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REMEDIES

R

Rod

Guest
POSTED BY sylvia sayers
Astonite


Joined: 04 Aug 2002
Posts: 54
Location: Birmingham
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2002 9:40 pm Post subject: Old Remedies

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I remember many old remedies, California Syrup of Figs to keep your bowels open, my dad also had Beechams Little Liver Pills for the same
purpose these were very tiny indeed and came in little twists of white paper with blue printing on, these twists were about the size of a large mans thumbnail.

We were also treated with Indian Cerete - an ointment - for scrapes (scrazes) as they were called. Then there was Indian Brandee sold by the cup of half cup from Taylors our local shop on the corner of Talford
and Burlington Street, for treating stomach aches.

Camomile lotion for stings and heat lumps.

Ipeckuhana (don't know if this is correct spelling) for coughs.

Friars balsam for clearing stuffy noses - this was crystal which you put in a
basin and poured boiling water over then you sat with a towel over your head and face and inhaled[/b]
 
As a young student nurse, I remember making inhalations for people with bronchitis, in crock 'strange shaped' basins.........with a cork on the top to put the hot water and inhaling crystals in......then there was a noozle for the patient to put in their mouth and inhale through and on the other side was like a air vent noozle. The actual basin was named after the inhaling crystals, but I cant for the life of me remember what it was called. Thinking back it was such a dangerous procedure.......giving boiling hot basins to frail and breathless people........but it didnt half make them expectorate. The inhaling fluid was brown, and stanined the crock basins.......it smelt lovely though. It was a favourite job of mine.
PS........dont read this post if you are eating :?
 
old remedies

Earache
1 warm an onion in stove or any other means of getting it hot take out the centre of the onion and insert it in to the effected ear
2 pour salt in to a pan and warm it on the hob pour warm salt in to an old sock or make up a parcel place over effected ear
3 constipation
boil water and put in galvanised bucket sit on bucket steam from the hot water did the trick (it left you with indentations were you sat down for a while)
4 boils and carbuncles
blackjack ointment
bread poultice usually made by my nan and the taped over the boil or carbuncle
put hot water in a bottle then place with the opening over boil (very painful)
5 chilblains
urine in to a pot then put your feet in it (dont know but it worked)
6 head cold or blocked nose
a spoonful of mustard or vick in a bowl of hot water put a towel over your head and the bowl inhale steam
 
Mom's magic spit

Fall down and scrage your knee, go to mom blarting - what did she do?
Pulled her hanky from the leg of her drawers (it was always warm you see) a finger into the corner, a good spit, rub it on the wound and the 'soldier' was ready for battle again. Magic! :lol:
 
Cod Liver Oil in the winter....I can still taste it now.....groooooh
Exlax.....nuff said
 
Anyone remember Scott's Emulsion? Thick white stuff. Never did know what it was for.
 
:D Yes, Scotts if it's the thick white stuff, that tasted like chalk you mean :?: It was for upset tummies/bellies and good for before, or after a night on the "RAZ" It put a lining in the tummy. Although I have since learned that having a meal before " drinking" and a glass of milk tastes much better :D :madeyes:
 
Nipper: You should remember Scott's Emulsion, you and I choked enough of it down when we were kids! It came in a tall bottle with a bright pink wrapper as I recall and, I think, it had a picture on it of a fisherman with a large fish on his back. We also had a malt extract which took a lot of getting down. I am still into malt extract but its now called beer. 8)
 
my mom recomends vinigar and water for headaches, when my son was small he use to have bad headaches, and she said there was nothing better than getting a saucer with viniger and water in it and than soaking a cloth ring it out and place it on the forhead, it use to leave a redish mark which soon disapeared, and so did the headache, she always says the old remedies are the best :)
 
Old Nursery Rhyme?

I wonder if this is why the old Nursery Rhyme, Jack & Jill..... talks about Vineger & Brown Paper ? to mend a broken head.
 
Milk of Magnesia in a dark blue bottle; felt like alum on your tongue.
Black Jack ointment for those boils on the back of your neck.
Snow Fire Ointment for cold sores.
and Venos soothes that cough in seconds !!!
:twisted:
 
Old Remedies

I remember a small bottle labled "Oil of Arnica" being in our cupboard, it was used to bring out bruises and such like. Used mostly on ankles and shins after football matches down the park.
There was also something called Ipecacuanha - but I can't remember what that was for (or even if I've spelt it right). Any suggestions? :?
 
IPECACUAHNA

IPECACUANHA - is still used today.......its used to induce vomiting in selective patients. It is of limited value, but if used within 1-2 hours of ingestion of the poison, there is evidence to show it significantly reduces absorption.
 
