Nicola here. This is a blog about P. Not the letter of the alphabet but the other P. Yes, today I am lowering the tone of the Word Wenches with a blog about some of the use to which urine has been put throughout history. When I was discussing the topic of P with the other Wenches (as we do) we discovered that we already knew quite a few of the historical uses of “pee” and we thought we’d like to share them because there are very few substances as versatile and useful or with such interesting historical applications.
Language
The English language has developed many words to cover the action and the place where one might have a pee. The word urine comes from Latin urina and Greek ouron and its first recorded usage was around 1325 although the verb to urinate was not formed until the late 16th century. I much prefer the Old English word “lant” – it’s got a nice sound to it – which was in use from about 1000. Unfortunately, in pee as in many other things, Norman French overpowered native English and lant fell out of use although a few odd references remained: Bess of Harwick is recorded as owning a silver lant pot and comb. It may be that she used urine as part of a dyeing agent to maintain the red of her hair.
In Scotland the word “wesche”, later wash, was another word for urine. 15th century Scottish poet Robert Henryson recommends the following cure for insomnia: “Reid nettill sied in strang wesche to steip, for to bath your ba cod.” – Steep red nettles in strong urine and bathe your naked scrotum in the mixture. Worth a try?
The phrase “to take a leak” sounds relatively modern but was in fact in use in Shakespeare and makes 
an appearance in the 1796 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose. Interestingly, the word “addled” meaning confused or slow-witted also originally derives from urine. Who would have thought that phrases such as “addle-pate” in Georgette Heyer’s books originate in the Old English “adela” meaning a pool of urine? The implication here is that the person who is addle-pated is not quite all there or only “half-baked” or “half-washed” and it refers to the use of urine in woollen industry (see below!)
So here are a few historical uses for urine:
Harris Tweed
I have a lovely vintage Harris Tweed jacket that I inherited from my husband’s grandfather. It’s warm and windproof and it looks great. However occasionally when I wear it I get a faint but unmistakeable scent floating up from the material that speaks of its origins. Until the end of the 20th century, the pee-tub was an integral part of the process for making Harris Tweed. The tub was a big wooden barrel with an iron lid, and chamber pots were emptied into it daily. The urine helped to fix dye colours to the wool. Urine was also used later in the tweed-making process to remove any lingering oiliness from the woven fabric and to shrink it to the correct size. The woven tweed was soaked in a barrel of urine and stamped upon, an activity known as “waulking” and from which the surname Walker derives. Elsewhere in the UK this part of the weaving process is know as fulling or tucking and is again the source of a couple of surnames.
Alum Manufacture
Urine was also an essential part of the English alum industry up until the late nineteenth century. Alum 
is a mordant used to fix dye to fabric. Ships carried coal from Newcastle or Sunderland, off-loaded it at Whitby and other north eastern ports, filled up with alum, took the alum south and exchanged it for barrels of urine that had been collected from London street corners, which were taken back up north.
Originally the alum industry used urine collected locally in Yorkshire but as demand outstripped supply it had to be shipped in on “lye-boats.” Most highly prized was the urine from teetotallers, followed by that of beer drinkers. Only as a last resort would the urine of upper class wine-drinkers be used. It is rumoured that this transport system was the origin of the phrase: “taking the p***.”
Gunpowder
One of the great grievances of the early 17th century was that the “petremen,” men who were tasked with collecting saltpetre to use in the making of gunpowder, had the right to come into people’s houses and dig anywhere they thought they might find supplies. Saltpetre derived primarily from the action of animal urine on soil so people who kept animals in their cottages frequently had their earthen floors dug up. King Charles I was petitioned by homeowners complaining about having their stables and barnyards ransacked and their houses destroyed when the walls fell down because the petremen had weakened the foundations.
To counteract the public dissatisfaction with this, Charles agreed to a different approach to the production of saltpetre, using neat human urine and mixing it with soil. In 1625 he granted a patent to Sir John Brooke and issued a royal decree stating that all men should “keep and preserve in some convenient vessels or receptacles fit for the purpose, all the urine of man during the whole year.” Animal urine was to be collected too. This proved unworkable since there simply were not sufficient receptacles available for the entire British population and their animals to pee into for a whole year and the Crown was forced to go back to the original form of collection. It was Oliver Cromwell who finally ruled in 1656 that petremen could not dig in people’s houses without permission.
The use of urine in making gunpowder once again came to the fore in the American Civil War with an advertisement in the Selma Morning Reporter of 1863: “The ladies of Selma are respectfully requested to preserve all their chamber lye collected about their premises for the purpose of making Nitre.” Carts were sent out to collect barrels of lye and the Selma nitre works provided gunpowder to the Confederacy for the last two years of the war.
Pass the Smelling Salts
There are many more historical applications of urine. In the Middle Ages, urine was used to “quench” 
swords. The hot steel was plunged into cold urine to cool it rapidly. This was said to be the best way to forge a sharp blade. The urine of a small red-headed boy was said to be the most effective coolant!
Forgers would give coins a suitably authentic looking patina by burying them in earth sprinkled with urine. This would turn silver coins grey or black and bronze coins brown or green depending on the sort of urine used and its quality. Such tricks have been in use since Roman times. The coins had to be “watered” every few days.
Urine was also an ingredient of smelling salts or sal volatile, much in use in the 19th century for arousing consciousness. The newly formed police force in Victorian Britain even carried smelling salts in their uniform pockets to revive fainting victims!
I was slightly at a loss to think of a discussion question for this blog piece but then I remembered my grandmother and the various interesting substances she swore by for doing different jobs about the house. One of her favourites was to use salt and vinegar to clean the brown stains off the teacups. She also recommended washing hair in beer. (I remember using beer shampoo as a child and walking around smelling slightly alcoholic!) So my question is: which old wives tales do you swear by and do you know of any unusual usages for common substances?
