"Doctoring on the Homestead..." by Lacey Thacker page 2

Tinctures are an example of the type of liquid herb found in some health food stores. These are generally meant for internal use. Due to allergies, the general possibility of contraindications, and the varied internal safety factors of various herbs, I will focus only on the process rather than the specific herbs. Please consult a doctor and/or do your own research to determine what herbs would be beneficial and edible in regards to your needs.

How to Prepare a Tincture:

Ingredients:
1 ounce of herb(s)

4 ounces of water

12 ounces of apple cider vinegar

Process:
1. Place all ingredients in a sealed jar for two weeks. Ideally, this will be somewhere where the jar gets significant amounts of sunlight.

2. Shake twice daily.

3. Use internally as desired or directed by a physician.

It’s simple, but effective. And, again, it takes practice to get the result exactly like you want it.

Old-Time Remedies

Here, I have collected a few remedies used by people for years and years. You may or may not have heard of all of them. Some I learned in school, one I learned from my grandmother, another from my mom. Since the recipes have lasted to be put in to this article, I find that to be a good indicator for their effectiveness.

Granny and Aunt Modine’s Homemade Nasal Spray

One afternoon at my grandparents, I stumbled across my grandmother mixing salt, soda, and water. Had she been planning on baking something, I wouldn’t have questioned this. However, I knew she had no plans to bake that day.

So, I asked. “What are you making, Granny?”

“Nasal spray,” she replied.

Now, forgive me, but nasal spray is one of those things that I just never thought of as being do it yourself. However, Granny swears by it. Her sister got the recipe somewhere, and they both use it any time they feel any nasal issues starting to prevent the issue from actually developing. And, it actually seems to work rather well. So, the recipe:

Ingredients:
1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup of warm water

Some old nasal spray bottles (disinfected, of course)

Process:
Simply heat the water in the microwave, dissolve the first two ingredients in the water, then pour in to your storage containers.

Snort as needed. It’s cheap, simple, and effective—our overall goal in life, correct?

Mustard Plaster

This is a recipe I learned while in school. The general idea for its use is in cases of chest/lung issues like bronchitis, etc. While skin will redden, remember to remove the plaster if burning, stinging, or extreme redness occurs.

Ingredients:
Wheat flour

Warm Water

Dry Mustard (Coleman’s or Durkee)

Saran Wrap

Castor oil

Towel

Cheesecloth

Heating Pad

Process:
For adults, it’s a ratio of 4 TBS of flour to 1 TBS of mustard. Children take an 8 to 1 ratio, while infants take a 12-1 ratio. Mix with tepid water to make a paste. Put the paste on half of a piece of cheesecloth; fold the other half over the top. Warm on a heating pad. Remove from heating pad. Apply castor oil to skin, and then apply the plaster to chest. Cover with a layer of saran wrap, then a towel. Leave for twenty minutes. Discard plaster. Wipe skin with castor oil to remove mustard remnants. Cover area with snug shirt, wear overnight.

Salt and Cider Vinegar Poultice

This is for sprains, ligament issues, arthritis, colitis, bruises, rheumatism, or general injuries of that nature. It is rumored to relieve pain, swelling, and toxin build-up.

Ingredients:
Hot Epsom Salt (available at any pharmacy)

Apple Cider Vinegar

Process:
This can be applied in several ways. My preference is to put a layer of dampened salt on the skin about half an inch thick and then simply let it set for 30-60 minutes. However, you can also moisten the salt and lightly massage it into the skin for 2-3 minutes. A cloth soaked in vinegar can be applied to the skin, with hot packs of salt laid on top (in cloth bags). So, just try whichever methods you prefer to see which is most effective for you, or for that particular injury.

Potato Poultice for the Eyes

Back in the day, and once upon a time, my mother was married to her first husband. He was a welder. Now, I never realized, but welders can get burned simply by being near to that much heat. Something else I never realized was that their eyes are not immune to this. So, when, on occasion, Jim would burn his eyes, Mom would cut up one of whatever type of potato they had in the house into slices. Jim would close his eyes and lay (as we girls like to do with cucumbers) with them on his eyes for maybe 20 minutes. Doing this seemed to really help his eyes from itching, redness, and the pain that came from actual burns.

Salves, tinctures, and random homemade remedies - not bad for a day’s work! I hope that you find this information useful. When I use any of these, I certainly am able to feel better about the quality of ingredient being put onto my skin. This is particularly important since we absorb about 60% of what goes on our skin. I enjoy being able to pronounce everything I am absorbing! However, please remember, these are not substitutions for a doctor’s care when needed, and, if in doubt, it is always better to ere on the side of caution when it comes to your health. Homemade remedies are just that, and while useful, we must still take care to seek professional advice when needed.

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