Good dental care was a luxury for many people during the early days of this country, and sadly, it is a luxury that many can not afford today.  But, as always, folks did the best they could with what they had and treated a toothache in a variety of ways. Here are a few of them.

One remedy was to take a small amount of wine, or juice, from some poke berries and mix one part to eight parts of white whiskey, or moon shine, and take a small spoonful a day. (caution! Poke berries and the plant itself are poisonous! Only the early spring shoots and leaves of this plant are considered edible!) It was considered to be good for rheumatism and muscle cramps as well.  Another, and much safer, remedy was to pour pure vanilla extract straight from the bottle onto the tooth. There was another remedy called … Read the rest

Oil pulling is a folk remedy that has been practiced in India for thousands of years, and is slowly making a rise amongst natural health enthusiasts in America.  Oil pulling uses, traditionally, either sesame or sunflower oil that is swished around in the mouth for about 10-15 minutes and then spat out.  It is said that this practice ‘draws’ out the impurities in the body through the gums helping the body to detoxify and regain a more harmonious and healthy state of being.

Many of the reported cures that oil pulling has produced are mouth and gum disease, diabetes, AIDS, liver and heart diseases, cancer, high blood pressure, etc.  When a scientist named Dr. Karsch decided to do the research he was surprised to find that when he did the oil pulling himself not only did it heal his own chronic blood disease, but it cleared up his arthritis. He … Read the rest

Fenugreek  is a herb that has been used for thousands of years to add a savory flavoring to various foods, such as lamb, beef, and lentils, but it has also been use as a treatment for many ailments. It is used to treat gas, canker sores, high blood pressure, and several other illnesses.

Here are a few recipes for treating some various diseases. As always, consult a trained physician when concerning life threating illnesses, but these may be added to the treatments prescribed by your doctor.

For a sore throat and gas use either some of the fenugreek leaves to make a tea. Pour very hot, not boiling, water over the leaves in a cup and let steep for about 5 minutes. Drink several cups of this tea through out the day. You may also use the seeds, but they need to be steeped longer, about 15-20 minutes, and boiling … Read the rest

St. Johns Wort has been used for centuries for many ailments, internally and externally. It it used to help purify the blood, as well as a “blood-builder”, and as an antiseptic. It is also used to treat depression and anxiety.

It is useful in treating sprains and bruises, and has been shown to be useful in preventing stretch marks when used in an oil preparation during pregnancy.

A very strong  tea made with St. John’s Wort and then taken a teaspoonful 1-2 times a day helps to cleanse the blood and alleviate depression.

Another folk remedy is to put St. John’s Wort in a quart of whiskey, or moonshine along with some cherry bark for flavor and let it set for about 2 weeks. Take a teaspoonful to build blood and help cure the “blues”.

To prevent stretch marks while pregnant: Take 1 – 2 handfuls of St. John’s Wort … Read the rest