{"id":40784,"date":"2024-10-03T17:23:05","date_gmt":"2024-10-03T15:23:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/84590cd1-9bc8-4e6f-928e-3e4163fc5be1"},"modified":"2024-10-03T18:27:45","modified_gmt":"2024-10-03T16:27:45","slug":"got-a-cold-wrap-some-dirty-socks-round-your-neck-discover-6-very-weird-and-strange-flu-remedies-from-the-past-that-were-absolutely-useless","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/got-a-cold-wrap-some-dirty-socks-round-your-neck-discover-6-very-weird-and-strange-flu-remedies-from-the-past-that-were-absolutely-useless\/","title":{"rendered":"Got a cold? Wrap some dirty socks round your neck… Discover 6 very weird and strange flu remedies from the past that were absolutely USELESS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some traditional \u2018cures\u2019 have fallen into disuse for a good reason \u2013 they don\u2019t work. Here are the failures: <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Thursday, 03 October 2024 at 15:23 PM<\/p>

\n\n

We\u2019re lucky to have a vast range of over-the- counter medicines available to alleviate our symptoms, but what was it like for our ancestors? Did they discover anything that we might use today in place of pharmaceuticals, or was it all old wives\u2019 tales and superstition?<\/strong><\/p>

Guide to medicinal plants found in the UK<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
These days we\u2019re lucky enough to be able to pinpoint the efficacy of some of these old remedies – and here are the useless ones, best left languishing in history books. <\/p>
Traditional remedies that don’t work<\/h2>
Tallow poultice <\/strong><\/h3>
<\/strong>A flannel was soaked in warm tallow (from beef) and placed on the chest. This may not have cured the cold, but was perhaps comforting for a little while, if you discount the effort of removing the messy cold tallow from your bedclothes and skin.<\/p>
Dirty socks<\/strong><\/h3>
Yes really! Another uncomfortable remedy using lard involves socks \u2013 the grubbier the better. Soak filthy socks in lard and swathe around your neck like a scarf. Given that this particular cure belongs to medieval days prior to washing machines and detergents, most socks would have been pretty pongy anyway.<\/p>
Frog skin cocktail<\/strong><\/h3>
A decoction of juice or wine with powdered skin of a frog. Did it work? Unlikely.<\/p>
Mustard plaster <\/strong><\/h3>
A paste made from mustard seed powder, mixed with goose fat and smeared on the chest, was a popular pre-First World War remedy. Mustard is so fiery that it can cause blistering and damage to the skin. The vapours from the mustard, though, may help clear nasal and bronchial passages.<\/p>
White Bryony <\/strong><\/h3>
William Fernie\u2019s 1897 book Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure, advises a tincture of wild white bryony as a cure for \u201ccoughs and colds of a feverish bronchial sort\u201d. NOT one to try at home as the plant is dangerously toxic, has incredibly strong purgative qualities and blisters the skin.<\/p>
Snail syrup<\/strong><\/h3>
An ancient German cure. Lots of snails, prised from their shells, were pounded together with honey.If you fancy trying this at home, this remedy served a dual purpose. Not only was it said to soothe a sore throat, it was also used as a face cream.<\/p>
Does slug slime have medicinal properties? Well it might have, but we don’t recommend trying it<\/a><\/li><\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
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Traditional remedies that don’t work<\/h2>