10 “Backwoods” Folk Remedies That Have Survived the Test of Time

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In the world of home remedies, you can find an array of natural cures that can help you get rid of many health concerns. In this article, we will present you 10 of the oldest home remedies that have passed the time test, and are still widely used around the world in treating many health concerns.

1. Eat Chicken Soup to Cure the Common Cold
The fats and proteins found in chicken broth will provide you with the much-needed calories to counter the lack of appetite that is characteristic for everyone who is sick. The chicken broth is also hydrating, which helps the body to regulate temperature and eases the removal of toxins which would otherwise impede the healing process if they are left to circulate through the bloodstream.

2. Use a Damp Tea Bag To ‘Pull Out’ A Bee Sting
The tannins in tea leaves have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce swelling around a bee sting. Just put a damp black tea bag over the bee sting and leave it there until the swelling reduces. Once it does, the stinger will slide out easily.

3. Ingest Castor Oil to Relieve Constipation
Castor oil stimulates contractions throughout the small and large intestines, which is helpful in relieving constipation. The dosage for adults is 1 – 2 tablespoons taken orally, and for children, the dosage is 1 – 2 teaspoons. You should feel better few hours after the ingestion of oil.

4. Soak Skin in Cold Milk to Heal Burns
Soak the affected skin in a bowl of cold milk for about 15 minutes. The temperature of the liquid will help to stop the skin from continuing to burn while the fats and proteins will nourish the skin and help speed up the healing. If the burns are bigger, make a poultice by soaking a clean cloth in the milk, and then apply it to the burn.

5. Enjoy In an Oatmeal Bath to Soothe Itchy Skin
Oatmeal is great for the skin, promotes healing, and reduces inflammation. Relaxing in a lukewarm bath infused with colloidal oatmeal for 15-20 minutes is one of the best cures for itchy skin.

6. Drink Willow Bark Tea to Relieve Aches and Pains
Willow bark tea has a high amount of salicin, which is similar in chemical composition to the active ingredient in aspirin. This makes the willow bark tea a better option to treat headaches, menstrual cramps to tendonitis, and arthritis than aspirin or any other painkiller. It also contains antioxidants, polyphenols, and flavonoids, which will provide you with added health benefits.

7. Drink a Hot Toddy to Get Rid of Sore Throat
Although we all know that drinking alcohol beverages is not the best thing for your health, the Hot Toddy is still one of the best remedies for a sore throat. The traditional recipe is a mixture of 4 ounces of hot water or tea, a shot of whiskey, and a teaspoon of honey. You can also add a slice of fresh lemon (or cinnamon – in stick or ground form).

8. Apply Milkweed Sap to Dissolve Warts
Milkweed is the common name for more than 140 species of plants in the genus Asclepias, which are known to contain a milky sap. When applied to warts, the sap dries up and dissolves the wart, eventually causing it to fall off. We recommend you to consult with doctor before using the sap.

9. Use Spider Webs to Close Up and Heal Wounds
One truly amazing fact about spider webs is that they contain proteins and vitamins that can speed up blood-clotting and wound-healing. Simply find a clean spider web, make sure that there are no dead bugs on it, collect the web, and bundle it into a ball that will cover the entire wound. It is crucial to cover the whole wound in order to stop the bleeding quickly and to prevent any contaminants from entering the wound.

10. Drink Ginger Ale to Cure A Sick Stomach
Ginger root and ginger root extracts contain many natural chemicals which inhibit the nervous signals which cause vomiting and stimulate the muscles that are responsible for moving materials down through the gastrointestinal tract.