Appalachian Home Remedies

This post is in no way a definitive list of Appalachian remedies, and I in no way am a physician to give you medical advice. These are just remedies, tonics, salves, and recipes that I have come in contact with in the lower Appalachian region that I grew up in. I will add more as I remember them or hear them again.

Wart Removal

Version 1

When you get a wart and want it gone, rub the wart with a penny. Then have someone else "buy" the wart from you. Give them the penny, and shortly after the warts will be gone. (The warts are not transferred to the new owner of the penny. What happens to the penny after does not matter.)

Version 2

When you get a wart and want it gone, rub the wart with a penny. After rubbing the wart you should wrap the penny in a scrap of white fabric and then bury it. Shortly after the warts will be gone.

How to Draw Out Fire

"There came an Angel from the East bearing frost and fire. In frost, out fire, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirt." --- Repeat three times or as many as needed to gain relief from burns.

Remove Ringworm and Athlete's Foot

Cut the green husk off of a walnut and score so that the shell is as flat as possible. Warm the husk in an iron skillet to allow it to release the oils. You can smell it. Take the husk out of the skillet and let it cool until it is warm but will not burn you if touched. Rub the inside of the husk against the area of skin affected by the fungus. Repeat for three to five days. The antifungal properties of the walnut husk should take care of the infection. ***Note: This will stain your skin temporarily, so be prepared for that.***

Pink Eye

Flush the affected eye with strong brewed cold coffee in the morning after waking and in the evening before bed.

Ear Ache and Tooth Ache

Salt Compress for Ear or Tooth Ache

Take a set of tube socks and place one within the other so that they are double thick. Set aside. Warm rock salt in an iron skillet. If you would like, add soothing herbs like chamomile, lavender, and mint to the warming salt. Once it is hot, carefully pour the salt into the doubled tube sock and tie off the end of the sock. Use as a warm compress on the ear to soothe the ache. The ear infection or tooth decay that is causing the pain will still need to be dealt with using antibiotics/dental procedure, but this will provide temporary relief. I am assuming you could do the same thing with rice, buckwheat, beans, or any other of the popular warming bag ingredients, but my Grandmother has always used salt.

Natural Anesthetic for Tooth Ache

Place a dried whole clove between the tooth that hurts at the gumline and your cheek like you would a cough drop. Clove has natural pain relief and antibacterial properties.

If using oils, mix clove oil with olive or coconut oil (2-3 drops clove oil mixed with 1 teaspoon of olive/coconut oil). Soak the tip of a cotton swab or a pinch of a cotton ball in the oil mixture and place it between the tooth that hurts at the gumline and your cheek. You can also just swab the area all around the tooth and remove the swab/ball. Reapply every 2-3 hours as needed. ***Note: It will taste bad. Also ingesting too much clove oil can cause stomach upset, so do not over apply.***

Recipes to Treat and Prevent Illness

Fire Cider (Take one Tablespoon a day as medicinal preventative in Fall and Winter to stave off colds and other seasonal sickness.)

1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh ginger (from two 4-inch pieces)
1 medium sized onion peeled and sliced thinly
1 head garlic, cloves smashed and peeled

1/2 cup peeled, diced fresh horseradish (I skip this one because I find it overpowering)

2 jalapeno or serrano chiles, halved lengthwise (you could use dried pepper flake or powdered cayenne pepper instead)

1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns (you can use white or pink peppercorns as well)

3 sprigs rosemary
2 cinnamon sticks

1 Tbs Tumeric powder
1 lemon, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 orange, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces

2 cups raw, unfiltered apple-cider vinegar, such as Bragg, plus more as needed
1/3 to 1/2 cup honey, preferably raw and unfiltered

***The more powdered seasonings you use, the cloudier the finished cider will be. Whole seeds, leaves, vegetables are better when possible.***

Directions

Step 1

Placed your prepared dry ingredients in a quart jar pressing down to firmly pack in.  Add vinegar until ingredients are fully submerged and there is no more than 1 inch of headspace left in the jar. Close jar with either a screw top or standard ring and flat combo (if using a metal lid, place a piece of parchment between jar and lid to prevent a corrosive reaction with vinegar). Store in a cool, dark place, shaking for a few seconds every day or two, at least 3 weeks and up to 6 weeks.

***Note: This is not a ferment. This is an infusion. The ph of the vinegar should be high enough to inhibit any fermentation or bacterial growth.***

Step 2

After 3-6 weeks have passed, strain liquid out through cheesecloth or a fine-mesh sieve into a new jar. Discard solids. Stir in honey a little at a time tasting mixture after each addition. Stop when it reaches desired sweetness to your tastes. Store in a sealed container in refrigerator. If making a larger batch, you can divide it up and pressure can or hot water bath (because it is a high acid mixture).

Homemade Cough Syrup (Take one tablespoon as needed for cough.)

3-4 soft peppermint sticks
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup moonshine (or whiskey of your choice)
1 1/2 cups raw honey

Directions

Melt 3 of the peppermint sticks in 1/2 cup of water and 1/4 cup of lemon juice (or juice of 1 lemon). Bring to a light boil.

Add a half of cup of your chosen alcohol and 1.5 cups of raw honey to pot and reduce heat.

Stir to combine. Once mixture is smooth and honey is incorporated, remove from heat. 

Put 1 peppermint stick in a clean, heat safe jar. Using a funnel, pour the mixture over the peppermint stick. (I have sometimes seen people added a slice or two of lemon in at the end as well, but I am not sure if that would ferment given how much sugar is in the mix. If you are storing in the fridge citrus slices would be fine).

Let it cool. Store in cool dry place.