In the past, health problems were treated in ways that would probably make us uneasy today. We’re used to a certain standard of care now. But our ancestors had no clinic or pharmacy to visit for advice and help, so they had to make do with whatever was at hand. Today’s patients would surely be surprised by some of their methods.
Because they relied on what was available, the healing tools of the past were often things found in the house, the garden, or the barn. These became part of home remedies passed down through generations. Alongside herbs and plant-based preparations still in use today, there were also some treatments that would definitely raise eyebrows now.
Cow Manure
Wherever there was a cow, there was plenty of it. Why not put it to use? Fresh, warm dung was applied to sore backs. That almost makes sense—heat therapy can relax tension and relieve pain.
But another use would horrify our modern, hygiene-conscious minds: cow manure mixed with vinegar or old beer was applied directly to open wounds, tumors, and ulcers. Needless to say, this would never pass with today’s doctors.
Cow Urine
Our ancestors believed fresh cow urine had antiseptic and antifungal effects. They used it for fungal infections and open wounds. It’s possible these practices were the early roots of urinotherapy, which still has a few followers today.
Clay Wraps
Sticky clay also seemed useful for healing. It was applied as poultices for rashes, eczema, and unhealthy-looking skin. Since clay is rich in minerals, perhaps it really did leave some women looking more radiant.
Cabbage Leaves
Cabbage was considered a true cure-all. In ancient Rome, doctors swore by it—historian Pliny even confirmed it. Because the leaves are thick and firm, they had to be pounded flat, much like rolling out dough. These softened leaves were then applied to open wounds, ulcers, frostbite, burns, tumors, and other ailments.
Hot cabbage was also used (similar to warm cow dung) for back pain, sore muscles, and rheumatism. And even today we know that sauerkraut juice helps with stomach and intestinal troubles, as well as reflux.
Honey
The mystery of honey and bees has been known since ancient times, and honey has always been a staple of home remedies. It was applied externally for psoriasis, burns, frostbite, and bedsores, but also taken internally.
These practices are still alive today: warm milk with honey (sometimes with garlic, also highly valued by our ancestors) for pneumonia, onion-and-honey syrup for coughs, or plantain-and-honey mixtures for respiratory issues. Honey water was once recommended for kidney ailments.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is also still in use today, and in fact has become increasingly popular in natural healing. The famous German priest Sebastian Kneipp (1821–1897), father of hydrotherapy, recommended diluting it with water and rubbing it on the sick, or soaking a shirt in it and having the patient wear it damp.
It was also taken internally: two or three teaspoons in water on an empty stomach in the morning were believed to strengthen the immunesystem. Sipped slowly, it was said to aid digestion and calm stomach troubles. Today, apple cider vinegar is also believed to help reduce cholesterol and fat in the body, supporting weight loss.
Some of the truly strange remedies of the past have thankfully been abandoned by both modern medicine and herbalism. Yet others remain part of natural healing traditions to this day—gifts from our ancestors that we still sometimes reach for, and which still bring us real benefits.
This article is an excerpt from My Herbs 34. If you enjoyed it, you can purchase the full issue in print or digital or subscribe to My Herbs to receive every new issue filled with inspiring articles and practical herbal wisdom.
