Anybody still use the old remedies?

G

GP44

Member
I have had a cold and sore throat for about a week now and a doctor just prescribed an antibiotic for the sore throat.
Most of the time when I have a sore throat it tests positive for strep.
I was getting so congested that I was having a harder time breathing.
This evening I remembered that my Mother used to smear Vicks Mentholatum on my chest and neck to help relieve congestion when I was a child.
I am doing that now plus smearing it on my nostrils.
I told my wife today that it wouldn’t help to try to do any breathing exercises until I got rid of some of this congestion.
I just read where some people are saying that Vicks doesn’t actually clear out congestion but that the menthol in it tricks your brain into thinking that you breath easier.
I think that is ridiculous. Trick or no trick I am breathing easier now!
 

GP44 said:
I have had a cold and sore throat for about a week now and a doctor just prescribed an antibiotic for the sore throat.
Most of the time when I have a sore throat it tests positive for strep.
I was getting so congested that I was having a harder time breathing.
This evening I remembered that my Mother used to smear Vicks Mentholatum on my chest and neck to help relieve congestion when I was a child.
I am doing that now plus smearing it on my nostrils.
I told my wife today that it wouldn’t help to try to do any breathing exercises until I got rid of some of this congestion.
I just read where some people are saying that Vicks doesn’t actually clear out congestion but that the menthol in it tricks your brain into thinking that you breath easier.
I think that is ridiculous. Trick or no trick I am breathing easier now!
Click to expand...
I'm at the tail-end of a weeks long cold with sore throat. Slathering on Vicks Vaporub on my chest and throat, with a cloth covering, always helps break up congestion. It's what Mum always did when I had a cold, and asthma growing up. That stuff really works.
 
My mom used Musterole on my chest, with a warm cloth. I hated the smell of that stuff but it worked, lol

Musterole

We have lost a lot of good remedies thanks to big pharma taking over.

@IrishEyes I have a couple that work for me, but the topical I rub on my feet is for horses, so I doubt very much anyone is interested.

2. two capsules of magnesium MALATE nightly helps stave off leg and foot cramps.

3. I have a Wahl DEEP TISSUE massager I use on my legs and feet. CVS carries them.
 
I’m a fan of Vicks and also Ponaris along with plenty of hot soup, tea, etc…

1756638191287.jpeg

A combination of zinc and vitamin c in chewable tablets seems to work wonders.

It doesn’t really matter if things work or if it is some sort of placebo effect as long as you feel better.

@Tommy mud on an insect bite or sting was always a remedy when I was a kid.

We also used spider webs to stop bleeding on small cuts, scraped knees, etc.
 
IrishEyes said:
Anyone have a remedy for foot cramps? I know NOT to stretch the foot to a pointed position but bend it back,
But when that begins at 11pm drives me insane.
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Keeping an unwrapped bar of Ivory soap under the covers by your feet will help to relieve cramps if you rub your feet against it when you feel a cramp coming on. It also helps to rub the bar of dry soap on your calf if you feel a Charlie horse coming on.
 
Aunt Bea said:
Keeping an unwrapped bar of Ivory soap under the covers by your feet will help to relieve cramps if you rub your feet against it when you feel a cramp coming on. It also helps to rub the bar of dry soap on your calf if you feel a Charlie horse coming on.
Click to expand...
Had a bar of that in the hall, I will give it a good try.
Imogene said:
My mom used Musterole on my chest, with a warm cloth. I hated the smell of that stuff but it worked, lol

Musterole

We have lost a lot of good remedies thanks to big pharma taking over.

@IrishEyes I have a couple that work for me, but the topical I rub on my feet is for horses, so I doubt very much anyone is interested.

2. two capsules of magnesium MALATE nightly helps stave off leg and foot cramps.

3. I have a Wahl DEEP TISSUE massager I use on my legs and feet. CVS carries them.
Click to expand...
I drank the Metamucil at night, the magnesium won't interfere with that will it you think? Regular or foot cramps - I would choose reg. ;)
 
GP44 said:
I have had a cold and sore throat for about a week now and a doctor just prescribed an antibiotic for the sore throat.
Most of the time when I have a sore throat it tests positive for strep.
I was getting so congested that I was having a harder time breathing.
This evening I remembered that my Mother used to smear Vicks Mentholatum on my chest and neck to help relieve congestion when I was a child.
I am doing that now plus smearing it on my nostrils.
I told my wife today that it wouldn’t help to try to do any breathing exercises until I got rid of some of this congestion.
I just read where some people are saying that Vicks doesn’t actually clear out congestion but that the menthol in it tricks your brain into thinking that you breath easier.
I think that is ridiculous. Trick or no trick I am breathing easier now!
Click to expand...
What i made bold. Rather than smear mentholatum on nose, i use one of those menthol inhalers that are about the size of cylinder type lip balms--a couple of inhalations thru each nostril and i'm blowing my nose as mucous loosens.

Totally agree with your last sentence. If someone thinks this a placebo effect then most medicines are 'just' our brains being tricked into our bodies getting relief. Which is possible, but neither the American medical establishment or big pharma would want us catching on to that.
 
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I sip on peppermint tea for nausea or upset stomach.

I’m also a fan of Vicks, and Eucalyptus oil on a handkerchief to inhale throughout the day.

I won’t take antibiotics for anything other than a full-on bacterial infection.

Instead of chicken soup, I drink Chinese hot and sour soup when I feel unwell.

For a sore throat I use honey, held in my mouth to warm it and let it slowly trickle down.
 
IrishEyes said:
I drank the Metamucil at night, the magnesium won't interfere with that will it you think?
Click to expand...
No. I take 750 milligrams of magnesium every night and use Metamucil. They help each other.

Edited to clear up my statement after reading Imogene's post #12. I'm in a hurry this morning, so my post wasn't clear. I take magnesium at dinner time (about 5:30 PM) but I don't drink Metamucil until bedtime.
 
IrishEyes said:
Anyone have a remedy for foot cramps? I know NOT to stretch the foot to a pointed position but bend it back,
But when that begins at 11pm drives me insane.
Click to expand...
For foot or leg cramps, pickle juice is magic. I pour some into a shot glass - sometimes need a couple of shots - and the pain is almost instantly gone or dramatically reduced. If it's nighttime, I'll put an extra shot of it on my nightstand in case the cramp comes back during the night.
 
StarSong said:
For foot or leg cramps, pickle juice is magic. I pour some into a shot glass - sometimes need a couple of shots - and the pain is almost instantly gone or dramatically reduced. If it's nighttime, I'll put an extra shot of it on my nightstand in case the cramp comes back during the night.
Click to expand...
ooooo can't do pickle juice, pickle days are long gone. but I will pass it on to hubby as he gets them too.
 
My reason for posting is that I do use some old-fashioned treatments, and I'll describe one.

I very rarely get a cold or flu. During the Covid pandemic, I got vaccinations... and while I did contract Covid during that period, the vaccinations apparently kept the illness very limited: five days, feeling like a bad cold plus an ache in my neck, but diminishing through those five days. A light case.

I chose to get extra sleep under heavy blankets, and encouraged my body to sweat. I did that because, back in previous years when I was more prone catching a cold or flu, this practice always clearly helped my body to get rid of it.
 

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