Remember Mama's Recipes - More Tried and True Remedies

More Tried and True Remedies

[Editor note: Watch out for those recipes with turpentine in them!]

Burn Salve

This recipe has been passed down through the Hovey, Clark, and Hardy families since the 1860's. This salve is reported to be very effective in healing of burns. [Editor note: I've heard personal testimonials from the old timers about how well this recipe works - bad burns - no scars!]

1 tea cupful lard
1 tea cupful mutton tallow
1 tea cupful olive oil
beeswax the size of an egg
resin the size of an egg
2 tsp carbolic acid

Dissolve all ingredients on the stove except the olive oil and carbolic acid, which you add upon removing from the heat. Mix well and store in covered jar.

Flu Ointment

An early Lethbridge druggist, J.D. Higgenbotham, made this ointment for the flu epidemic of 1918.

2 large jars white Vaseline
2 oz. turpentine
1/4 oz. menthol crystals
2 cakes of camphor gum
1/3 oz. oil of peppermint
1/4 oz. eucalyptus
1/4 oz. oil of wintergreen

Melt and mix well over low heat and store in covered jars.

Black Currant Tea

(An infallible remedy for a sore throat)

1 Tbsp black currant jam or jelly
juice of half a lemon
1 pint boiling water
sugar to taste

Simmer altogether for 15 min. the hotter you are able to drink the tea the better.

Mustard Plaster

[Editor Note: You have to be careful with mustard plasters. A woman E-mailed me several months ago after trying a different mustard plaster recipe at this web site saying it gave her a very bad burn. This is powerful stuff!]
Good for chest colds
Use the white of an egg instead of water with the dry mustard. The egg will prevent blistering of the skin. Mix egg white with half dry mustard half flour, cover the mustard mix on a cloth or paper. Cover the plaster with gauze or soft cloth and hold in place on chest with tape.

Your Comments:

Hi, My mom used to put Vaseline on my skin before placing the Mustard Plaster on it. She said this would protect my skin from burning. Even though she would put fabric between it and my skin, she also used the Vaseline as well. She also made sure there was Vaseline on the skin around the edges of the Mustard Plaster. Also, she checked it often and as soon as my skin was red, she would remove it. If you go much longer than that, you'll get blisters. Hope this helps.

Thanks,
Liz Roehr

MY mom taught us how to make a mustard plaster from the time I was about six years old. You NEVER NEVER EVER put the mustard plaster on bare skin. We always used a old tea towel and smeared the mustard plaster on it. Then we cover the chest with a tee shirt or another towel.
      Put it on the tummy for a good 10-15 mins. Then put it on the back for another 10 to 15 mins.
     I turned 65 last week and I still make this for my husband. We live in Manitoba so we do get colds occasionally.
     My mom's recipe (she is now 91 years young and still has a great memory)
     Equal parts of dry mustard and white flour. (example 2 tbsp mustard and 2 tbsp white flour) Add water and mix to a smooth paste.
     I never heard of adding the oil. If it was hot no wonder the person got burnt.
     We smear the plaster on half of the towel and then fold it over. We always washed the cloth out and then it could be reused.
     Hopefully this will help those that want to make a milder one and I guarantee this does work.
     Then my mom would come with 2 aspirins and a glass of hot lemonade.
     She also would cover us up with lots of blankets to make sure we would sweat.

Blessings for your day.
Annette Derksen

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Page last updated: 13 Mar 07