Old Remedies

Hi Sue, Thanks for that - always thought it was for bunions! :lol:
 
:!:
I recall an elder folk general practitioner I dashed to as a 24 hour elect patient on Stratford Road, Sparkbrook. I had some sort of gastric condition likely attendant of overly consuming stuff on Ladypool Road.
I had a headache as well.
He prescribed belladonna.
That is the radical traditionalist solution.
Also syrup of figs.
So many infections, especially viruses, fester in the gastro intestinal tract.
In three days I was fully rejuvenated.
He pointed out that the natural path is the ideal and one aught avoid pharmaceuticals absolutely unless absolutely necessary....
(Dare I say, "Those were some days.")
:twisted:
 
:?
Until the worse than preposterous "redevelopment" of Birmingham, especially city centre, during the 1960s - all the brutality that involved as evisceration of quality of life - there were at least two herbalists operating as herbal practitioners as well. One was on Broad Street and the other somewhere about what is now the Big Top.
Other than chiropractors, osteopaths, the herbalist was a stalwart for many.
Any memories?
:oops:
 
How many times have we panicked because one of the kids have fallen and bitten their tongue or cut their mouth, how on earth to stop the bleeding?.

When i was a sprog, if this happened to me my mum would give me a spoonful of sugar - and it stopped the bleeding. Magic and nice - i have used it for our kiddies and also a young mum was really impressed when i suggested it to her for her little lad. My street cred went up amazingly.

Also does anybody remember when we fell over and got an 'egg' on our forehead, Mum would advance on us with the carving knife and just lay the flat blade across the lump and then put some butter on afterwards dont really remember getting much relief but 'mum' felt better. :wink:

Dot :)
 
yes i remember the butter being rubbed on the lump on the head ha ha .thet brings back memories ,harley
 
Good grief Harley that brings back memories butter on swellings steak on bruises and vinegar on wasp or bee or wasp stings. That was if you could afford them. If you had a burn butter was the cure but today they do the opposite to most of these. Not sure about the steak one though. Jean.
 
I remember Carters Little Liver Pills in a small circular box. Fennings Fever Cure in a clear bottle. Cod liver oil and malt and just plain Cod Liver Oil. I last had Indian Brandee about 15 yrs ago.Rubbing warts with steak, not that it happened in our house. Rubbing a paste of Bi-carbonate of soda and water on the rash caused by nettle stings. Has any one mentioned Beechams Powders they would cure the bubonic plague if you believed everything said about them. You could get it all at the corner shop. The grocer knew more about our health than doctors or pharmacists.
I heard plenty about various poultices but never became personally involved with one . I am sure someone here has had dealings with these majical things.

Looking back its no wonder we didn't become ill, the cures all tasted horrible.
 
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I'm a great believer in iodine for cuts and grazes, Savlon anti-septic dry powder spray, (any chemist or Supermarket) always works for me.
 
If I ever had a stye on my eyelid, Mom would rub it with her wedding ring as she said the gold made it better. It was certainly nice and cool. You could also by Golden Eye Ointment to rub on your eyelid.
 
I think the crystals that were disolved in hot water were probably Menthol, which you can still buy. Friars Balsam was brown and stains like mad. I have some in my medicine box now, but perhaps it is no longer available. Does anyone remember when the roads were being tarred we were told to go out and breathe it in if we had a cough, I think even for something as serious as Whooping cough would say this was a remedy. How about something called Seiztlers powder, in a folded paper package.(not sure of the spelling of that). I think Beechams powders for flu were packed similarly.
 
I remember Eades Anodyne.
It was great for muscle pain. Wish I had some now to rub on my poor old body!!
 
Yes Judy, I remember the gold wedding ring on they style or in our house it was called a pouk (don't know how to spell that one) I think it did work too, certainly eased it. Golden Eye ointment too, wasn't that messy? When I had an ear infection, which was usually an abcess, the hot onion out of the fire was used. When we talk about these things it makes it seem that we hardly bothered the doctors in those days. Cascaras were another remedy for constipation. How about pink lint for drawing a splinter or boil?
 
Dock leaves, if you have been in contact with 'stingers' or for mosquito and bee stings. But you must rub them in straight away.
 
What about Black Jack it could draw splinters out it was that strong its banned now


Mossy
 
Graham I read that dock leaves grow where ever there are stinnging nettles. Marvelous how everything is ther for a purpose Jean.
 
Talking of black stuff what about " Zambuck ". Yellow tin with black stripes you put it on you feet but don't know why. Any guesses?
Years ago went to Yugoslavia and trod on a sea urchin. The Pharmacia covered my foot in a black tar like goo. I reckon that was their version of Black Jack. It stained everything it touched. I left my own oil slick behind me.

You put the stuff in the tin on your feet not as I say in my second sentence.
 
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