I bet when you came down with the sniffles or common ailments as a child, your mother or grandmother had a bunch of different remedies she’d recommend. Some of them are plain odd and really have no place except for the fondness of telling the tale. But the following old-time remedies do have a place in our home.
1. Chicken soup is good for a cold. Grandma knew her stuff on this one. Chicken soup is good for a cold, and there’s science to prove it, even though we homesteaders knew it before they did. The New York Times reports that chicken soup can help reduce upper respiratory symptoms. [20] Homemade chicken soup made with traditional bone broth and lots of vegetables is going to be even more beneficial. Whenever fall rolls around and we move into cold and flu season, I recommend stocking up on your stock. The addition of herbs like oregano, rosemary, and thyme will impart additional medicinal benefits.
2. Baking soda for a bee sting. My daughter was stung by a bee. The sting itself wasn’t hurting (odd but very happy outcome); however, she was scratching it like crazy. I mixed up a paste of baking soda and water and applied it directly to the sting. It took away the itching and she was back to playing and running around in no time. Note: If you’re allergic to bees or suspect an allergic reaction, get yourself to a doctor or emergency room immediately.
3. Inhaling steam. When your nose is congested and you feel like you can’t breathe, take a hot shower or fill a sink or pot with hot water and make a tent. Take a towel and cover your head with it while leaning over the hot water, trapping the steam and allowing you to breathe it in for a few minutes. Make sure you use common sense and don’t burn yourself. The steam will help loosen your congestion and allow you to cough up the ick easier. Many people like to add a few drops of peppermint or eucalyptus oil to the water, but even the hot water itself will help. You could also add crushed peppermint leaves to the water, making an herbal steam. Menthol (derived from the mint family) is often used in humidifiers and as aromatherapy, and you can try adding a vaporizer or diffusing the oil to help. However, some small children and others may have sensitivities to peppermint and especially eucalyptus, so it’s not recommended to use this method with infants or small children. Watch for any signs of irritation when using this method of adding in the menthol family to your steam.
4. Honey as a cough suppressant. Who knew that sugar could be taken as medicine? But not just any old sugar. Only if you’re using good raw honey can you call it medicine. A cup of warm honey tea with a bit of lemon doesn’t only help warm you up, it actually relieves your cough. Honey is now being recommended as a cough suppressant in the medical community instead of over-the-counter products. (Again, we homesteaders were ahead of the curve on this one.) Is there anything cooler than being able to use your food storage as your medicine cabinet too? I prefer local raw honey for all the benefits it offers. If you can find a local beekeeper or local source, I’d go with that; otherwise, look for raw honey at your local co-op or grocery store. Many people like to infuse their honey with herbs or spices for flavor and further medicinal properties. To retain all the benefits of honey, raw or unpasteurized honey is best. Note: Due to the risk of botulism, do not give honey to children who are less than one year old.
5. Ginger for nausea and upset stomach. If you had an upset stomach, there’s a good chance your granny might have given you some ginger tea. For years people have used ginger to treat digestive and stomach ailments, and some studies have shown it to be beneficial while others aren’t as conclusive. Note: Ginger may help soothe an upset stomach, but if you’re on blood-thinning medications or have a blood clotting disorder, you should consult with a medical professional before using.
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20 Tara Parker-Pope, “The Science of Chicken Soup,” Well Blog, The New York Times, October 12, 2007, https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/12/the-science-of-chicken-soup/.
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