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livvy

(6,954 posts)

129. I swear it does work for some really bad colds/coughs.

Sun Feb 2, 2025, 03:13 PM

Feb 2

I still sip on ginger brandy if I have really bad congestion and a cough. I've always felt it depended on the nature of the cold, if was bacterial vs viral, because it doesn't always work, and you do have to drink a lot of it for it to work. Maybe that's because I've only used the regular liquor store variety. I discovered it by accident once when I had a super bad cough. I was at a bar with friends, and the only thing that sounded good to me was ginger brandy, not something I would normally drink. I drank a lot of it that evening, and the next morning, the cough had broken up and within a day or two, I was able to clear them and breathe much better. I guess ginger is part of ancient Chinese medicine, used for respiratory and I think intestinal problems as well.

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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