# Strange Home and Alternative Remedies **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 17, 2024, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-home-and-alternative-remedies/998937 "2024-03-17T00:55:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![superwombat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superwombat/32/16616_2.png) [@superwombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/superwombat)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-home-and-alternative-remedies/998937/1 "2024-03-17T00:55:23Z")
A couple hours’ drive from my home, up on a hill on the side of the road there is a large sign proclaiming: > **Arthritis?** > Try **ELK ANTLER** So it turns out a supplement is available that contains deer antler velvet, and it has some anti-inflammatory properties. Never ceases to amaze me the things people will think of. I’m picturing someone gnawing on a rack and noticing their knees feel better… Any other strange ones you’ve come across? Bonus points if they work 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-home-and-alternative-remedies/998937/2 "2024-03-17T01:04:29Z")
I live in China, home of Traditional Chinese “Medicine”. How much time do you have for a rundown on that bullshit? ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-home-and-alternative-remedies/998937/3 "2024-03-17T01:42:03Z")
I come from the south. We kind of have a reputation for that kind of thing too. Let’s see… • There are several over-the-counter remedies that you just don’t encounter much in New York or Philadelphia. Astyptodyne for relieving the pain of scrapes and shallow cuts: [https://www.astyptodynefirstaid.com/purchase](https://www.astyptodynefirstaid.com/purchase) Collyrium for when you get something in your eye: > **[23738972 - Online Store](https://superrask.xyz/product_details/23738972.html)** > > Find Quality Clothing, Furniture, Toys & Baby Products and Sports Merchandise for Men and Women! BC Powder for your headache: > **[BC Powder Sampler Fast Pain Relief two power stick packs( 3-Pack 6 Pow](https://www.treasuresofthesouth.com/products/bc-powder-sampler-fast-pain-relief-two-power-stick-packs-3-pack-6-powders)** > > Ingredients Active Ingredients: Ingredient (per powder) Purpose Aspirin (NSAID\*) 845 mg Pain reliever Caffeine 65 mg Pain reliever aid \*Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Docusate sodium, fumaric acid, lactose monohydrate, potassium... Then the home remedies, for sure… • Sore throat from postnasal drip and/or coughing? crush and dissolve some peppermint candy in a glass of Jack Daniels and take 2 tbsp every half hour • Hangover with sick stomach? dissolve a tbsp of baking soda in a cup of water; crush 2 aspirin and stir them in, drink it while it’s fizzing • Splitting headache that advil and aspirin won’t make a dent in? Bring a pot of water to just short of boiling, throw a hand towel into it, wring it out but loosely so it’s still pretty saturated, then lay down and drape it over your face. Toss it back in the pot when it starts to cool off, repeat. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-home-and-alternative-remedies/998937/4 "2024-03-17T01:51:33Z")
My Daddy swore by the baking soda/aspirin for hangover, at least til he got some “Hair of the Dog”, in him. B.C. Powder will kill you. If you ever get used to throwing one back easily your stomach is probably already oozing blood. 😮 My ol’Granny put vinegar on her temples for what she called a migraine. Swore by it, as well. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-home-and-alternative-remedies/998937/5 "2024-03-17T03:47:10Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I live in China, home of Traditional Chinese “Medicine”. How much time do you have for a rundown on that bullshit? Mmm…baby mouse wine! ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-home-and-alternative-remedies/998937/6 "2024-03-17T10:17:17Z")
About 20 years ago, I had a cough that wouldn’t quit. I was advised to try [onion honey cough syrup](https://thekitchenapothecary.com/a-simple-soothing-onion-honey-cough-syrup-recipe/). Of course, it does have the advantage is you can take it as much as you like, but I prefer the hot toddy method. Cortisone inhaler (Pulmicort) was much more effective. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-home-and-alternative-remedies/998937/7 "2024-03-17T11:04:41Z")
My grandfather had a remedy for a stomach ache, but I don’t remember if actually worked or if it just took your mind off the belly ache. He would grab the skin of your back and pull it. All over your back. It felt very strange and if I remember right, it was somewhat painful. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-home-and-alternative-remedies/998937/8 "2024-03-17T13:20:38Z")
Putting a mole’s foot on a string around a baby’s neck to ease teething pain. This page is about instances in England, but the treatment was imported into Appalacia, too, and survived into the 20th century (at least). > **[Magical moles’ feet](https://ridiculouslyinteresting.com/2019/06/07/magical-moles-feet/)** > > Explains the magical uses of moles feet amulets found in UK museums I don’t remember now if this is one treatment specifically mentioned by my grandmother or not, but she did once stand me against a tree and drive a nail into the tree trunk above my head. When I grew past the level of the nail, it was supposed to cure my childhood asthma. (It apparently worked.) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-home-and-alternative-remedies/998937/9 "2024-03-17T13:26:55Z")
For many, many more like my examples above, look at [these](https://archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Frank+C.+Brown+Collection+of+North+Carolina+Folklore%22) volumes on North Carolina folklore at [archive.org](http://archive.org). You know the episode of _Andy Griffith_ where Barney keeps reading weird folk beliefs from a book? That book was almost certainly inspired by these. ETA: this is the volume (out of 7) that covers folk medicine. > **[The Frank C. Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore; the folklore of...](https://archive.org/details/frankcbrowncolle06fran/page/2/mode/1up)** > > Each vol. has also special t.p ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-home-and-alternative-remedies/998937/10 "2024-03-17T13:45:45Z")
Try some of these (ignore the ads, of course): > **[Grandma’s winter health tips – fact and fiction](https://www.juniormagazine.co.uk/wellbeing/grandmas-winter-health-tips-facts-and-fiction/)** > > Life BC (before Calpol) involved a whole host of bizarre snuffle-soothers. But do grandma’s remedies actually work? Once when I had acute stomach ache as a child, my mother gave me a hot water bottle to hold against it. Eventually she called the GP, who had me whizzed into hospital for suspected appendicitis, and I remember the surgeon there making a point of showing his colleagues and some students the marks left by the hot water. I suppose nowadays they’d suspect child abuse, but I think he was just pointing to it as an example of folk medicine. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-home-and-alternative-remedies/998937/11 "2024-03-17T15:33:10Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Hangover with sick stomach? dissolve a tbsp of baking soda in a cup of water; crush 2 aspirin and stir them in, drink it while it’s fizzing Isn’t that just homemade alka-seltzer? ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-home-and-alternative-remedies/998937/12 "2024-03-17T15:36:37Z")
Yeah basically