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buzzycrumbhunger

(977 posts)

37. My mum's big remedy was merthiolate or mercurochrome...

Sat Feb 1, 2025, 07:25 PM

Feb 1

Stung like a mofo!

My biggest remedy (since I’m fairly old myself, now) is arnica gel. It’s often touted as a bruise remedy or for muscle aches, but damned if it’s not the best burn remedy EVER! I’ve burned myself on oven racks and within 5-10 minutes of smearing arnica on it, the blister, redness, and pain are GONE. Can’t imagine why this isn’t common knowledge, except that the pharmaceutical companies hate competition and it would be one more thing they’d get the FDA to remove from the shelf.

They’ve done just that to things like ginger capsules, which are massively antiinflammatory. I shattered my knee in a Boy Scout accident years ago and my orthopod had me on Percocet for two years. I finally asked him why the hell he kept prescribing it. He looked in my eyes and said I looked fine but he could write for something less strong. Sent me home with a script for fkg oxycontin (?!) and I took one pill and pitched the rest. Scary stuff. Started taking four caps of ginger twice a day, and woke up about five weeks later to realize I had no real pain and the swelling was more than half gone. From ginger. Cut back gradually and now just eat/drink lots of things with ginger in them (cookies, Reed’s Extra ginger ginger ale, ginger tea, etc.) You can still find capsules online but I have no doubt they’ll squelch sales if people realize how powerful it is.

These two gems are my contribution to a new generation of home remedies. Goodbye merthiolate!

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JMCKUSICK electric_blue68

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Do you remember any home remedies that your folks had to fix an illness or condition. Can't sleep--cup of warm milk . [View all] debm55 Feb 1 OP

My aunt, a nurse, gave us periodic penicillin shots. (Later to be a wrong thing to do) LakeArenal Feb 1 #1

I luckily never had. I heard it was horrible. I think it was for digestion problems. debm55 Feb 1 #5

"regularity " mopinko Feb 1 #53

Yes. the apple a day keeps the doctor away., regularity debm55 Feb 1 #69

I puked regularly!!! Every time. LakeArenal Feb 2 #96

I am sorry for you LakeArenal. Why did she continue to give that to you? debm55 Feb 2 #101

She thought it was healthy. LakeArenal Feb 2 #121

I am so sorry. That is rough. Peace to you LakeArenal. Love, Debbie debm55 Feb 2 #126

Thanks. DU is part of my self-made family. LakeArenal Feb 2 #138

When my boys were babies, my Nana told me when they were teething that I should GPV Feb 1 #2

I did that one and for a baby with colic take for a ride in the car or place in a basket on a running drier Thank you . debm55 Feb 1 #4

Put mine on the washer during spin. Lol GPV Feb 1 #12

Not them in particular Jilly_in_VA Feb 1 #3

Mom would give us brandy lemonade when we had bad colds. We did sleep better riversedge Feb 1 #28

Thank for sharing, Jilly_in_VA I sounds good debm55 Feb 1 #72

Thank you Jilly_in_VA debm55 Feb 2 #114

I swear it does work for some really bad colds/coughs. livvy Feb 2 #129

You really need the Extra Sharp stuff Jilly_in_VA Feb 2 #130

Can't sleep no_hypocrisy Feb 1 #6

Thank you no-hypocrisy. I am going to try that. debm55 Feb 1 #9

A/K/A Tila no_hypocrisy Feb 1 #24

Here's one that I know of, that those that live near cold springs (in the Ozarks where I grew up at), if you had caught SWBTATTReg Feb 1 #7

Oh and another thing, I would consume a little baking soda too, it exudes on the skin too, which is what you want. SWBTATTReg Feb 1 #10

On one of my wild food walks we learned that broad leaf (and I think narrow leaf) Plaintan were good for the ... electric_blue68 Feb 1 #19

Nice to know, but I kind of just avoid any wooded areas now, totally, to avoid catching anything! Ha ha heh. And SWBTATTReg Feb 1 #21