“demand outstripped supply”? Maybe the population wasn’t as concentrated as in London? Or were they returning the raw material to the earth without benefit of an intermediate receptacle? Not good for the local alum trade. Did no one give them a lecture (and maybe chamberpot training) on how to keep their industry at home? *g*
“demand outstripped supply”? Maybe the population wasn’t as concentrated as in London? Or were they returning the raw material to the earth without benefit of an intermediate receptacle? Not good for the local alum trade. Did no one give them a lecture (and maybe chamberpot training) on how to keep their industry at home? *g*
“demand outstripped supply”? Maybe the population wasn’t as concentrated as in London? Or were they returning the raw material to the earth without benefit of an intermediate receptacle? Not good for the local alum trade. Did no one give them a lecture (and maybe chamberpot training) on how to keep their industry at home? *g*
“demand outstripped supply”? Maybe the population wasn’t as concentrated as in London? Or were they returning the raw material to the earth without benefit of an intermediate receptacle? Not good for the local alum trade. Did no one give them a lecture (and maybe chamberpot training) on how to keep their industry at home? *g*
“demand outstripped supply”? Maybe the population wasn’t as concentrated as in London? Or were they returning the raw material to the earth without benefit of an intermediate receptacle? Not good for the local alum trade. Did no one give them a lecture (and maybe chamberpot training) on how to keep their industry at home? *g*
Nicola, what a great blog! Fascinating. I knew about the waulking but not some of the other stuff. There’s a history for everything, especially at Wenches!
There are “waulking” songs that were inspired in Scotland by the particular rhythms of the waulking process – a group of women at a circle, often at a table, with long ells of woven wool that’s dipped in urine, wrung and twisted, beaten against the table, and passed along to the next woman fulling the cloth. The unique rhythms of the work as it gets going is reflected in the music, and the women would sing while their work provided the percussion. There are some fabulous waulking songs done in Celtic music today (such as those performed by Capercaillie).
Susan
Nicola, what a great blog! Fascinating. I knew about the waulking but not some of the other stuff. There’s a history for everything, especially at Wenches!
There are “waulking” songs that were inspired in Scotland by the particular rhythms of the waulking process – a group of women at a circle, often at a table, with long ells of woven wool that’s dipped in urine, wrung and twisted, beaten against the table, and passed along to the next woman fulling the cloth. The unique rhythms of the work as it gets going is reflected in the music, and the women would sing while their work provided the percussion. There are some fabulous waulking songs done in Celtic music today (such as those performed by Capercaillie).
Susan
Nicola, what a great blog! Fascinating. I knew about the waulking but not some of the other stuff. There’s a history for everything, especially at Wenches!
There are “waulking” songs that were inspired in Scotland by the particular rhythms of the waulking process – a group of women at a circle, often at a table, with long ells of woven wool that’s dipped in urine, wrung and twisted, beaten against the table, and passed along to the next woman fulling the cloth. The unique rhythms of the work as it gets going is reflected in the music, and the women would sing while their work provided the percussion. There are some fabulous waulking songs done in Celtic music today (such as those performed by Capercaillie).
Susan
Nicola, what a great blog! Fascinating. I knew about the waulking but not some of the other stuff. There’s a history for everything, especially at Wenches!
There are “waulking” songs that were inspired in Scotland by the particular rhythms of the waulking process – a group of women at a circle, often at a table, with long ells of woven wool that’s dipped in urine, wrung and twisted, beaten against the table, and passed along to the next woman fulling the cloth. The unique rhythms of the work as it gets going is reflected in the music, and the women would sing while their work provided the percussion. There are some fabulous waulking songs done in Celtic music today (such as those performed by Capercaillie).
Susan
Nicola, what a great blog! Fascinating. I knew about the waulking but not some of the other stuff. There’s a history for everything, especially at Wenches!
There are “waulking” songs that were inspired in Scotland by the particular rhythms of the waulking process – a group of women at a circle, often at a table, with long ells of woven wool that’s dipped in urine, wrung and twisted, beaten against the table, and passed along to the next woman fulling the cloth. The unique rhythms of the work as it gets going is reflected in the music, and the women would sing while their work provided the percussion. There are some fabulous waulking songs done in Celtic music today (such as those performed by Capercaillie).
Susan
Very interesting. Nicola, “lant” was still used in the l940’s and l950’s up here, it was put on tomatoes. My late husband remembered an old farmer keeping a bucket of the stuff. It was left to age before using. It was always called “lant” presumably so no one would know what it was made from.
Very interesting. Nicola, “lant” was still used in the l940’s and l950’s up here, it was put on tomatoes. My late husband remembered an old farmer keeping a bucket of the stuff. It was left to age before using. It was always called “lant” presumably so no one would know what it was made from.
Very interesting. Nicola, “lant” was still used in the l940’s and l950’s up here, it was put on tomatoes. My late husband remembered an old farmer keeping a bucket of the stuff. It was left to age before using. It was always called “lant” presumably so no one would know what it was made from.
Very interesting. Nicola, “lant” was still used in the l940’s and l950’s up here, it was put on tomatoes. My late husband remembered an old farmer keeping a bucket of the stuff. It was left to age before using. It was always called “lant” presumably so no one would know what it was made from.
Very interesting. Nicola, “lant” was still used in the l940’s and l950’s up here, it was put on tomatoes. My late husband remembered an old farmer keeping a bucket of the stuff. It was left to age before using. It was always called “lant” presumably so no one would know what it was made from.
Very interesting!
As a nephrology fellow (kidney doctor-in-training), I certainly am a fan of urine and know a thing or two about it, but I was unaware of all of these historical uses.
It is entertaining and enlightening to read old medical texts concerning urine, especially when one can compare them to modern-day. Reading about uroscopy, the Pisse Prophet, and others… great stuff. A Web search can turn up historical diagnostic urine charts which were used for centuries by physicians – the color of the urine can impart a good deal of information, even today. Thanks for the blog!
-Josh King (aka Dr. Josh)
Very interesting!
As a nephrology fellow (kidney doctor-in-training), I certainly am a fan of urine and know a thing or two about it, but I was unaware of all of these historical uses.
It is entertaining and enlightening to read old medical texts concerning urine, especially when one can compare them to modern-day. Reading about uroscopy, the Pisse Prophet, and others… great stuff. A Web search can turn up historical diagnostic urine charts which were used for centuries by physicians – the color of the urine can impart a good deal of information, even today. Thanks for the blog!
-Josh King (aka Dr. Josh)
Very interesting!
As a nephrology fellow (kidney doctor-in-training), I certainly am a fan of urine and know a thing or two about it, but I was unaware of all of these historical uses.
It is entertaining and enlightening to read old medical texts concerning urine, especially when one can compare them to modern-day. Reading about uroscopy, the Pisse Prophet, and others… great stuff. A Web search can turn up historical diagnostic urine charts which were used for centuries by physicians – the color of the urine can impart a good deal of information, even today. Thanks for the blog!
