Before modern medicine dominated healthcare, our grandmothers had an arsenal of home remedies passed down through generations. While some of these treatments might raise eyebrows today, they were the go-to solutions for everything from common colds to minor injuries in the 1950s. Let’s take a nostalgic look at some of these peculiar but beloved home cures that every grandmother seemed to know by heart.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. Mustard Plaster for Chest Colds
- 2 2. Cod Liver Oil for Everything
- 3 3. Butter for Burns
- 4 4. Onion Poultice for Coughs
- 5 5. Mercurochrome for Cuts
- 6 6. Hot Toddy for Colds
- 7 7. Castor Oil Cleanses
- 8 8. Chicken Soup for Everything
- 9 9. Baking Soda Paste
- 10 10. Garlic Necklaces
- 11 11. Goose Grease Rubs
- 12 12. Sugar Cure for Hiccups
- 13 13. Kerosene for Head Lice
- 14 14. Bread Poultice for Infections
1. Mustard Plaster for Chest Colds
This pungent mixture of dry mustard, flour, and water was spread on a cloth and applied to the chest to relieve congestion. While it could cause skin irritation, grandma swore it would break up any chest cold. The burning sensation was considered proof that it was “drawing out the sickness.”
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2. Cod Liver Oil for Everything
The daily spoonful of this foul-tasting oil was considered a cure-all. Grandma insisted it would prevent everything from rickets to the common cold. The worse it tasted, the better it was supposed to work, and no amount of gagging would get you out of your daily dose.
3. Butter for Burns
Any minor burn was immediately slathered with butter from the kitchen. While modern medicine advises against this practice, grandma believed it would prevent blistering and reduce pain. The cool butter might have provided temporary relief, but it wasn’t the best treatment.
4. Onion Poultice for Coughs
Chopped onions wrapped in cloth were placed on the chest or feet to treat coughs and congestion. The strong odor was believed to help clear airways, and some grandmothers even placed raw onions around the house during cold season to “absorb” illness.
5. Mercurochrome for Cuts
This bright red antiseptic containing mercury was used on every scratch and cut. Now banned due to its mercury content, it was a staple in medicine cabinets of the 1950s. Kids would proudly wear their bright red “battle scars” as badges of honor.
6. Hot Toddy for Colds
A mixture of whiskey, honey, lemon, and hot water was the adult cure for everything from sore throats to sleeplessness. Grandma claimed it would cure what ails you, though the whiskey might have just made you care less about being sick.
7. Castor Oil Cleanses
This dreaded “cure-all” was administered for everything from constipation to the common cold. The horrible taste and powerful effects made it a feared remedy that kids would do anything to avoid. Grandma believed it would purify the system of any ailment.
8. Chicken Soup for Everything
Homemade chicken soup was prescribed for any illness. Each grandmother had her special recipe, often involving vegetables and mysterious ingredients added for extra healing power. Modern science has actually confirmed some of its therapeutic benefits.
9. Baking Soda Paste
A paste made from baking soda and water was applied to bee stings, insect bites, and minor skin irritations. This remedy actually had some merit, as baking soda can help neutralize the acid in insect stings and provide relief from itching.
10. Garlic Necklaces
Some grandmothers would string garlic cloves into necklaces to ward off colds and flu. While it might have kept people at a germ-free distance, wearing garlic around your neck was a questionable fashion choice even in the ’50s.
11. Goose Grease Rubs
Chest colds were often treated with a generous rubbing of goose grease. The warm grease was believed to break up congestion and ease breathing. The greasy mess it left on nightclothes was considered a small price to pay for relief.
12. Sugar Cure for Hiccups
A spoonful of dry sugar was the go-to cure for hiccups. While the science behind it was questionable, the distraction of trying to swallow dry sugar might have helped stop the hiccups. At least it tasted better than some other remedies.
13. Kerosene for Head Lice
Perhaps the most dangerous remedy was using kerosene to treat head lice. While it certainly killed the lice, the fire hazard and toxicity made this a particularly risky treatment that thankfully fell out of favor.
14. Bread Poultice for Infections
Hot bread poultices were applied to boils and infections to “draw out the poison.” The warm, moist bread was believed to help bring infections to a head. While not particularly scientific, the warm compress effect might have provided some relief.
