what are some old herbal medicines?

Answer 1

Foxglove (digitalis) for angina/heart issues (still the most popular heart irregularity med out there)

Peppermint for indigestion

Belladonna (deadly nightshade) to make the eyes bright and luminous--not recommended for use by non-professionals!

Calendula (German marigold) for skin irritations

Chamomile for soothing tea and also for skin irritations

Lavender for sleep and nice dreams and washing clothes--gives a nice, spicy herbal smell

Garlic as a blood tonic or something like that--actually helps lower cholesterol

Oatmeal--internal--helps lower cholesterol and a good source of fiber, external--soothing, good for if you get a rash or something like that

Jewelweed--takes away the itch and rash of poison ivy

Check Culpeper's Herbal or The Herbalist--forgot who wrote it, but it has a ton of info.

Oh, and BTW, the "coca" is the cocaine that was in Coca-Cola. The "cola" is from cola nuts, a flavoring which is still in the product. An extract of coca leaves with no active cocaine is still in Coca-Cola for the flavor. Or so they tell us...bwaa-ha-haaa!!

Answer 2

A bit of medical trivia for you. The original Coca-Cola contained narcotics, and was sold as a remedy of colds. The Cola in the product represented the cocaine that was in it. Prior to the 1920, or so, you could purchase a variety of narcotics from any drug store WITHOUT a prescription.

When I was a youngster, (late 40's early 50's), anytime we children or adults came down with a cold, especially when it was in our chest, our mothers would lay a hot cloth on our chest coated with Vicks-Vaporub. This also held true with a flannel sock pinned around the neck.

In some families before going to bed children and adults were given either lemon and honey or whiskey and honey. The choice of the mixer to be added to the honey was one of family, (usually the mother), tradition.

Finally, we youngsters were put to bed, with honey and ??? in our tummies, Vicks on our chest, throat, and up our noses. The blankets were added and we children stayed in bed, except to us the bathroom, until the cold was broken. generally within 12 to 24 hours

It is my hope the tad bit of information, I'm relaying to you will help you on your adventure into the dark ages of medicine.


Respectfully,



Uncle Bear * : - ))