Oh, I get it! As city kids it was kind of an adventure to do a bit of walking in the woods!.... electric_blue68 Feb 1 #22

Thanks! The Switzerland trip sounds neat, your relatives sound neat too, an artist of all things! How neat SWBTATTReg Feb 1 #23

It was an out of the blue vacation gift from her! electric_blue68 Feb 1 #25

Wow, wow, wow!!! NEAT and what a memory to have. SWBTATTReg Feb 1 #26

Ty. Oh, yeah, I have so many wonderful memories. electric_blue68 Feb 1 #31

That's interesting. Thank you SWBATTReg debm55 Feb 1 #73

I wish I could forget! Dorothy V Feb 1 #8

OMG! I had forgotten about the turpentine. We got that too. LoisB Feb 1 #50

Oh how terrible, Dorothy V. debm55 Feb 1 #74

Ginger ale. pandr32 Feb 1 #11

Thank you very much pandr32. Ginger ale cures. sore throats, chest colds. stomach ache, Multi-cure. debm55 Feb 1 #75

Today I can not drink 7Up because we got it when we were sick. LakeArenal Feb 2 #97

I see your point LakeArenal. debm55 Feb 2 #102

Ha! I think the same when I see Ginger Ale! pandr32 Feb 2 #113

What a great question JMCKUSICK Feb 1 #13

Kick JMCKUSICK Feb 1 #40

Thank you JMCKUSICK debm55 Feb 1 #76

Best prescription for Fever JoseBalow Feb 1 #14

OH you. It might take my fever away but it gives me a headache. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHH debm55 Feb 1 #77

7 UP for an upset stomach. nt doc03 Feb 1 #15

Thank you doc03. I remember that too. debm55 Feb 1 #17

Thank you doc03, Same here, though most times it was Ginger ale debm55 Feb 1 #78

Yep, my mother was a 7 UP fan, I guess. doc03 Feb 2 #94

Haha Thank you debm55 Feb 2 #95

Milk toast - yuck! When my mom was a little girl, and didn't feel well, her mother would make... 3catwoman3 Feb 1 #16

"But it's good for you" JMCKUSICK Feb 1 #43

Thanks JMCKUSICK debm55 Feb 1 #80

I didn't mind it , but could not see what it was going to do to make me better. debm55 Feb 2 #115

I love milk toast! My mom never gave it to us as a home remedy; we just liked it yellowdogintexas Feb 2 #142

Antiphlogisitine - interesting name. Triggered a memory from high school science. 3catwoman3 Feb 2 #144

Thank you very much 3catwoman3, Your post is very interesting. debm55 Feb 2 #153

Thank you yellowdogintexas. I can't believe at one time turpentine was used in store bought cough syrup debm55 Feb 2 #152

I think there was coca cola syrup Just_Vote_Dem Feb 1 #18

My friends mother used that for an upset stomach debm55 Feb 1 #81

From my Greek yia-yia (grandmother).... electric_blue68 Feb 1 #20

This message was self-deleted by its author bottomofthehill Feb 1 #35

Did it help? electric_blue68 Feb 1 #38

This message was self-deleted by its author bottomofthehill Feb 1 #42

I deleted my post because when I googled it bottomofthehill Feb 1 #46

Got it. electric_blue68 Feb 1 #47

That is different,Thank you debm55 Feb 1 #83

Any earaches or any kind of pain, hot water bottle. LiberalLoner Feb 1 #27

Me too. Had a lot of earaches and sore throats. debm55 Feb 1 #84

Grandmother would give warmed honey, lemon, and whiskey for a cough. Also, crush up some sinkingfeeling Feb 1 #29

