Illness

I have a cold just in time for Christmas, Oh Joy.   I am taking my vitamin C and all my herbal concocotions and it made me remember some notes I have on illness and old time remedies,.

(TL NOTE  from the book Knox County Kentucky history  by Elmer Decker )
....found in the Bible of  Captain Charles Gatliff  born in 1777
 A cure for the corns. Go to a linden bush in the morning before the sun rises take holt of the top of a limb and say, Good Morning, Good Morning. For what have I come here? To cure the corns of my toes. Then brake off the point of the twig of the bush and drop them down, and you must say the whole of the words over for every corn that you want to cure and when you have done this turn your back to the bush and go away

This is from "Every Man His Own Doctor: Or The Poor Planter's Phyfician."  by John Tennent  published about 1730
"I shall begin with a Cough, which is the Foundation of many bad Distempers, and therefore should be taken care of as soon as possible.  It may be cured in the Beginning with riding moderately on Horseback every Day, and taking only a little Ground Ivy Tea sweeten'd with Syrrup of Horehound, at Night when you go to Bed.  But in Case it be violent, it will be proper to bleed Eight Ounces, and be constant in the Use of the other Remedies.  In the mean while, you must use a spare and cooling Diet. without either Flesh or strong Drink.  Nor should you stove yourself up in a warm Room, but breathe as much as possible in the open Air.  And to prevent this Mischief, don't make your self tender, but wash every Day in cold Water,
and very often your Feet. "
from the website  MY KINFOLKS OF KY & BEYOND - STORY TELLERS
Ailments & Remedies  by: Kim Jones Dean
Asthma Sourwood Sapling - Cut a sapling longer than your child is tall;
split/fork the end lengthwise and place a lock of hair in the fork.
Put sapling over doorframe and when the child is taller than the stick is long,
the Asthma will be gone. Some people used Locust, Pine or Popular saplings
cough syrup using moonshine, honey, lemon juice and rock candy
Ear Ache - Female Place fresh urine from a male in the ear 
Ear Ache - Male Place fresh urine from a female in the ear 
more can be found at  http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kykinfolks/

 Here are some more modern recipes

Elderberry Cordial/Syrup
1 cup brandy
¾ cup elderberries
½ cup honey
Let steep for three weeks.
Strain out and discard the elderberries, then add honey
Drink ½ oz. at first sign of a cold

Cold and Flu Cough Syrup
2 cups water
2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger
2 tablespoons fennel seeds
Simmer herbs and water on low heat until water volume is one cup. Strain out and
discard herbs. Add ½ cup honey and store in the refrigerator. Take 1 tablespoon
three times a day at the onset of cold symptoms.
Shelf life: 3 months stored fridge

Fire Cider
1 tablespoon fresh chopped garlic
1 tablespoon fresh grated horseradish
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger root
1 chopped white onion
1/8 teaspoon cayenne powder
2 cups apple cider vinegar
Steep herbs in vinegar for four weeks
Using a piece of cotton muslin, strain herbs from the vinegar and discard.
Add1/2 cup honey to the vinegar. Take one tablespoon three times a day at
 the onset of cold symptoms. Stores well in the refrigerator for about one year
Time to go make a cup of tea,  I will add more when I feel better. 
MERRY CHRISTMAS