-Josh King (aka Dr. Josh)
Very interesting!
As a nephrology fellow (kidney doctor-in-training), I certainly am a fan of urine and know a thing or two about it, but I was unaware of all of these historical uses.
It is entertaining and enlightening to read old medical texts concerning urine, especially when one can compare them to modern-day. Reading about uroscopy, the Pisse Prophet, and others… great stuff. A Web search can turn up historical diagnostic urine charts which were used for centuries by physicians – the color of the urine can impart a good deal of information, even today. Thanks for the blog!
-Josh King (aka Dr. Josh)
Very interesting!
As a nephrology fellow (kidney doctor-in-training), I certainly am a fan of urine and know a thing or two about it, but I was unaware of all of these historical uses.
It is entertaining and enlightening to read old medical texts concerning urine, especially when one can compare them to modern-day. Reading about uroscopy, the Pisse Prophet, and others… great stuff. A Web search can turn up historical diagnostic urine charts which were used for centuries by physicians – the color of the urine can impart a good deal of information, even today. Thanks for the blog!
-Josh King (aka Dr. Josh)
Fascinating blog, Nicola.
It’s commonly held lore here that lemon trees will benefit from a regular dose of urine. It’s ladies to the loo and gents to the lemon tree.
cheers
Anne (from the Australian Romance Writers Conference.)
Fascinating blog, Nicola.
It’s commonly held lore here that lemon trees will benefit from a regular dose of urine. It’s ladies to the loo and gents to the lemon tree.
cheers
Anne (from the Australian Romance Writers Conference.)
Fascinating blog, Nicola.
It’s commonly held lore here that lemon trees will benefit from a regular dose of urine. It’s ladies to the loo and gents to the lemon tree.
cheers
Anne (from the Australian Romance Writers Conference.)
Fascinating blog, Nicola.
It’s commonly held lore here that lemon trees will benefit from a regular dose of urine. It’s ladies to the loo and gents to the lemon tree.
cheers
Anne (from the Australian Romance Writers Conference.)
Fascinating blog, Nicola.
It’s commonly held lore here that lemon trees will benefit from a regular dose of urine. It’s ladies to the loo and gents to the lemon tree.
cheers
Anne (from the Australian Romance Writers Conference.)
Fascinating, Nicola, if a little unnerving to the delicate sensibilities of we 21st century citizens. *g* For the first time, I’m grateful not to have inherited a fine old Harris tweed jacket!
Fascinating, Nicola, if a little unnerving to the delicate sensibilities of we 21st century citizens. *g* For the first time, I’m grateful not to have inherited a fine old Harris tweed jacket!
Fascinating, Nicola, if a little unnerving to the delicate sensibilities of we 21st century citizens. *g* For the first time, I’m grateful not to have inherited a fine old Harris tweed jacket!
Fascinating, Nicola, if a little unnerving to the delicate sensibilities of we 21st century citizens. *g* For the first time, I’m grateful not to have inherited a fine old Harris tweed jacket!
Fascinating, Nicola, if a little unnerving to the delicate sensibilities of we 21st century citizens. *g* For the first time, I’m grateful not to have inherited a fine old Harris tweed jacket!
Hmm…I don’t use shampoo. I wash my hair with baking soda. And I find all the old cleaning tips of my grandmother very useful (like cleaning cutting boards with salt and half a lemon).
Hmm…I don’t use shampoo. I wash my hair with baking soda. And I find all the old cleaning tips of my grandmother very useful (like cleaning cutting boards with salt and half a lemon).
Hmm…I don’t use shampoo. I wash my hair with baking soda. And I find all the old cleaning tips of my grandmother very useful (like cleaning cutting boards with salt and half a lemon).
Hmm…I don’t use shampoo. I wash my hair with baking soda. And I find all the old cleaning tips of my grandmother very useful (like cleaning cutting boards with salt and half a lemon).
Hmm…I don’t use shampoo. I wash my hair with baking soda. And I find all the old cleaning tips of my grandmother very useful (like cleaning cutting boards with salt and half a lemon).
LOL, Linda! The population definitely wasn’t as concentrated and I suppose that when the industry started, transport links across Yorkshire probably weren’t well enough developed to get the necessary raw materials to the right place.
Susan, thank you. That is fascinating about the waulking songs. Isn’t it extraordinary how these traditions are still represented in Celtic music today? Wonderful!
LOL, Linda! The population definitely wasn’t as concentrated and I suppose that when the industry started, transport links across Yorkshire probably weren’t well enough developed to get the necessary raw materials to the right place.
Susan, thank you. That is fascinating about the waulking songs. Isn’t it extraordinary how these traditions are still represented in Celtic music today? Wonderful!
LOL, Linda! The population definitely wasn’t as concentrated and I suppose that when the industry started, transport links across Yorkshire probably weren’t well enough developed to get the necessary raw materials to the right place.
Susan, thank you. That is fascinating about the waulking songs. Isn’t it extraordinary how these traditions are still represented in Celtic music today? Wonderful!
LOL, Linda! The population definitely wasn’t as concentrated and I suppose that when the industry started, transport links across Yorkshire probably weren’t well enough developed to get the necessary raw materials to the right place.
Susan, thank you. That is fascinating about the waulking songs. Isn’t it extraordinary how these traditions are still represented in Celtic music today? Wonderful!
LOL, Linda! The population definitely wasn’t as concentrated and I suppose that when the industry started, transport links across Yorkshire probably weren’t well enough developed to get the necessary raw materials to the right place.
Susan, thank you. That is fascinating about the waulking songs. Isn’t it extraordinary how these traditions are still represented in Celtic music today? Wonderful!
Margaret,I am so pleased that the word “lant” survived in the North albeit not in the bit where I was (or maybe that was just my mother being “nice.”) My grandfather tended his tomatoes lovingly and now I am wondering what he put on them!
Dr Josh, thank you for commenting! I can see I’ll now be searching the internet for all those old medical texts!
Margaret,I am so pleased that the word “lant” survived in the North albeit not in the bit where I was (or maybe that was just my mother being “nice.”) My grandfather tended his tomatoes lovingly and now I am wondering what he put on them!
Dr Josh, thank you for commenting! I can see I’ll now be searching the internet for all those old medical texts!
