic and stimulant, but it frequently irritated the stomach and in some cases could lead to quite severe poisoning.

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Arthritis

2010-03-12T13:20:00.000-08:00

Arthritis is a painful condition in which the joints are inflamed. It is difficult condition to treat, and many of the modern treatments have side effects.

Various ways of alleviating the condition were popular in folk or herbal medicine. As one would expect, some of them involved poultices.

One of these had as its ingredient fresh ragwort leaves. Another poultice was made from a handful of coltsfoot boiled in milk with oats and butter. Cabbage was also used in poultices to reduce inflammation, and the leaves and flowers of borage were also used in the same way.

Cloves were added to alcohol to make a liniment to rub on painful joints, as was thyme. The bruised fresh leaves o peppermints were applied to painful joints also, and in China eucalyptus oil was in this way.

Various infusions and teas were also recommended as folk cures. One of these was made from a teacupful of honeysuckle flowers and a pint of boiling water. Mustard seeds in an infusion were another suggested cure.

Another herbal tea thought to alleviate arthritis was more complicated. It required agrimony, bogbean, burdock and yarrow in equal quantities with about one quarter of the amount of raspberry leaves. This was to be added to boiling water and reduced to half the original amount of liquid. It was then allowed to cool and was strained. Again, a wineglass of the liquid was to be taken every three hours.

Cinnamon watercress, vinegar, apple, carrots, leeks onions, turnip, parsley, dandelion leaves, nettle leaves, dock, marigold, lemon juice and cucumber taken internally were also recommended for the relief of arthritis.

Other herbs that were thought to alleviate the symptoms included buckthorn, chickweed, rosemary, sage, comfrey, mistletoe, meadowsweet, rue, wintergreen and wormwood.

An Epsom salts bath taken once or twice a week was once recommended for arthritis sufferers.

Ash

2010-03-12T13:19:00.000-08:00

The bark and leaves o ash were used as laxatives and purgatives, often in association with other purgatives, such as senna or rhubarb.

Ash could also be used as a tonic for invalids and was thought to prevent the return of recurring diseases, such as malaria.

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Asthma

2010-02-05T12:33:00.000-08:00

Asthma is a respiratory disorder. People suffering from a bout of asthma find it difficult to breathe properly. Muscular spasm makes it difficult for them to get rid of mucus by coughing.

Much concern is being expressed about asthma today but, of course, it is by no means a new disease. There were several folk remedies that were given to try and alleviate the symptoms. One old country remedy was for sufferers of asthma to drink a pint of cold water every morning. They were also advised to take a cold bath every morning.

Not all remedies advised the drinking of water. Another one advised the drinking of apple water, which is described under apple.

Yet another remedy puts its faith in a drink made from liquorice. An ounce of stick liquorice was cut into slices. This was soaked in a quart of water and was to be drunk when asthma sufferer was having a worse bout than usual. Another remedy advocated drinking a pint of new milk every morning and evening.

An infusion made with agrimony was also recommended. Another drink involved drink slicing one pound of sliced garlic, macerating it in a dish containing two pints of boiling water and leaving it for twelve hours. The spoonful of this liquid was to be taken.

Another folk cure involved boiling equal quantities of caraway seeds and fennel seeds in vinegar. Some garlic was then added, and when the liquid had cooled and been strained, honey was added. A teaspoon of this was to be taken as required.

A teaspoon of chopped thyme was also recommended for the relief of symptoms of asthma. A small amount of lemon juice taken in water before a meal was also thought to be help to have curative powers with regard to asthma, and a tea made from rosemary was thought to relieve the bronchial spasm common in asthma.

Carrots taken internally were thought to have expectorant properties. Because of this, people suffering from asthma were advised to eat carrots in order to expel mucus. Plantain was also noted as an expectorant to get rid of mucus and was used as such cases of asthma, as were sage and eucalyptus. Nettle was thought to reduce the congestion I asthma, and myrrh was regarded as a decongestant and as an expectorant for getting rid of phlegm.

A decoration of parsley seeds, noted for their power to relax muscle, was also thought to relieve asthma, as was hyssop. Thyme was considered to have the ability to relax the bronchial tube and also get rid of phlegm by its expectorant properties. Elderflowers were held to be effective in reducing congestion and also in relieving spasm.

Asthma sufferers were also advised to inhale the steam from a combination of boiling water and chamomile.

Food that was easily digestible was recommended.

Eating ripe fruits, whether baked, boiled or roasted, was meant to be good for asthma. An alternative form of food advocated for asthma was thin bread and butter spread with minced garlic. Somewhat less palatable was something else recommended to be eaten as a cure for asthma. This was a handful of spider webs rolled into a ball.

Other herbs thought to be useful in the treatment of asthma included burdock, butterbur, horseradish. lovage, mullein valerian and white horehound.

