In the world of medicine, there is no denying the effectiveness of numerous old-fashioned home remedies (sometimes called ‘old wives tales’ or folk medicine). Modern science has proven the legitimacy of many concoctions and family secrets that Grandma used to swear by. While some seem too modest to believe or outdated, there is certainly cause to heed some of the old fashioned home remedies that still work to this day.
old fashion home remedies 37 Old Fashioned Home Remedies
List of Old Fashioned Home Remedies
Every family has them – a secret remedy passed down through the generations. Whether it’s a cure for the common cold or old fashioned home remedies for skin conditions, there are many different ways to treat ailments without seeking the help of a medical professional. For minor health concerns, it can’t hurt to get acquainted with old home remedies that have stood the test of time. A range of suggestions include:
Parsley:
Chewing on fresh parsley is known as an effective breath freshener. To create a breath-freshening mouthwash, add three springs of parsley, ½ teaspoon ground cloves, and a sprinkle of cinnamon to two cups of boiling water. Strain the contents before using as a homemade gargle.
Sage:
An old-fashioned remedy for soothing a sore throat was to add three to four dried sage leaves to a cup of hot water. Let the contents stand for about 10 minutes, and then gargle while it is still warm.
Sage and Lemon Juice:
To get rid of canker sores, try gargling an old-fashioned concoction made from adding dried sage leaves and ½ teaspoon of lemon juice to a cup of hot water. Let the remedy stand for about 10 minutes before administering.
Salt:
Add ½ teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water to create a salt-water gargle that relieves mouth pain and sore throats.
Dandelions:
Old-fashioned Grandmas would pick a big dandelion out of the yard and rub the milky substance on a wart as a treatment. Repeat the treatment three times in the night, and in the next morning, you should see the growth start to disappear.
Hot Water:
To treat a bout of constipation, some people still follow the old-time remedy of sipping hot water.
Tobacco Snuff:
Taking a dip of snuff and rubbing the freshly moistened tobacco on your ant bites is believed to treat your reaction.
Listerine:
To kill toenail fungus, soak your toes/feet in Listerine to take advantage of a powerful antiseptic.
Garlic:
From lowering blood pressure and combating yeast infections, garlic is a popular old-fashioned remedy that has stood the test of time. Some people will chew on raw cloves since raw garlic delivers the most antibiotic potency. You can also add to their meals to benefit from its effects. Garlic juice has been linked to treatments for intestinal infections, respiratory ailments, snakebites, melancholy and hypochondria.
Aloe Vera:
For centuries, the healing power of aloe vera has been known around the world. There are plenty of old fashioned remedies involving the common household plant that treats ailments, such as burns, constipation, acne, skin irritations, acid reflux, cancer, and celiac disease. You can also apply aloe vera gel to hemorrhoids two times per day to provide cooling relief and aid in the healing process.
Basil and Chamomile:
If your stomach is doing somersaults, add basil leaves to a cup of chamomile tea. To make your own, use two teaspoons each of dried chamomile and dried basil – added to a cup of boiling water. Leave the contents to steep for 10 minutes. Old-fashioned Grandmas would also use this remedy to relieve a child’s stomachache.
Honey:
An old-fashioned remedy that has many different uses is honey a natural antiseptic with therapeutic powers that is especially beneficial in treating skin conditions. You can use honey as a skin tonic for acne. It also comes in handy as a hangover cure when eaten with plain crackers. The fructose in the honey will promote a flushing out of alcohol from your system.
Apple Cider Vinegar:
Across the globe, apple cider vinegar has been used for centuries to treat a range of medical issues, including allergies, acid reflux, gout, arthritis, headaches, yeast infections, psoriasis, and even depression. Applying apple cider vinegar to varicose veins two times a day is believed to have an effect on their appearance. Apply a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water to treat the discomfort of poison ivy rash. Cider vinegar was also rubbed under the armpits as a natural deodorant.
Pot of Boiling Scents:
Old-fashioned homes didn’t have the luxury of an aerosol spray when they needed to freshen up a room. It was commonplace to boil aromatic brews on the stove to fill the house with an inviting scent. Ingredients to consider adding to a boiling pot of water may include rosemary, lemon rinds, orange peels, rose petals, cloves, cinnamon, orange blossoms, and lavender – it’s up to you to create a personal preference for your home.
Peppermint:
Drinking peppermint tea is known to calm a bout of indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, bowel spasms, nausea, and flatulence. The oil from the peppermint leaves has been used to treat a tension headache, ease joint pain, and relieve muscle aches. To treat digestive issues, brew a cup of tea by adding one to two teaspoons of dried leaves to boiling water. Drink the beverage two to three times a day before enjoying a meal.