Margaret,I am so pleased that the word “lant” survived in the North albeit not in the bit where I was (or maybe that was just my mother being “nice.”) My grandfather tended his tomatoes lovingly and now I am wondering what he put on them!
Dr Josh, thank you for commenting! I can see I’ll now be searching the internet for all those old medical texts!
Margaret,I am so pleased that the word “lant” survived in the North albeit not in the bit where I was (or maybe that was just my mother being “nice.”) My grandfather tended his tomatoes lovingly and now I am wondering what he put on them!
Dr Josh, thank you for commenting! I can see I’ll now be searching the internet for all those old medical texts!
Margaret,I am so pleased that the word “lant” survived in the North albeit not in the bit where I was (or maybe that was just my mother being “nice.”) My grandfather tended his tomatoes lovingly and now I am wondering what he put on them!
Dr Josh, thank you for commenting! I can see I’ll now be searching the internet for all those old medical texts!
Anne, I love the way these stories about the uses of “P” are coming out. So presumably the ladies go to the loo because they are ladies rather than because the lemon trees prefer the men’s P!
Mary Jo, I think our ancestors must have been a great deal more practical and less squeamish than we are!
Anne, I love the way these stories about the uses of “P” are coming out. So presumably the ladies go to the loo because they are ladies rather than because the lemon trees prefer the men’s P!
Mary Jo, I think our ancestors must have been a great deal more practical and less squeamish than we are!
Anne, I love the way these stories about the uses of “P” are coming out. So presumably the ladies go to the loo because they are ladies rather than because the lemon trees prefer the men’s P!
Mary Jo, I think our ancestors must have been a great deal more practical and less squeamish than we are!
Anne, I love the way these stories about the uses of “P” are coming out. So presumably the ladies go to the loo because they are ladies rather than because the lemon trees prefer the men’s P!
Mary Jo, I think our ancestors must have been a great deal more practical and less squeamish than we are!
Anne, I love the way these stories about the uses of “P” are coming out. So presumably the ladies go to the loo because they are ladies rather than because the lemon trees prefer the men’s P!
Mary Jo, I think our ancestors must have been a great deal more practical and less squeamish than we are!
Isobel, my aunt uses the salt and lemon approach for cutting boards. The first time I saw her do it watched in amazement as she shook the salt all over it but she swears by it. There are good reasons why these tips endure.
Isobel, my aunt uses the salt and lemon approach for cutting boards. The first time I saw her do it watched in amazement as she shook the salt all over it but she swears by it. There are good reasons why these tips endure.
Isobel, my aunt uses the salt and lemon approach for cutting boards. The first time I saw her do it watched in amazement as she shook the salt all over it but she swears by it. There are good reasons why these tips endure.
Isobel, my aunt uses the salt and lemon approach for cutting boards. The first time I saw her do it watched in amazement as she shook the salt all over it but she swears by it. There are good reasons why these tips endure.
Isobel, my aunt uses the salt and lemon approach for cutting boards. The first time I saw her do it watched in amazement as she shook the salt all over it but she swears by it. There are good reasons why these tips endure.
Yes, think I’ll pass on the Harris tweed as well, or at least admire it from afar. But the waulking songs are beautiful.
Q. for Dr. Josh – Pisse Prophet?? Does that have to do with divination using pee?
Susan
Yes, think I’ll pass on the Harris tweed as well, or at least admire it from afar. But the waulking songs are beautiful.
Q. for Dr. Josh – Pisse Prophet?? Does that have to do with divination using pee?
Susan
Yes, think I’ll pass on the Harris tweed as well, or at least admire it from afar. But the waulking songs are beautiful.
Q. for Dr. Josh – Pisse Prophet?? Does that have to do with divination using pee?
Susan
Yes, think I’ll pass on the Harris tweed as well, or at least admire it from afar. But the waulking songs are beautiful.
Q. for Dr. Josh – Pisse Prophet?? Does that have to do with divination using pee?
Susan
Yes, think I’ll pass on the Harris tweed as well, or at least admire it from afar. But the waulking songs are beautiful.
Q. for Dr. Josh – Pisse Prophet?? Does that have to do with divination using pee?
Susan
Thank you for this post which seems strangely appropriate to me today–I am going to the clinic this afternoon for a pre-employment drug test. I will be thinking of the Word Wenches with secret delight as I provide my sample!
Thank you for this post which seems strangely appropriate to me today–I am going to the clinic this afternoon for a pre-employment drug test. I will be thinking of the Word Wenches with secret delight as I provide my sample!
Thank you for this post which seems strangely appropriate to me today–I am going to the clinic this afternoon for a pre-employment drug test. I will be thinking of the Word Wenches with secret delight as I provide my sample!
Thank you for this post which seems strangely appropriate to me today–I am going to the clinic this afternoon for a pre-employment drug test. I will be thinking of the Word Wenches with secret delight as I provide my sample!
Thank you for this post which seems strangely appropriate to me today–I am going to the clinic this afternoon for a pre-employment drug test. I will be thinking of the Word Wenches with secret delight as I provide my sample!
Many years ago, I was appalled to learn my mother-in-law had a medicinal use for urine. She swore it was the remedy for childhood earaches, if inserted into the ear canal while still warm and fresh. I once asked my mother if she’d heard of this and she looked horrified and said, “Lord, no! Who would do such a thing?”
Many years ago, I was appalled to learn my mother-in-law had a medicinal use for urine. She swore it was the remedy for childhood earaches, if inserted into the ear canal while still warm and fresh. I once asked my mother if she’d heard of this and she looked horrified and said, “Lord, no! Who would do such a thing?”
Many years ago, I was appalled to learn my mother-in-law had a medicinal use for urine. She swore it was the remedy for childhood earaches, if inserted into the ear canal while still warm and fresh. I once asked my mother if she’d heard of this and she looked horrified and said, “Lord, no! Who would do such a thing?”
Many years ago, I was appalled to learn my mother-in-law had a medicinal use for urine. She swore it was the remedy for childhood earaches, if inserted into the ear canal while still warm and fresh. I once asked my mother if she’d heard of this and she looked horrified and said, “Lord, no! Who would do such a thing?”
Many years ago, I was appalled to learn my mother-in-law had a medicinal use for urine. She swore it was the remedy for childhood earaches, if inserted into the ear canal while still warm and fresh. I once asked my mother if she’d heard of this and she looked horrified and said, “Lord, no! Who would do such a thing?”
