Colossus Of Folk Medicine
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Aches and Pains
(1) For overall body aches and general tiredness, rub or massage the body with a mixture of one cup of vinegar combined with a beaten egg. Next, soak in a hot tub of water for twenty-thirty minutes, and dry, briskly, with a heavy towel. You will soon feel as fit as a fiddle! (2) General aches and pains, associated with colds, are sometimes relieved by drinking a concoction of 1/4 teaspoon of Ginger simmered in a cup of hot water. Samuel Trent
Acne
Acne is a name applied to any inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands. In popular usage, it is applied to the condition involving facial pimples.
(1) Use over-the-counter medications that contain benzoyl peroxide -- be sure to spread the medication beyond the infected area to stop the spread of "sits". You should squeeze pimples that have a yellowish head in order to speed healing. (Note: most medical authorities recommend that sits not be squeezed to remove the accumulated inflammation.) (2) Wash your face with a wet diaper. (3) Place a small cup of cat litter (made from clay) in a blender and grind it to a fine powder. Mix this with warm water, apply to your face for five minutes, then rinse. This will absorb skin oils, and promote the healing of pores and acne. (4) Teas made from echinacea, burdock root, dandelion root, and red clover blossoms, drank daily, are said to alleviate acne. Of these teas, take a wineglass full three to four times daily. (5) The Amish are said to use a mixture of 1 teaspoon of Sulfur and two teaspoons of Molasses, taken twice daily, to cleanse the blood, and consequently reduce skin eruptions. (6) Avoid seafoods, liver, cheese, and iodized salt for a couple of weeks to improve irritated skin eruptions and conditions. (7) Take activated Charcoal tablets three times daily. (8) Expose the face to the sun often--this will dry the oil in skin eruptions, and greatly eliminate bacterial infections on the skin surface. (8) Certainly, during adolescence, when acne is most prevalent, skin hygiene and cleanliness are critical. Wash your face several times daily with soap and water. (9) Avoid too much moisturizing makeup or oil-based cosmetics, that prevent sebum from reaching the skin surface. Instead, use water based products. (10) Men affected with acne should shave as lightly and as infrequently as is possible to reduce skin irritation, but follow the preceding recommendations insofar as possible. (11) Do not pick at your face! Do not squeeze undeveloped pimples as this may spread the infection, and may scar facial tissue. It is probably advisable to squeeze those that have headed (contain yellow pus). (12) Apply ice to a pimple to retard, or stop, its development. (13) Massage fresh, crushed Strawberry leaves unto the area affected by Acne. (14) An acne "cure" purportedly recommended by one of America’s famous physics is made using Olive Oil mixed with Myrrh, lanolin, mineral oil, rose water, spirits of peppermint and distilled water. Apply this mixture to the affected area. In addition, eat abundantly of fruits, fruit juices, and vegetables; avoid red meats, fried and / or greasy foods, and chocolates. (15) Treat acne conditions with Aloe Vera gel as do many dermatologists. (16) A facial "steam" that is said to be effective in treating acne is made from any one of these herbs: chamomile, lavender, lady’s mantle, or elder flowers. Place any one of these ingredients into a pint of boiling water, then covering the head, and the eyes, bend over the "brew" and allow the steam to open the facial pores. (17) Chinese Angelica, eaten raw, or cooked, or taken as a tincture, is effective against acne. (18) Fresh Cucumber is another herbal treatment for acne. Place freshly sliced cucumber over the acne condition, or rub sliced cucumber pieces over the area bothered with acne, or simply massage cucumber juice over the acne area. (19) Echinacea (also referred to as Purple Coneflower and/or Sampson Root) was periodically used by American Indians as a treatment for skin conditions like acne and boils. In this medical regimen, a tincture of Echinacea is applied directly to the affected area of skin. (21) Lavender or Castor Oil, gently massaged into the acne areas, will do much to relieve the condition. (22) Honey, or a mixture of honey and wheat germ, placed over the acne, and washed off in 25-30 minutes, is said to open skin pores closed with acne. (23) Ice applied to acne conditions will reduce its inflammation. Apply ice several times daily to the condition. (24) The juice and pulp of the Lemon Balm plant, massaged into acne conditions, or used in compresses, act to soften the skin and thus remove its contagions. (25) Lemon Juice is a natural astringent, and will effectively aid in reducing greasy skin conditions. In this treatment, either the juice of the lemon, or fresh slices of the fruit, are rubbed over areas affected by acne. Alternately, it may be mixed with Rose water, Elderflowers water, or distilled Witch Hazel. (16) An old standby for the treatment of many skin conditions, including acne, is that of cooked Oatmeal applied over the area affected. (17) Pulverized Papaya applied over the facial areas affected with acne may help relieve acne conditions. (18) Soapwort is another herbal treatment for acne. Soapwort juice (extracted from the herb’s leaves and roots) quells the itch and irritation of acne. Mixed with water, it lathers, and is used as a cleanser for acne conditions. (19) Vinegar rinses, for facial areas affected with acne, restore the skin’s pH acidity, and thus combat acne. Rinse the vinegar away with warm water. (20) Zinc helps to reduce inflammation that often is part of acne. Take up to 50 milligrams of zinc daily for acne conditions. (21) Many believe that foods containing large amounts of Iodine contribute to acne formation. Some of the worst culprits for iodine include beef liver, turkey, kelp, asparagus, and tortilla chips. Consequently, reducing or eliminating these sources of Iodine (and others) should materially reduce acne’s blemishes.
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About the Book
From antiquity to present, from "acne" to "zinc", and from throughout the world, this comprehensive encyclopedia presents many of the known folk medicine "cures". Included are Amish, Appalachian, Biblical, Colonial Virginia, Confederate Civil War, Midwestern, Native American, Southern, Pioneer, and Southern Illinois remedies. Few human conditions and remedies are excluded. Special collections cover honey, oil and vinegar, garlic, salt, soda, and cancer herbal treatments. This concise text, arguably, contains more folk remedies than any comparable book published currently, or in the past half-century.
About the Author
Wendell Cambell Trent, DPA, grew up on a farm in East Tennessee. Caring parents, seven other siblings, numerous cats and dogs, and several farm animals--cows, mules, goats and chickens--comprised our extended family. Educated in Hancock County, he earned degrees from Berea College, the University of California at Los Angeles, and Nova Southeastern University. Following six years of active duty with the United Sates Air Force, Dr. Trent was an hospital administrator for 19 years followed by 8 years during which his firm recruited and placed physicians throughout the nation. Retired, the Trents live near Jefferson City, Tennessee.