Chicken Noodle Soup:
Who can forget the power of a bowl of steaming hot chicken noodle soup – Grandma’s favorite for curing a cold. The warmth alone of the soup helped ease some symptoms.
Olive Oil and Horseradish:
An old-fashioned recipe for soothing achy muscles involves mixing one cup of olive oil and one tablespoon of horseradish. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes before rubbing on affected muscles. This remedy is especially helpful when you’re fighting the flu.
Olive Oil and Lemon:
To add an attractive shine to wooden furniture, consider using olive (or vegetable) oil mixed with lemon, water, and a capful of liquid soap. The mixture was shaken, and then rubbed on wood.
Beer:
To protect a garden from bugs (especially snails), it was not uncommon to see Grandma leaving behind containers of beer as a trap.
Mint:
To keep ants and other pests out of the pantry, an old-fashioned remedy to consider is to leave crushed mint leaves under the kitchen sink and cupboards.
Honey and Lemon:
To treat an out-of-control cough, try mixing one teaspoon of honey with the juice of one lemon wedge. Drink the concoction every time you start to feel a bad coughing spell coming on.
Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda:
To produce a sparkling white smile, mix together ½ teaspoon each of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to form a paste that you brush onto your teeth. Leave the remedy on for three minutes, and then rinse your mouth with water. Follow up by brushing your teeth like normal. Baking soda acts as a mild abrasive against stains, while the hydrogen peroxide has a whitening effect on your teeth.
Milk:
To treat dry, itchy skin, add milk to a bath. The lactic acid in the milk works towards keeping moisture in your skin. It is suggested to add one quart of milk to a full tub of warm (not hot) water. If you’d like quick relief from skin irritation, soak a washcloth in cold milk and dab on affected skin.
Oatmeal:
Oatmeal has a reputation for treating dry, itchy skin conditions. You can add to your bath water by placing dry oatmeal in a tied-up cheesecloth that hangs under the running water as your bath fills. When you enter the filled tub, use the sack of oatmeal in the same manner as you would a washcloth.
Petroleum Jelly:
Petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) is an old remedy used to moisturize the skin. It works best when applied to skin within three minutes after taking a bath while the skin is still retaining some water. Petroleum jelly creates a barrier on the skin that seals in moisture. Pay extra attention to dry, itchy patches when applying the petroleum jelly. For excessively dry hands and feet, slather on the petroleum jelly before going to bed. Wear cotton gloves and socks to protect your bed linens from the oily residue. Your skin will certainly be smoother in the morning.
Tomato Paste:
Treat skin boils by using tomato paste as a compress. The acid from the tomatoes has a reputation for easing the discomfort and encourage the boil to come to a head.
Cranberry Juice:
To treat and prevent a urinary tract infection, cranberry juice makes an effective home remedy because proanthocyanidins in the cranberries work towards stopping bacteria from latching onto urinary tract tissue. When the bacteria are unable to attach, they cannot multiply.
Vinegar:
An old-fashioned remedy for bruises is to soak a cotton ball in vinegar, and apply to affected skin. The vinegar aims to reduce the blue discoloring and helps speed up the healing process.
Cornstarch:
Applying cornstarch to your feet on a daily basis will keep them dry and prevent a bad case of athlete’s foot.
Almonds:
An old-fashioned home remedy to fight migraine headaches is to eat 10 to 12 almonds as soon as symptoms arise. It is said that the almonds have the same effect as taking two aspirins.
Cinnamon, Cumin Seeds & Ginger:
To cure vomiting and/or nausea, it is suggested to eat ½ teaspoon of cumin seeds, cinnamon, and sliced ginger.
Baking Soda and Vinegar:
To treat a painful bee sting, mix enough vinegar to baking soda to make a healing paste that you apply to affected skin.
Keep Chewing:
It is said that if you vigorously chew, the action itself can stop a nose bleed.
Oats:
Mix together two cups of oats and one cup of water before microwaving the ingredients until it becomes heated. Apply the remedy to hands that are pained with the effects of arthritis.
Onions:
Onions have a reputation for treating bronchitis, colds, pinworms, colic, coughing spells, and fever. People have eaten the vegetable to control cholesterol levels, prevent strokes, and avoid heart disease.
Sand and Water:
To scrub a wooden floor or worktable clean, old-fashioned people would use a combination of sand and water. After scrubbing the woodwork, they’d rinse the floor and let it dry. After sweeping up the sand, the results were like sanding off the top layer of the wood.
Castor Oil:
There are many adults today that have childhood memories of trying to swallow down a spoonful of castor oil to treat a bad case of constipation. Parents would also give their children castor oil to treat bronchitis. It had a way of making sure children could eliminate the phlegm they tended to swallow instead of cough up like an adult.
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