I've been feeling a bit under the weather lately and it's possibly because the weather in southern California has been so haphazard. One week it's 45 degrees in the morning and by mid afternoon it's 80! I'm pretty stubborn when it comes to falling ill, I hate being sick. (But then again, who loves it?) I feel so completely useless when I'm sick. I know of course I'm suppose to rest and get sleep, and that I do, but the next day (like today) I always feel like there's even more to catch up on. *le sigh*

So, for just a bit of fun, I wanted to post some silly (and not so silly but I feel actually work) vintage old fashioned remedies for common ailments.


the greatest cure of all

Old Fashioned Remedies: 10 "Vintage" Ways to Cure Your Ailments

1.] Old Fashioned Remedy for a COUGH: Bring two cups of water to a boil and add two sliced lemons, 1/2 teaspoon of either mint or dried ginger, and 2 tablespoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of sugar. After mixing these ingredients and having brought them to a boil, they would soon turn into a thick syrup. Once this occurs, add an ounce of liqueur or brandy. - source

2.] Old Fashioned Remedy for SHORTENING A COLD: Eat garlic! Research has shown that garlic is an antioxidant and can shorten the life of a cold. Also, Allicin, an ingredient found in garlic, is a decongestant that will help clear your blocked nose and sinuses. source

3.] Old Fashioned Remedy for PREVENTING A COLD: Take in lots of Vitamin C! So load up on some oranges.

4.] Old Fashioned Remedy for a COLD: Sweat it out. My mother used to always tell me to lay under lots of blankets and bundle up so you expel the sickness. I'm not sure if this really works, I always just feel super uncomfortable and clammy.

5.] Old Fashioned Remedy for the FLU: Mix 1 tablespoon of horseradish and 1 cup of olive oil and left it to stand for 30 minutes. Use it as a massage oil for instant relief for aching muscles. source


vintage bayer aspirin ad

6.] Old Fashioned Remedy for a CHEST COLD: Collect hot steamed cooked onions in a cheesecloth and this compress can be used for placing on the chest in the event of a chest cold, on the outside of the ear in the case of an earache, on a boil to help it burst, on an abscessed tooth to soothe the inflamation. source

7.] Old Fashioned Remedy for a CONGESTED CHEST: Smear a sheet of brown paper in goose fat and stick it to the patients chest before bed. An earlier incarnation of rubbing Vick's on the chest perhaps... source

8.] Old Fashioned Remedy for REMOVING A FEVER: Put onions in your socks! Cut up half an onion and put them in your socks making sure your toes are touching the onions (um, gross, and um smelly!) Even today, some doctors claim that onions draw a fever away from the body. source

9.] Old Fashioned Remedy for SLEEPLESSNESS: Drink ginger tea at bedtime. "Ginger tea taken at bedtime soothes one to sleep," This is a very good remedy when the stomach is at fault. It stimulates this organ and produces a greater circulation, thereby drawing the blood from the head. This will make the patient feel easier and sleep will soon follow." source

10.] Old Fashioned Remedy for DECONGESTANT: Add 2 or 3 drops of essential oil of eucalyptus to a wet washcloth placed on your shower's floor. Close the door, turn on the water, steam up the bathroom, and inhale while you scrub yourself clean. Euacalyptus is a decongestant and expectorant and make also ease a sore throat. source

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Now remember, I'm no doctor so I hope you don't go home try all these and get angry you're not instantly cured. Especially after putting onions in your socks. Has anyone actually tried this?