I fear household remedies were not passed down so much in my family as drinking songs, but I do remember cleaning copper pennies with salt and vinegar when I was a kid with penny loafers.
A fascinating discussion, Nicola. Our ancestors knew the true meaning of using natural resources and being “green.”
I fear household remedies were not passed down so much in my family as drinking songs, but I do remember cleaning copper pennies with salt and vinegar when I was a kid with penny loafers.
A fascinating discussion, Nicola. Our ancestors knew the true meaning of using natural resources and being “green.”
I fear household remedies were not passed down so much in my family as drinking songs, but I do remember cleaning copper pennies with salt and vinegar when I was a kid with penny loafers.
A fascinating discussion, Nicola. Our ancestors knew the true meaning of using natural resources and being “green.”
I fear household remedies were not passed down so much in my family as drinking songs, but I do remember cleaning copper pennies with salt and vinegar when I was a kid with penny loafers.
A fascinating discussion, Nicola. Our ancestors knew the true meaning of using natural resources and being “green.”
I fear household remedies were not passed down so much in my family as drinking songs, but I do remember cleaning copper pennies with salt and vinegar when I was a kid with penny loafers.
A fascinating discussion, Nicola. Our ancestors knew the true meaning of using natural resources and being “green.”
LOL, RevMelinda! Hope all went well for you today.
Devon, that is a truly horrifying story! Warm and fresh! Urk!
Pat, I think that’s it exactly. Many of these uses were a great deal more environmentally friendly than our modern society with its obsession with water usage.
LOL, RevMelinda! Hope all went well for you today.
Devon, that is a truly horrifying story! Warm and fresh! Urk!
Pat, I think that’s it exactly. Many of these uses were a great deal more environmentally friendly than our modern society with its obsession with water usage.
LOL, RevMelinda! Hope all went well for you today.
Devon, that is a truly horrifying story! Warm and fresh! Urk!
Pat, I think that’s it exactly. Many of these uses were a great deal more environmentally friendly than our modern society with its obsession with water usage.
LOL, RevMelinda! Hope all went well for you today.
Devon, that is a truly horrifying story! Warm and fresh! Urk!
Pat, I think that’s it exactly. Many of these uses were a great deal more environmentally friendly than our modern society with its obsession with water usage.
LOL, RevMelinda! Hope all went well for you today.
Devon, that is a truly horrifying story! Warm and fresh! Urk!
Pat, I think that’s it exactly. Many of these uses were a great deal more environmentally friendly than our modern society with its obsession with water usage.
I knew I took 4 years of Latin while I was in High School for a reason and while I was at it read a lot of Shakespeare! I just didn’t know that I would find it useful in knowing the background of “P”! Ah, if I’d only known when my boys were toddlers and used the chimney outside (as boys are wont to do) instead of taking the time to come inside!
And yes, I was a teenager during the 1960’s and we did use beer when washing our hair. I guess remembering that I shouldn’t think that what teenagers do today strange.
I knew I took 4 years of Latin while I was in High School for a reason and while I was at it read a lot of Shakespeare! I just didn’t know that I would find it useful in knowing the background of “P”! Ah, if I’d only known when my boys were toddlers and used the chimney outside (as boys are wont to do) instead of taking the time to come inside!
And yes, I was a teenager during the 1960’s and we did use beer when washing our hair. I guess remembering that I shouldn’t think that what teenagers do today strange.
I knew I took 4 years of Latin while I was in High School for a reason and while I was at it read a lot of Shakespeare! I just didn’t know that I would find it useful in knowing the background of “P”! Ah, if I’d only known when my boys were toddlers and used the chimney outside (as boys are wont to do) instead of taking the time to come inside!
And yes, I was a teenager during the 1960’s and we did use beer when washing our hair. I guess remembering that I shouldn’t think that what teenagers do today strange.
I knew I took 4 years of Latin while I was in High School for a reason and while I was at it read a lot of Shakespeare! I just didn’t know that I would find it useful in knowing the background of “P”! Ah, if I’d only known when my boys were toddlers and used the chimney outside (as boys are wont to do) instead of taking the time to come inside!
And yes, I was a teenager during the 1960’s and we did use beer when washing our hair. I guess remembering that I shouldn’t think that what teenagers do today strange.
I knew I took 4 years of Latin while I was in High School for a reason and while I was at it read a lot of Shakespeare! I just didn’t know that I would find it useful in knowing the background of “P”! Ah, if I’d only known when my boys were toddlers and used the chimney outside (as boys are wont to do) instead of taking the time to come inside!
And yes, I was a teenager during the 1960’s and we did use beer when washing our hair. I guess remembering that I shouldn’t think that what teenagers do today strange.
They were in good company, Jeanne. Samuel Pepys recorded in his diary that he did exactly the same thing!
They were in good company, Jeanne. Samuel Pepys recorded in his diary that he did exactly the same thing!
They were in good company, Jeanne. Samuel Pepys recorded in his diary that he did exactly the same thing!
They were in good company, Jeanne. Samuel Pepys recorded in his diary that he did exactly the same thing!
They were in good company, Jeanne. Samuel Pepys recorded in his diary that he did exactly the same thing!
Thank you, Nicola, for a fascinating, if a bit disconcerting post. LOL I’ve said it before, I say it again “You learn the most interesting things at Word Wenches!”
My grandmother and mother both swear by cleaning cutting boards with the salt/lemon combo.
My grandmother also recommended chewing blackberry vines for diarrhea. I thought it was nuts until I tried it and it worked.
She also gave us willow bark tea for fevers. And I remember a horrible mustard poultice with something that smelled like licorice when I had pneumonia as a child. It worked!
Thank you, Nicola, for a fascinating, if a bit disconcerting post. LOL I’ve said it before, I say it again “You learn the most interesting things at Word Wenches!”
My grandmother and mother both swear by cleaning cutting boards with the salt/lemon combo.
My grandmother also recommended chewing blackberry vines for diarrhea. I thought it was nuts until I tried it and it worked.
She also gave us willow bark tea for fevers. And I remember a horrible mustard poultice with something that smelled like licorice when I had pneumonia as a child. It worked!
Thank you, Nicola, for a fascinating, if a bit disconcerting post. LOL I’ve said it before, I say it again “You learn the most interesting things at Word Wenches!”
My grandmother and mother both swear by cleaning cutting boards with the salt/lemon combo.
