Did you have grandparents who swarmed around you, telling you not to take Advil or Tylenol and try some old-fashioned home remedies instead? Are you the grandparents who swarm around a grandchild and ask them to do that? Are you the parents, caught between your parents and your children, and the battle of modern medicine? Sounds like you’ve got a lot going on. Here are 10 non-traditional home remedies that your grandparents probably swore by.
Chicken Soup
Is there a more famous home remedy than chicken soup? Claiming relief for everything in the universe, including the soul, chicken soup is a classic grandparent-approved prescription. And there is some science to back up some of the claims.
Warm Salt Water
That’s all chicken soup is, really. Just warm salt water that tastes good. You’ve probably had a grandparent tell you once or twice or seven times to gargle with warm salt water when your throat is sore. It won’t fully cure it, but it can ease pain and reduce inflammation.
Witch-Hazel
This is a real thing. It’s a plant. I just heard about it for the first time while researching this, and fully thought it was something from a spellbook. Apparently, you can use it for swelling, bruises, and hemorrhoids — among many other benefits and uses — but I bet you’d also have to add frog’s eyes, or tail of a newt.
Bactine
Older generations are wild about bactine. My friend’s grandpa practically drank the stuff (don’t try that, though), swearing it as a cure for nearly everything. In today’s practicality, you can spray it on cuts and wounds to ease pain and itching, and prevent infection.
Saltines and 7-Up
While I personally believe in the myth of ginger ale working better, the Saltines/7-Up combo is a timeless remedy for an upset stomach. In reality, bubbles make you burp and relieve pressure, and crackers are so bland that they don’t further agitate your stomach while providing something mild that your stomach can tolerate. The Saltines can also help absorb excess stomach acid and restore lost electrolytes, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
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Cold Tea Bags on the Eyes
You’ve heard of cucumbers on the eyes? Well, how about tea bags for a home remedy? It seems that caffeine can shrink blood vessels and reduce swelling, according to Healthline. So, stick some cold tea bags on your peepers to help with inflammation, redness and puffiness.
Oatmeal Bath
Certain types of oatmeal have skin-protecting properties, and since the FDA regulates it, there is some factual scientific basis here. Soak your kid in oatmeal for chicken pox, or treat some eczema this way too.
Apple Cider Vinegar
I have oh-so-many relatives who swear by the vile little mixture of apple cider vinegar and hot tea to help with a cold. There are several health benefits to apple cider vinegar backed by science, but you also have to get through a whole cup of that nightmare. Is it worth it? I’m not sure it is.
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MercuroChrome
Mercurochrome, generically known as merbromin, was a popular antiseptic from the ’20s to the ’40s, but it was ultimately banned by the FDA in 1998. Why, you ask? Well, because it contained a lot of mercury. Good thing we’re smarter now.
Chewing Gum
Look, this isn’t a grandparent’s thing, but it’s a home remedy if I’ve ever heard it. Just pretend I’m your grandpa for this paragraph. Got a song stuck in your head? A little earworm situation? Chew some gum. I can’t explain it, but it works.
More Useful Lessons From Our Grandparents
- Products Your Grandparents Swore By That Are Still Worth Buying — From Brillo Pads to Vaseline, some products have stood the test of time.
- 11 Vintage Pie Recipes Grandma Made When Times Were Tough —When your budget is extra tight but you want a treat, try one of these frugal pie recipes that cooks have been making for generations.
- 24 Depression-Era Desserts Worth Making Today — Back then, simple and readily available ingredients were used to provide something special during some dark days in our country’s history.