Well.that sounds great. thank you sinking feeling debm55 Feb 1 #85

Same here livvy Feb 2 #127

I think it was more Mom's love, but... Mike Nelson Feb 1 #30

For anything respitory WmChris Feb 1 #57

Thank you Mike Nelson. But I hated that stuff. So greasy. debm55 Feb 2 #112

Not my parents, but a cousin. greatauntoftriplets Feb 1 #32

Thank you greatauntoftriblets. debm55 Feb 2 #132

Indigestion? Lunabell Feb 1 #33

Thank you very much Lunabell. debm55 Feb 2 #133

Stomach bug? FoggyLake Feb 1 #34

Thank you FoggyLake. I didn't know that. debm55 Feb 2 #134

Gingerale with the bubbles stirred out with the base of applegrove Feb 1 #36

Thank you very much applegrove. debm55 Feb 2 #111

My mum's big remedy was merthiolate or mercurochrome... buzzycrumbhunger Feb 1 #37

The red line of mercurochrome in any cut. bottomofthehill Feb 1 #48

Grandma alway had it in a bottle. It came with a glass dauber. It would run down your leg and stain. It was used MLAA Feb 1 #54

It hurt worse than the cuts it was put on. 3catwoman3 Feb 1 #66

And you had to wear a 'Scarlet Letter' for a few days until it wore off! MLAA Feb 2 #99

Ha, that sounds familiar when I was a kid, with the dauber, at my Aunt's house. electric_blue68 Feb 2 #91

Ah the memories, it was probably 54 or so years ago for me MLAA Feb 2 #98

Like 60 - 63 yrs ago for me. electric_blue68 Feb 2 #119

LOL buzzycrumbhunger Feb 2 #149

So true, got ready to blow on the bite/scratch the nanosecond grandma moved towards you with the dauber 😂 MLAA Feb 2 #150

Arnica montana pellets are great for -heavy- dental work! All I needed after were regular asprins... electric_blue68 Feb 2 #92

Thank you had the glass dauber too. It worse then putting nothing on it. I remember my pants got caught in gears of my debm55 Feb 2 #109

Ginger ale or 7-Up for an upset stomach, or (yuk!) milk toast. Hated that stuff. Ocelot II Feb 1 #39

"I really hated Vapo-Rub." 3catwoman3 Feb 1 #51

I agree, Vapo-Rub is vile stuff! Diamond_Dog Feb 1 #56

I don't think I could get close enough to that vile stuff to even... 3catwoman3 Feb 1 #58

I agree with you 3catwoman3. That is dumb beyond compare. debm55 Feb 1 #63

OMG .... That's unbelievable! Diamond_Dog Feb 1 #70

In 45 years, I had to bite my tongue so many times when a parent would say something... 3catwoman3 Feb 2 #88

How about the Vicks Vapor Inhaler? When I was a kid. I tried it and never used again. debm55 Feb 1 #64

I hated Vabo-rub.. It was so greasy. debm55 Feb 1 #65

Ocelot II, I hated Vicks Vapo rub sooooooo greasy debm55 Feb 2 #135

So did I, Greasy shit debm55 Feb 2 #154

Sunburn: Cocoa butter or vinegar. Nanuke Feb 1 #41

I remember the cocoa butter. Thank you Nanuke. debm55 Feb 1 #62

If it's mild Aloe Vera is great for sunburns. mucifer Feb 2 #151

We have had an natural medical apothecary for all my life... MiHale Feb 1 #44

Thank you very much MiHale. That sounds very interesting. debm55 Feb 1 #61

Bread Poultice (also, not exactly a home remedy... but Gentian Violet) IcyPeas Feb 1 #45

Yes , that was it. Thank you IcyPeas. I would frequently get bronchitis. My grandmother called it a mustard plaster as debm55 Feb 1 #55

Sugar melted in vinegar or sugar melted In onion slices for sore throat. Castor Oil and LoisB Feb 1 #49

oh my that does sound bad. Thank you LoisB. debm55 Feb 1 #52

Butter. chowder66 Feb 1 #59

That is funny chowder66. May the memories of your father bring you blessings/ debm55 Feb 1 #60

Thanks debm55. You pulled that memory out! chowder66 Feb 1 #71

Your welcome. debm55 Feb 2 #110

Grandma's Salve if..fish..had..wings Feb 1 #67

HAHAHHAAHHAHA That is funny. Thank you if..fish..had..wings debm55 Feb 1 #68

For earaches dad would blow smoke into our ear. For a filthy mouth, apply soap liberally to the interior and then WheelWalker Feb 1 #79