My grandmother also recommended chewing blackberry vines for diarrhea. I thought it was nuts until I tried it and it worked.
She also gave us willow bark tea for fevers. And I remember a horrible mustard poultice with something that smelled like licorice when I had pneumonia as a child. It worked!
Thank you, Nicola, for a fascinating, if a bit disconcerting post. LOL I’ve said it before, I say it again “You learn the most interesting things at Word Wenches!”
My grandmother and mother both swear by cleaning cutting boards with the salt/lemon combo.
My grandmother also recommended chewing blackberry vines for diarrhea. I thought it was nuts until I tried it and it worked.
She also gave us willow bark tea for fevers. And I remember a horrible mustard poultice with something that smelled like licorice when I had pneumonia as a child. It worked!
Thank you, Nicola, for a fascinating, if a bit disconcerting post. LOL I’ve said it before, I say it again “You learn the most interesting things at Word Wenches!”
My grandmother and mother both swear by cleaning cutting boards with the salt/lemon combo.
My grandmother also recommended chewing blackberry vines for diarrhea. I thought it was nuts until I tried it and it worked.
She also gave us willow bark tea for fevers. And I remember a horrible mustard poultice with something that smelled like licorice when I had pneumonia as a child. It worked!
Very interesting stuff. Modern indigo dyers still collect vats of urine in their yards, One reason, I guess, so few field trips involve visiting those artisans. They say no fixative works as well.
I have loosened clogged sinks with baking soda and vinegar – it sort of bubbles out the gunk.
Olive oil slightly warmed works nicely for a mild earache, even those fresh urine is sterile.
Very interesting stuff. Modern indigo dyers still collect vats of urine in their yards, One reason, I guess, so few field trips involve visiting those artisans. They say no fixative works as well.
I have loosened clogged sinks with baking soda and vinegar – it sort of bubbles out the gunk.
Olive oil slightly warmed works nicely for a mild earache, even those fresh urine is sterile.
Very interesting stuff. Modern indigo dyers still collect vats of urine in their yards, One reason, I guess, so few field trips involve visiting those artisans. They say no fixative works as well.
I have loosened clogged sinks with baking soda and vinegar – it sort of bubbles out the gunk.
Olive oil slightly warmed works nicely for a mild earache, even those fresh urine is sterile.
Very interesting stuff. Modern indigo dyers still collect vats of urine in their yards, One reason, I guess, so few field trips involve visiting those artisans. They say no fixative works as well.
I have loosened clogged sinks with baking soda and vinegar – it sort of bubbles out the gunk.
Olive oil slightly warmed works nicely for a mild earache, even those fresh urine is sterile.
Very interesting stuff. Modern indigo dyers still collect vats of urine in their yards, One reason, I guess, so few field trips involve visiting those artisans. They say no fixative works as well.
I have loosened clogged sinks with baking soda and vinegar – it sort of bubbles out the gunk.
Olive oil slightly warmed works nicely for a mild earache, even those fresh urine is sterile.
OK, being curious, I asked Dr. Josh. Apparently “piss prophet” is an old term for early physicians who diagnosed by looking at urine – color, cloudiness or clarity, and so on. They didn’t have lab reports to fall back on, so that makes sense, and color/cloudiness can be a marker of some conditions.
But medieval piss prophets sometimes divined more than health reports from the appearance and smell, etc. of the pee in the jar – they weren’t exactly objective diagnosticians!
Susan
OK, being curious, I asked Dr. Josh. Apparently “piss prophet” is an old term for early physicians who diagnosed by looking at urine – color, cloudiness or clarity, and so on. They didn’t have lab reports to fall back on, so that makes sense, and color/cloudiness can be a marker of some conditions.
But medieval piss prophets sometimes divined more than health reports from the appearance and smell, etc. of the pee in the jar – they weren’t exactly objective diagnosticians!
Susan
OK, being curious, I asked Dr. Josh. Apparently “piss prophet” is an old term for early physicians who diagnosed by looking at urine – color, cloudiness or clarity, and so on. They didn’t have lab reports to fall back on, so that makes sense, and color/cloudiness can be a marker of some conditions.
But medieval piss prophets sometimes divined more than health reports from the appearance and smell, etc. of the pee in the jar – they weren’t exactly objective diagnosticians!
Susan
OK, being curious, I asked Dr. Josh. Apparently “piss prophet” is an old term for early physicians who diagnosed by looking at urine – color, cloudiness or clarity, and so on. They didn’t have lab reports to fall back on, so that makes sense, and color/cloudiness can be a marker of some conditions.
But medieval piss prophets sometimes divined more than health reports from the appearance and smell, etc. of the pee in the jar – they weren’t exactly objective diagnosticians!
Susan
OK, being curious, I asked Dr. Josh. Apparently “piss prophet” is an old term for early physicians who diagnosed by looking at urine – color, cloudiness or clarity, and so on. They didn’t have lab reports to fall back on, so that makes sense, and color/cloudiness can be a marker of some conditions.
But medieval piss prophets sometimes divined more than health reports from the appearance and smell, etc. of the pee in the jar – they weren’t exactly objective diagnosticians!
Susan
I don’t know any new uses for common substances. I’m just not that earthy. But my daughter’s mosquito bites swell terribly, and every time she gets one, people tell me ways to treat them. I’ve been told baking soda takes away the sting as well as cornstarch and rubbing alcohol.
I don’t know any new uses for common substances. I’m just not that earthy. But my daughter’s mosquito bites swell terribly, and every time she gets one, people tell me ways to treat them. I’ve been told baking soda takes away the sting as well as cornstarch and rubbing alcohol.
I don’t know any new uses for common substances. I’m just not that earthy. But my daughter’s mosquito bites swell terribly, and every time she gets one, people tell me ways to treat them. I’ve been told baking soda takes away the sting as well as cornstarch and rubbing alcohol.
I don’t know any new uses for common substances. I’m just not that earthy. But my daughter’s mosquito bites swell terribly, and every time she gets one, people tell me ways to treat them. I’ve been told baking soda takes away the sting as well as cornstarch and rubbing alcohol.
I don’t know any new uses for common substances. I’m just not that earthy. But my daughter’s mosquito bites swell terribly, and every time she gets one, people tell me ways to treat them. I’ve been told baking soda takes away the sting as well as cornstarch and rubbing alcohol.
