Old Wives Tales that work.
By 41Combedale
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
Greece
November 18, 2012 10:15am CST
With the advent of modern drugs and large drug companies with an interest in selling them, we are in danger of losing the old remedies that served our grandparents so well.
In a recent discussion about the advantage of drinking hot water at night as a cure for constipation, I was surprised that it seemed such a new idea to some. It made me wonder about the old wives' tales that have now been shelved in favour of popping a pill. Old wives, or any older person for that matter, with memories long enough to recall natural remedies should be listened to and not scoffed at. Many of these 'tales' had more than a grain of truth in them and the drug companies know this as they use natural ingredients in their pills.
The leaves of rosemary, for instance, can bring relief when rubbed on stings and bites, an infusion of the leaves makes a drink to improve circulation and relieves nervous headaches and colds. It is more than a flavouring for meat which is its common use these days.
I would be interested in any tips proving that some of those old wives tales are a better alternative to expensive drugs and medicines.
5 people like this
16 responses
@louievill (28846)
• Philippines
18 Nov 12
They are not really old wives tales, in fact Pharmaceuticals get their cue from ancient remedies from traditional medicines of China and ancient arjuvedic medicine from India, the West in some ways just synthesize it or extract the active components into some sort of pill or capsule, have it patented and claim it as a discovery of their own
3 people like this
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
• Greece
19 Nov 12
That's commerce for you, but we Mylotters are not so easily hoodwinked.
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
I didn't know about how water being a cure for constipation. But I know that hot compress could relieve tummy aches due to air. We also drink boiled ginger water to relieve throat problems due to talking too much and even sore throat. I know for some time now that to alleviate problems urinating we'd put rock salt in the belly button. hehehe.. And a lot more.
Most of the time, we would go for old wive's remedies first prior to taking a pill. My parents are medical professionals but we rarely take meds because they know that those have implications or side-effects. We only take them when the real need arises.
It's good to know that most of these old wives' tales are still useful these days. Thanks for sharing about rosemary, I never knew of such.
Have a great mylot experience ahead!
2 people like this
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
• Greece
27 Nov 12
I have spent most of my life living close to a chemist so it is interesting to learn how others cope who do not have a shop nearby to supply them with pills. I live in Greece now and there is a wealth of knowledge here about the herbs that grow in the wild, they would not dream of describing their knowledge as 'old wives' tales' because so many of these country methods work.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
19 Nov 12
There are a lot of "old wives' tales" that I use right now. Mom used to always rub us down with Vicks (eucalyptus and menthol) when we had a cold and she would give us tea with honey. We wrapped up and stayed warm and rested. It always works to make one feel better.
Another one is ginger for an upset stomach and another is peppermint. She would give the babies weak peppermint tea to relieve colic or tummy pains.
Chamomile helps to relax you, garlic is good for infections. Honey will heal a wound quickly and it's antiseptic, too.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
18 Nov 12
My grandma used to make ginger tea for herself and grandpa to help their arthritis. Turns out that ginger is a very good anti-inflammatory. She also gave it to us kids when we had a stomach ache and it worked better than anything. Today I buy ginger capsules and they really help my arthritis with no side effects.
Grandpa also told us that when we had a scratch or cut, let the dog lick it and it will heal faster. It worked! Turns out that dogs can eat garbage and spoiled meat and not get sick because their saliva contains germ and bacteria killing stuff.
I rarely get colds but I've written down your rosemary "tale" and put it in my kitchen. I'll get some fresher rosemary, too, my jar is about 5 years old!
2 people like this
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
• Greece
19 Nov 12
Ginger tea sounds just the thing for me. I'm going to try this for my arthritis - the doctor told me just today that I have got it in my knees. So thank you dragon for that.
I don't fancy letting the dog lick a wound but I take your word for it that this helps. The problem is their breath does not give me any confidence to try it.
1 person likes this
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
18 Nov 12
I'm not very well informed about natural remedies, but it's something I'm trying to learn more about. Last year's personal challenge was to learn which of our wild plants were good to eat, and this year will be to find out how else they can be utilised.