Oh my. sorry WheelWalker. debm55 Feb 2 #108

Steaming pot of Camomile tea for a head cold - German remedy Bavorskoami Feb 1 #82

Thank you very much Bavorskoami. That is interesting. debm55 Feb 2 #107

Tussin, ginger ale and a humidifier cure everything kerouac2 Feb 1 #86

Thank you very much kerouac2 debm55 Feb 2 #106

Hot Lemon water ... Tarzanrock Feb 1 #87

Thank you very much Tarzanrock. I hope it worked. debm55 Feb 2 #105

Mud on bee stings. nt PufPuf23 Feb 2 #89

Thank you very much PufPuf23, debm55 Feb 2 #104

Barley water KT2000 Feb 2 #90

Thank you very much KT2000 , So happy for your brother. debm55 Feb 2 #103

Canadian Club, honey and lemon juice for bad coughs nuxvomica Feb 2 #93

Thank you very much nuxvomica. debm55 Feb 2 #100

For splinters sorcrow Feb 2 #116

Thank you very much socrow. debm55 Feb 2 #120

A lot of these are familiar chowmama Feb 2 #117

I am sorry for you . I was a mouth breather too. Everyime I did it , I got slapped in the face. Never went to the doctor debm55 Feb 2 #122

A lump of butter on a spoon dipped in sugar some_of_us_are_sane Feb 2 #118

Thank you very much, some_of_are_sane, That's a possiblity too. debm55 Feb 2 #123

If your sinuses are stuffed up, put a teaspoon of horseradish in your mouth, ... JustABozoOnThisBus Feb 2 #124

Thank you very much. JustABozoOnThisBus. I will try. debm55 Feb 2 #125

it sure will. Or wasabi paste at the sushi place nt yellowdogintexas Feb 2 #137

I had wasbi paste at a restaurant, got sick in the stomach soon after. Too strong for me. debm55 Feb 2 #155

Worst one I ever ran into Jilly_in_VA Feb 2 #128

OMG. Did she think it would work? debm55 Feb 2 #156

Of course she did Jilly_in_VA Feb 3 #161

Thanks Jilly_in_VA debm55 Feb 3 #162

Honey, lemon juice and butter for a sore throat or cough Wicked Blue Feb 2 #131

Thank you very much , Wicked Blue. debm55 Feb 2 #136

Thank you Wicked Blue. debm55 Feb 2 #157

this one really works. For wasp, bee or hornet stings. Chew up some tobacco yellowdogintexas Feb 2 #139

Thank you very much, yellowdintexas. debm55 Feb 2 #143

Irish Penicillin for stomach virus SARose Feb 2 #140

Thank you very much SARose, It sounds very good. And bless your mother for making it for you debm55 Feb 2 #146

this is a great thread. Has anyone listened to "The Peoples' Pharmacy" on NPR. yellowdogintexas Feb 2 #141

Thank you very much yellowdogintexas. I would like to get a book on old remedies. debm55 Feb 2 #145

Sore throat gargle with warm salt water MacKasey Feb 2 #147

I used both as a child and it did work for me. Thank you debm55 Feb 2 #158

kick JMCKUSICK Feb 2 #148

Thank you debm55 Feb 2 #159

The summer go to was Vaseline another greasy mess. It went on splinters, cuts. etc. debm55 Feb 2 #160

Kick JMCKUSICK Feb 3 #163

Clear fingernail on coldsores. When I taught HS that is what girls did. debm55 Feb 3 #164

Thread through blister to drain fluid. PufPuf23 Feb 5 #165

Thank you PufPuf23 We used just hot needle, and put on blister. debm55 Feb 5 #168

Hot tea, lemon juice, and honey mwmisses4289 Feb 5 #166

Thank you very much mwmisses4289 We used to do the BRAT diet for my son when he was small. Thank you for sharing. debm55 Feb 5 #167