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2010-02-04T12:36:00.000-08:00

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Asparagus

2010-02-04T12:33:00.001-08:00

Asparagus is best known to most of us a vegetable, since its fleshy young shoots are used in cooking. Its root, however, was also valued for its medicinal properties. It was noted as a laxative and was also used to induce the flow of urine. It was recommended in the treatment of fluid retention, kidney disorders, gout, rheumatic pains and a sedative. Heart disease was also treated with it.

The asparagus root was sometimes used in an infusion, and sometimes the expressed juices was a cure for impotence.

Athlete’s Foot

2009-12-12T01:06:00.000-08:00

Athlete’s Foot is a fungal infection of the feet, being usually found between the toes.

Vinegar was considered to be effective against fungal infections and was commonly used in cases of athlete’s foot. Clove oil, being a natural disinfectant, was also used.

Garlic was also used in the treatment of athlete’s foot. Sometimes crushed garlic was used, sometimes it was sliced and macerated in oil, and sometimes it was made into an ointment.

People suffering from athlete’s foot were sometimes advised to bathe their feet in a decoction of burdock. Some drops of eucalyptus oil were mixed with almond oil or olive oil and applied to the skin directly.

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Avens

2009-12-12T01:05:00.000-08:00

Some common names for avens include colewort, herb bennet, wild rue and clove root. The herb itself and the root were thought to have medicinal properties.

Avens in traditional herbal medicine was considered useful as an antiseptic and as a tonic. It was also used to cheek bleeding, to reduce fever and induce perspiration.

Avens was used in the treatment of stomach complaints, such as colic, and in the treatment of diarrhea.

Headache, sore throats and chills were also treated with it, and it was used in heart disease and disorders of the liver.

It was used externally to remove blemishes and spots and relieve skin conditions. Another use was as a gargle and mouthwash.

Because it is a strong aromatic it was once alleged to have the power to drive away evil spirits. It was once believed that anyone carrying a sprig of avens would not bitten by a rabid dog or by a poisonous snake.

It was once held to be an antidote to poison and animal blites. Another piece of folklore advised that if someone dug up the root of an avens plant before sunrise and hung it in a linen bag round the neck it would improve the eyesight. The same strange practice was also once thought to be a cure for piles.

Backache

2009-11-20T07:59:00.000-08:00

An old remedy for backache involved making a poultice from hot aniseed and nettle leaves and applying it to the painful area of the back.

Another cure involved massaging with comfrey oil.

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Baldness

2009-11-08T12:55:00.000-08:00

There were various traditional remedies designed either to prevent or cure baldness. These were recommended also in cases of bald patches, known as alopecia.

One suggested preventive was washing the hair once a week at least in water containing egg yolk or a piece of quillia bark. This was particularly recommended during periods of ill-health, when people were thought to be particularly susceptible to baldness.

To stimulate the hair follicles it was suggested that a few drops of cantharides were added to vinegar. This was used to wash the hair and was also rubbed on the scalp.

An alternative recommended was a mixture of onion juice and honey. This was to be rubbed on the scalp every morning and evening.

The regular application of a mixture of glycerine and lime water, or a mixture of olive oil and lime water, was another suggested remedy. This was thought to be effective in the case of hair that was already showing signs of thinning.

Those whose heads were already quite bald were advised to try to revive the roots of the hair that was still there by brushing the scalp until it was red and felt warm. Then a lotion consisting of lavender oil, rosemary oil, eau de Cologne and tincture of cantharides was applied to the head once or twice daily. Alternatively, a mixture of rosemary oil and olive oil was advised as a massage for the scalp.

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Balm

2009-10-05T15:34:00.000-07:00

Popular names for this herb include lemon balm, sweet balm and cure-all.

Balm was noted for its supposed powers to break fevers and encourage perspiration, and was thus a recommended cure for all feverish illnesses.

It was also used to treat colds, influenza, catarrh and hay fever. Balm was thought to be effective in the treatment of flatulence and digestive disorders, and was considered to be a remedy for menstrual cramps.

Headaches and dizziness were treated with it, as was high blood pressure.

It was used to raise the spirits of people who were depressed, particularly menopausal women, to allay anxiety and to improve concentration.

It supposedly also improved poor memories. Balm tea was sometimes given to listless or lazy children in an effort to stimulate them.

Externally it was used to dress wounds, to bring boils to a head and to relieve insect stings. It was used to treat eczema, inflammation of the eye and as a gargle for sore throats.

Barberry

2009-09-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

This woodland plant is often known as sowberry.

In ancient Egypt barberry was used in combination with fennel seeds as a cure for the plague.

Later it was used as a purgative and was used in cures for dysentery. Barberry contains berberine, which has astringent properties, and was commonly used in gargles and mouth washes as a cure for sore throats. Other disorders thought to be helped by it were high blood pressure and kidney stones. Barberry is high in vitamin C.