TETA KNOWS BEST
6 at-home remedies our grandmothers used to make
Though herbal medicine is making the rounds around the world as the trendy, natural way to treat ailments, it’s a longstanding practice that varies around the world. Long before medication existed, what is now known as “alternative medicine” was once the only way to treat any illness or injury. Today, we bring you a few of the ways our Lebanese grandmothers tended to their sick.
Parsley for Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are a major inconvenience to say the least. They’re painful, and can take some time to pass. One thing people used to remedy that with is a parsley infusion. It is believed that parsley has the ability to “widen the way,” essentially allowing the stone to pass more rapidly. This same remedy was also used to aid liver problems.
Mallow for Wounds
Mallow, more commonly known to most as khabbaze or khebbayze, was used in olden times to treat topical wounds. The remedy consisted of boiling the plant and applying the concentrated infusion to a wound. The plant itself has anti-inflammatory properties and would help mitigate the wounds. This remedy was also commonly used to treat teeth and gum pain by simply swirling the infusion (similarly to a mouthwash for a few minutes.
Milk for Food Poisoning
Though still common today, this treatment may sound gruesome to many people. Back in the day before nausea medicine or even ipecac found their way to households, milk was drunk as a way to treat food poisoning, as the body’s inability to ingest it when poisoned would cause the stomach to “eject its contents.”
Garlic for Venom Stings
This remedy comes in especially handy at this time of year, as wasps and bees make their rounds around the country. Should you ever find yourself stung with a non–fatal venom, the quickest and easiest treatment is to cut a garlic clove in half, and rub it vigorously on the sting, making sure to squeeze the juices out. Garlic has amazing pain-relief properties, and is highly regarded as a quick and accessible cure.
Fennel for Bloating & Constipation
Fennel is another herb that was prevalent in Lebanon; and for many years, its seed was used to alleviate bloating and stomachaches. To make this remedy, all you have to do is – you guessed it – make an infusion by boiling the fennel seeds in water and sip on it.
Molasses for Constipation
Another remedy used to treat constipation is molasses. Given how it’s made (boiling carob multiple times), molasses are highly concentrated in minerals and vitamins, magnesium in particular, which helps ease constipation relief. However, the schools differ in thought when it comes to application: one side (majority) says to have a tablespoon of molasses first thing in the morning, while the other says to have before bedtime. Either way, the jury’s out: molasses are perfect for mild constipation relief.