2 people like this
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
• Greece
19 Nov 12
I look forward to hearing more about this later on then GreenMoo. Your previous challenge must have been enlightening. I've had some dandylions, they are a little bitter but go down well the olive oil and lemon juice. We have to be careful that we pick things that are well away from traffic because they can absorb the lead from car exhausts. If I pick anything low down I wash it well partly because of dust but also stray dogs...
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
18 Nov 12
My mom had awful bouts of poison ivy. She even had it systemically and was in the hospital for a week or more. My dad was told about making a tea from something called silver leaf. Then she was to paint it all over her weeping ulcers. It healed her up in a few days. It really worked.
Honey worked to get me over asthmatic bronchitis.
2 people like this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
20 Nov 12
Hello 41. What an interesting discussion you have started. There are many old folk remedies. Cloves for tooth aches. Hot toddys for stomach problems. Raw honey for cuts and sore throats. I use raw honey with undistilled and unfiltered Apple cider vinegar for my arthritis. and raw honey with ground up fresh ginger with raw honey for my arthritis and indigestion.
My grandmother used mustard poultices for the flu and lung colds. Milk soaked bread to remove a bee stinger and stickers and slivers.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
19 Nov 12
dont know if its old wives or not but you can put a bar or at least a fair sized peice of soap under your sheet, down near your feet and it will stop leg cramps at night or when you are laying down if you are inclined to get cramps.
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
19 Nov 12
My mother do passed some home remedy knowledge to me. But i only uses some of them since not many herbs are available at my area here. In fact, i am not so familiar with them. But, i do drink warm honey with a sour plum to cure my coughing. I would drink warm tea with added ginger to cure cold. All these seems working and easy to use.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85923)
• Valdosta, Georgia
19 Nov 12
The only one I can think of that my grandma always told me is when I have a gas pocket that will not relieve itself to suck on a peppermint candy and it will come up. It definitely does work! =)
1 person likes this
@bjc66bjc (6730)
• United States
19 Nov 12
This was a old tale that is absolutely one that works...When my
children use to get a fever, my Mother use to take a cloth
diaper, if anyone knows what that is any more...I don't even know
is they still make them...she would slice an onion and put it
in the diaper and wrap it around my children's waist to draw out
the fever and within a short while the fever was broken/gone..
I remember when I was small my Mom use to give us a spoon of concoction
of brandy with peppermint mixed in the bottle..it was given to us
for colds...
Those old wise tale are really have a lot of validation back when
they were used...
1 person likes this
@leeandrew (1225)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
I love reading your discussion, reading it seems reading a book about remedies. It is sad to say that I didn't myself too that drinking hot water at night can cure a constipation. I love to know that and thanks to you. Sometimes because of so advance world we live in, we younger fellows thought that the easiest way to get things done is through advance technology, what we didn't know is... there are more quicker relief than we can get from home and the best thing about it is... it is free and natural.
Thanks again for sharing and happy mylotting to you!
@franseman (516)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
When your face/skin feels tired you can use a 'potato'mask. Boil a big potato not peeled, mash it and add 1 egg yolk and a bit of milk to make it a firm paste. Place it warm (!) over your face and put a towel over it. After 20 minutes: rinse with warm water followed by cold water.
1 person likes this
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
• Greece
19 Nov 12
This is an interesting one, have you ever tried it yourself? It is not something to do if you are expecting visitors.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
26 Nov 12
Hello my friend,
What surprises me is that while the same old tales keep surfacing, every now and then there is a new one...well, an old new one in any case.
I have not heard of rosemary being used for relief for bites and stings before now. This is good news as we come into the season for bites and stings. I have some doozies already and they don't respond to any of my creams, or aloe-vera, or vinegar or antiseptic. I have to take an antihistamine for the itchiness from bites. Rosemary, if it works, will come as a very welcome relief.
@natliegleb (5173)
• India
19 Nov 12
there are many tales that work and which turn against the tides so we need to be careful and very judgemental in deciding about it