Fun topic and fun comments! My dh just reminded me of an old episode of “Friends” where Monica is stung by a jellyfish while at the beach and the only emergency treatment is fresh urine…Joey obliges, but they’re so mortified they can hardly look at each other later. One of the best and funniest episodes in that series. I’m not sure if that’s a real remedy or not, anyone know?
Susan
Fun topic and fun comments! My dh just reminded me of an old episode of “Friends” where Monica is stung by a jellyfish while at the beach and the only emergency treatment is fresh urine…Joey obliges, but they’re so mortified they can hardly look at each other later. One of the best and funniest episodes in that series. I’m not sure if that’s a real remedy or not, anyone know?
Susan
Fun topic and fun comments! My dh just reminded me of an old episode of “Friends” where Monica is stung by a jellyfish while at the beach and the only emergency treatment is fresh urine…Joey obliges, but they’re so mortified they can hardly look at each other later. One of the best and funniest episodes in that series. I’m not sure if that’s a real remedy or not, anyone know?
Susan
Fun topic and fun comments! My dh just reminded me of an old episode of “Friends” where Monica is stung by a jellyfish while at the beach and the only emergency treatment is fresh urine…Joey obliges, but they’re so mortified they can hardly look at each other later. One of the best and funniest episodes in that series. I’m not sure if that’s a real remedy or not, anyone know?
Susan
Fun topic and fun comments! My dh just reminded me of an old episode of “Friends” where Monica is stung by a jellyfish while at the beach and the only emergency treatment is fresh urine…Joey obliges, but they’re so mortified they can hardly look at each other later. One of the best and funniest episodes in that series. I’m not sure if that’s a real remedy or not, anyone know?
Susan
Louisa, your grandmother’s remedies sound wonderful (well, pretty unpleasant, some of them, but very effective!) I’ve made a note of them for future reference.
I didn’t know that modern indigo dyers still used urine, Dory. If it’s the most effective substance, why not? Very practical. And thank you for the tip about the clogged sink. I will definitely give that one a try!
Louisa, your grandmother’s remedies sound wonderful (well, pretty unpleasant, some of them, but very effective!) I’ve made a note of them for future reference.
I didn’t know that modern indigo dyers still used urine, Dory. If it’s the most effective substance, why not? Very practical. And thank you for the tip about the clogged sink. I will definitely give that one a try!
Louisa, your grandmother’s remedies sound wonderful (well, pretty unpleasant, some of them, but very effective!) I’ve made a note of them for future reference.
I didn’t know that modern indigo dyers still used urine, Dory. If it’s the most effective substance, why not? Very practical. And thank you for the tip about the clogged sink. I will definitely give that one a try!
Louisa, your grandmother’s remedies sound wonderful (well, pretty unpleasant, some of them, but very effective!) I’ve made a note of them for future reference.
I didn’t know that modern indigo dyers still used urine, Dory. If it’s the most effective substance, why not? Very practical. And thank you for the tip about the clogged sink. I will definitely give that one a try!
Louisa, your grandmother’s remedies sound wonderful (well, pretty unpleasant, some of them, but very effective!) I’ve made a note of them for future reference.
I didn’t know that modern indigo dyers still used urine, Dory. If it’s the most effective substance, why not? Very practical. And thank you for the tip about the clogged sink. I will definitely give that one a try!
Susan, that’s fascinating about the “pisse prophets”! Pretty evocative name too!
Shana good remedies against mosquito bites must be pretty useful. The same here is Scotland – anything that can drive the midges away or lessen the itchiness of the sting is a highly prized remedy. I use myrtle for midge repellent and it works very well. Smells nicer than the industrial chemical stuff as well.
Susan, that’s fascinating about the “pisse prophets”! Pretty evocative name too!
Shana good remedies against mosquito bites must be pretty useful. The same here is Scotland – anything that can drive the midges away or lessen the itchiness of the sting is a highly prized remedy. I use myrtle for midge repellent and it works very well. Smells nicer than the industrial chemical stuff as well.
Susan, that’s fascinating about the “pisse prophets”! Pretty evocative name too!
Shana good remedies against mosquito bites must be pretty useful. The same here is Scotland – anything that can drive the midges away or lessen the itchiness of the sting is a highly prized remedy. I use myrtle for midge repellent and it works very well. Smells nicer than the industrial chemical stuff as well.
Susan, that’s fascinating about the “pisse prophets”! Pretty evocative name too!
Shana good remedies against mosquito bites must be pretty useful. The same here is Scotland – anything that can drive the midges away or lessen the itchiness of the sting is a highly prized remedy. I use myrtle for midge repellent and it works very well. Smells nicer than the industrial chemical stuff as well.
Susan, that’s fascinating about the “pisse prophets”! Pretty evocative name too!
Shana good remedies against mosquito bites must be pretty useful. The same here is Scotland – anything that can drive the midges away or lessen the itchiness of the sting is a highly prized remedy. I use myrtle for midge repellent and it works very well. Smells nicer than the industrial chemical stuff as well.
Susan, that was such a fun episode! But according to my book on the historical uses of pee it isn’t necessarily an effective treatment. There is a lot of debate about it and the jury is still out, apparently. My husband did that for his brother when he got stung by a poisonous fish when we were all swimming in the Red Sea. Brotherly love! My b-i-l survived so maybe that proves it works!
Susan, that was such a fun episode! But according to my book on the historical uses of pee it isn’t necessarily an effective treatment. There is a lot of debate about it and the jury is still out, apparently. My husband did that for his brother when he got stung by a poisonous fish when we were all swimming in the Red Sea. Brotherly love! My b-i-l survived so maybe that proves it works!
Susan, that was such a fun episode! But according to my book on the historical uses of pee it isn’t necessarily an effective treatment. There is a lot of debate about it and the jury is still out, apparently. My husband did that for his brother when he got stung by a poisonous fish when we were all swimming in the Red Sea. Brotherly love! My b-i-l survived so maybe that proves it works!
Susan, that was such a fun episode! But according to my book on the historical uses of pee it isn’t necessarily an effective treatment. There is a lot of debate about it and the jury is still out, apparently. My husband did that for his brother when he got stung by a poisonous fish when we were all swimming in the Red Sea. Brotherly love! My b-i-l survived so maybe that proves it works!
