Melondy Phillips
Staff Writer
As winter swoops in, colds, flu and sore throats are bound to follow. Doctors were not always right around the corner or present in 24-hour urgent care facilities. So how did the colonists make it through these chilling times without a doctor a phone call away and what were some of their old-time solutions to relieving the many wintertime ailments?
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used in place of medical advice.
Having a winter medicine cabinet was crucial, but knowing how to use the items in it was just as important. “The Family Physi-tian,” by George Hartman, was published in 1696. The highly sought after book contained more than 500 pages of approved and experienced remedies for the cure of almost all human diseases for home healthcare.
Elderberries are listed as the primary ingredient in several recipes within the pages of this comprehensive text. With medicinal uses dating back thousands of years, even Hippocrates called elderberries “the medicine crest” due to its many health benefits. Some of the ailments that have been historically treated with elderberries include anemia, cough, colds, flu and digestive issues. Adding honey to elderberries produces a synergistic effect, multiplying its benefits.
Ginger and lemon hot tea is nothing new. Both ginger and lemons are high in antioxidant, are anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. For one treatment of bad fevers, this book lists a process for purifying and fermenting lemon juice so that it should last for five to six years (before refrigeration). Lemons contain limonene which aids digestion while ginger has been used for nausea and digestion issues. Ginger also contains salicylate which is a compound that naturally thins the blood.
Mullein is a common weed that freely grows throughout most of North America and up into Canada. Used for respiratory issues such as cough and cold, asthma and bronchitis, as well as tonsillitis, mullein contains compounds that help suppress cough while thinning any mucus that is present. According to the National Institute of Health, ursolic acid (UA – a compound in mullein) “may inhibit main protease of SARS-CoV-2, and inhibits the interface flanked by SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins and its entry point commonly recognized as angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). In addition, UA attenuates SARS-CoV-2-induced inflammatory reactions and oxidative stress. Therefore, UA could avert SARS-CoV-2 infection from causing acute lung injury.” The anti-inflammation compounds in this traditional herb may even help reduce pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Slippery elm, which comes from the inner bark of the slippery elm tree, was a standard for treating sore inflamed throats. The high level of mucilage coats and sooths throats while helping to calm persistent cough. It was also used as a laxative to aid detoxification, help with acid reflux, for coating the stomach to relieve IBS and other stomach issues, and as a poultice for skin wounds and ailments. Because of its high mucilage content, slippery elm may interfere with the absorption of medicines.
Cayenne pepper is a common culinary spice that packs a potent pain-relieving punch. It’s one of my main go-to remedies for a sore throat, including strep throat. When the cayenne in a hot tea first hits a sore throat, it burns fiercely, however, after a few seconds the capsaicin can desensitize the nerves, causing a numbing effect in some people. CAUTION: It’s best to start with a tiny pinch then SLOWLY work your way up as it is tolerated. Cayenne pepper has a long list of health benefits, including but not limited to anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antioxidant, pain management and circulation improvement.
Turmeric is another long standing medicinal and culinary herb. This member of the ginger family has been used as a remedy for inflamed joints, and for digestion, and for respiratory and skin issues. I normally partner turmeric with cayenne and black pepper for a sore throat due to allergies or sickness, or for joint inflammation after a long day of working hard outside.
White horehound contains a compound called marrubin. This bitter herb has been used for centuries to treat sore throats, coughs and even gallbladder and digestive concerns. White horehound is a powerful expectorant used to thin mucus secretions, helps reduce spa-sms in the stomach and intestines, decrease swelling (inflammation), and may even lower blood sugar and blood pressure. Black horehound has been used for nausea, vomiting, nervous dis- orders, cough, spasms, gout and infection of the intestines by parasites. Taking large amounts of horehound may cause vomiting. It is not advised to use horehound during pregnancy as it may stimulate contractions and cause miscarriage.
The NIH states, “Extensive pharmacological studies have demonstrated that marrubiin displays a suite of activities including antinociceptive [pain relieving], antioxidant, antigenotoxic [ability to reduce DNA damage caused by substances that can damage DNA or chromosomes], cardioprotective [protective of heart and arteries], vasorelaxant [increases blood flow], gastroprotective [protect the stomach from gastric mucosa damage], antispasmodic [relax muscles], immunomodulating [regulating immune system], antioedematogenic [prevent or reduce swelling in tissue], analgesic [pain relief], and antidiabetic properties [help with diabetes].”
Mixing white horehound with marshmallow root makes a wonderful homemade cough drop that we have been using for years.
There are thousands of other remedies for using resources at hand; far too many to cover in one article. I encourage everyone to do their own research, REAL research. Do not rely on social platforms and blogs.
Read old books along with the new ones, look up medical research papers from around the world, read historical documents while they are still available, and join local real people groups for sharing knowledge.
