Folklore and Home Remedies were a part
of everyday life.
We at the Cultural Center DO NOT
recommend some of these treatments, we wanted to bring information form our past for your enjoyment.
Home Remedies
Some of these remedies are tried and true.
Tired Aching Feet- Rub feet with Castor Oil at bedtime, cover with cotton socks and leave
overnight. This also softens corns and callouses as well as removing soreness.
Rheumatism- Carry a buckeye around in your pocket will cure it up fast.
Open wounds- put a smoldering wool rag in a bucket,
and place over wound. Insect stings- Apply
meat tenderizer to it
Red-bug/chigger bites- Rub with a mixture of 2 Tbsp.
salt and kerosene. Household ammonia is also good.
Poison
Oak-To help relieve the itch, rub the affected area with the inside skin of a banana pealing.
For Teething Babies:
Kill a mole
,cut off one of its feet. Tie a string around the foot and tie around baby's neck as a necklace. Their teeth will pop
right through the gums without pain. (This could smell pretty bad).
Headaches- put 5 drops of ammonia in ½ glass of water and inhale fumes. This is also good
for a stuffy cold.
For a sore throat wear a dirty sock around the neck when you go to bed.
Or take a sip of Dr.
Tichnenor’s (use caution as this can be habit forming).
For worms:
Give the child a drop of Turpentine first night, two drops
on the second night and so on until the number of drops has reached the age of the child. (Can be mixed with sugar.) The next
morning boil a Tbsp of Castor and add three drops of Turpentine to rub on the naval area each night and especially after taking
the oil. If you fail to rub the stomach, they will knot up around the naval and remain in the stomach.
Keep flies off the porch by spreading generous handfuls of clover blossoms and bay leaves around
every morning. Cloves will also deter these pesky insects.
