Monday, April 21, 2014

R ~ Remedies

Most Amish rely on remedies that have been handed down for generations, some of them really do work, while others have me running in the other direction simply hearing about them.

Of the ones I have personal experience with that actually worked:

Carrot Poultice

Puncture wounds, or deeply embedded slivers. We would grate a raw carrot and place it on the affected area, wrap it and go to sleep, in the morning slivers had been pulled out, and wounds would be well on their way to healing.

It was a cheap, easy remedy that worked wonders.

Oil of Egg

Hernias.  A dozen eggs were hardboiled, the yolks crumbled and then heated until almost a tablespoon of oil was extracted. Extremely smelly to make, but again I saw first hand the healing power of this oil. Dabbing a little oil to the hernia several times a day and it started shrinking and totally healed with no surgery required.

Kerosene

Any bad cuts.  Holding the wounded area in some kerosene will immediately stop the bleeding.

Potatoes

Ear infection. A slice of raw potato placed on the ear will relieve the pain.
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A remedy that does not work:

Ear Candles

Thought to remove wax build up from ears.  To any believers I suggest you try this experiment. Light the candle, but instead of holding it in the ear hold it against your hand or some other surface. Results are exactly the same.

32 comments:

  1. When I would get earaches as a child, my dad would hold me in his lap and blow cigar smoke gently into my ears. The warm smoke would soften the wax and relieve the pain. (Snuggling up in Daddy's lap probably helped, too.)

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    1. Warmth helps earache, and snuggling on Daddy's lap always helped. :)

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    2. Interesting about the egg oil and hernias. I always thought hernias were holes, torn through the muscle or abdominal wall, and that it would need to be surgically repaired. I'll have to look into that one!

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    3. Success I suppose depends on how big the hernia is when you start this remedy. Applying the oil of egg to a small hernia shrinks and heals. One of my brothers had one the size of a quarter and using this method successfully healed it with no surgery required.

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  2. I'll certainly have to try the carrot remedy. For ear infections, my mawmaw would blow cigarette smoke into my ear, then quickly put a cotton ball to seal it in. I felt fantastic hours later!

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    1. Smoke wasn't an option for us, but I have heard great things about how it relieves earache. Fun hearing about other's experiences with home remedies.

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  3. This is sooo interesting ...... have read several of these and more in all of my AMISH readings ...... I'm going to be so sad when we reach the end of the alphabet :(:( hahahaha ...... love learning all of this .... Have a happy SPRING day Mary Ann ......

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    1. I'm glad you are enjoying this series! I'm thinking of doing a continuation even after the A-Z challenge is over.

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    2. Please do!!!! We just love reading this series!

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  4. I remember that ear candling was all the rage at my husband's work and we all tried it and were grossed out at all the "wax" that came out of our ears. None of us could hear any better and then someone pointed out that the candles were the same color as earwax. We all felt pretty silly! I will definitely try the carrot poultice!

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    1. We had been excited about it too, until someone suggested we do that experiment. We tried it, and when the results were exactly the same, that ended our candling.

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  5. Very interesting! Ill have to remember the carrot remedy with four boys!:)
    Christina

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    1. Hope the carrot remedy works when you try it. With five boys my Mom used it often! :)

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  6. I have really enjoyed reading through your alphabet! My dad was a great believer in drinking Hot lemon water laced with a healthy dose of honey for a cough. Worked like a charm. =)

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    1. Glad you're enjoying this alphabet series. My teacher used to sip lemon and honey at school, now I know why.

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  7. These are great. Have you or will you post about Amish gardening tricks? I'd love to learn a few things that I could apply to my own garden one day :)

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  8. The ear candles really do not work! Interesting home remedies.

    Hope you are enjoying the A to Z challenge! Here’s my A to Z Post on Memorable Characters

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    1. I am enjoying the A to Z challenge. Thanks for stopping by.

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  9. Oooooohhhhh ...... how I pray you do continue your series ...... this is sooooo fun !!! You are a delight :):)

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  10. I am so enjoying this series! The grated carrots will definitely be tried at our home.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  11. Those are very interesting home remedies! I have tried the ear candles in the past and thought they were not really what they claimed.

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    1. I wish they would work like they claim, but unfortunately that doesn't happen to be the case.

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  12. Hi. I came by to return the blog visit and thank you for taking the time to comment on mine. What a great post to find for my first visit! Especially the one for splinters. This is a must try.

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  13. Very interesting home remedies... The carrot and potato one definitely with a try...so simple and economical!

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    1. The carrots were used more than any other remedy in our home.

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  14. I love you blog. I'm your newest follower.

    look forward to learning even more about the Amish culture

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    1. Thanks for following. Hope you enjoy your time here.

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  15. I have personally used spider web to stop bleeding. Never thought about Kerosene, although I know when it was first discovered, people tried it for a plethora of ailments, before they realized it's usefulness for fuel.

    I do know potato slices laid upon eyes burnt from welding will help to heal them. So I can see where it might help with an ear ache.

    My personal belief is that there was a "cure" for every malady that could effect man in the Garden, but that, that knowledge got locked away from us when we fell from grace and got kicked out.

    Barbara, blogging at Life & Faith in Caneyhead

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.