Susan, that was such a fun episode! But according to my book on the historical uses of pee it isn’t necessarily an effective treatment. There is a lot of debate about it and the jury is still out, apparently. My husband did that for his brother when he got stung by a poisonous fish when we were all swimming in the Red Sea. Brotherly love! My b-i-l survived so maybe that proves it works!
Cow urine is used to help lipstick stick! yum, huh?
Cow urine is used to help lipstick stick! yum, huh?
Cow urine is used to help lipstick stick! yum, huh?
Cow urine is used to help lipstick stick! yum, huh?
Cow urine is used to help lipstick stick! yum, huh?
Genevieve: eeeuuuww! That must be “urea” which seems to show up often.
Susan
Genevieve: eeeuuuww! That must be “urea” which seems to show up often.
Susan
Genevieve: eeeuuuww! That must be “urea” which seems to show up often.
Susan
Genevieve: eeeuuuww! That must be “urea” which seems to show up often.
Susan
Genevieve: eeeuuuww! That must be “urea” which seems to show up often.
Susan
To add to your information… years ago, I attended a fur trappers convention and found out urine has been used in the process of tanning hides.(i.e.Native Americans)
Best cleaner for refinishing furniture..
During my college days I worked for an antique dealer cleaning and refurbishing
trunks. To clean off the old finish after stripping, mix-(1 cup)vinegar,(1 cup) baking soda, and(1 cup)ammonia in a gallon of water(OPEN VENTILATION). Be sure to add baking soda between vinegar and ammonia. Scrub with medium to soft brush.(Wear gloves made for furiture stripping products)
To add to your information… years ago, I attended a fur trappers convention and found out urine has been used in the process of tanning hides.(i.e.Native Americans)
Best cleaner for refinishing furniture..
During my college days I worked for an antique dealer cleaning and refurbishing
trunks. To clean off the old finish after stripping, mix-(1 cup)vinegar,(1 cup) baking soda, and(1 cup)ammonia in a gallon of water(OPEN VENTILATION). Be sure to add baking soda between vinegar and ammonia. Scrub with medium to soft brush.(Wear gloves made for furiture stripping products)
To add to your information… years ago, I attended a fur trappers convention and found out urine has been used in the process of tanning hides.(i.e.Native Americans)
Best cleaner for refinishing furniture..
During my college days I worked for an antique dealer cleaning and refurbishing
trunks. To clean off the old finish after stripping, mix-(1 cup)vinegar,(1 cup) baking soda, and(1 cup)ammonia in a gallon of water(OPEN VENTILATION). Be sure to add baking soda between vinegar and ammonia. Scrub with medium to soft brush.(Wear gloves made for furiture stripping products)
To add to your information… years ago, I attended a fur trappers convention and found out urine has been used in the process of tanning hides.(i.e.Native Americans)
Best cleaner for refinishing furniture..
During my college days I worked for an antique dealer cleaning and refurbishing
trunks. To clean off the old finish after stripping, mix-(1 cup)vinegar,(1 cup) baking soda, and(1 cup)ammonia in a gallon of water(OPEN VENTILATION). Be sure to add baking soda between vinegar and ammonia. Scrub with medium to soft brush.(Wear gloves made for furiture stripping products)
To add to your information… years ago, I attended a fur trappers convention and found out urine has been used in the process of tanning hides.(i.e.Native Americans)
Best cleaner for refinishing furniture..
During my college days I worked for an antique dealer cleaning and refurbishing
trunks. To clean off the old finish after stripping, mix-(1 cup)vinegar,(1 cup) baking soda, and(1 cup)ammonia in a gallon of water(OPEN VENTILATION). Be sure to add baking soda between vinegar and ammonia. Scrub with medium to soft brush.(Wear gloves made for furiture stripping products)
I had to read this out to my husband, so he knew where his oft used ‘taking the piss’comes from, lol. Fascinating stuff!
I had to read this out to my husband, so he knew where his oft used ‘taking the piss’comes from, lol. Fascinating stuff!
I had to read this out to my husband, so he knew where his oft used ‘taking the piss’comes from, lol. Fascinating stuff!
I had to read this out to my husband, so he knew where his oft used ‘taking the piss’comes from, lol. Fascinating stuff!
I had to read this out to my husband, so he knew where his oft used ‘taking the piss’comes from, lol. Fascinating stuff!
Awesome. This is stuff I should have known but didn’t. Particularly about the Gunpowder.
Awesome. This is stuff I should have known but didn’t. Particularly about the Gunpowder.
Awesome. This is stuff I should have known but didn’t. Particularly about the Gunpowder.
Awesome. This is stuff I should have known but didn’t. Particularly about the Gunpowder.
Awesome. This is stuff I should have known but didn’t. Particularly about the Gunpowder.
Genevieve, I second Susan’s eeuuuww on that!
Margaret, thank you for the recipe for cleaning and refurbishing antiques. I liked the bit in capitals about opening the ventilation!
Genevieve, I second Susan’s eeuuuww on that!
Margaret, thank you for the recipe for cleaning and refurbishing antiques. I liked the bit in capitals about opening the ventilation!
Genevieve, I second Susan’s eeuuuww on that!
Margaret, thank you for the recipe for cleaning and refurbishing antiques. I liked the bit in capitals about opening the ventilation!
Genevieve, I second Susan’s eeuuuww on that!
Margaret, thank you for the recipe for cleaning and refurbishing antiques. I liked the bit in capitals about opening the ventilation!
Genevieve, I second Susan’s eeuuuww on that!
Margaret, thank you for the recipe for cleaning and refurbishing antiques. I liked the bit in capitals about opening the ventilation!
Robyn, I love finding out the derivation of phrases like that!
Charles, glad you enjoyed the blog. Thank you!
Robyn, I love finding out the derivation of phrases like that!
Charles, glad you enjoyed the blog. Thank you!
Robyn, I love finding out the derivation of phrases like that!
Charles, glad you enjoyed the blog. Thank you!
Robyn, I love finding out the derivation of phrases like that!
Charles, glad you enjoyed the blog. Thank you!
Robyn, I love finding out the derivation of phrases like that!
Charles, glad you enjoyed the blog. Thank you!
Great post. I think we need to resurrect some of the old wisdom rather than using the awful chemicals we have become used to.
My mom always made mustard plasters for me when I had bronchitis as a child – mustart powder, flour and enough milk to make a paste. Put the past between two Kleenexes and wrap it in an old towel. I don’t think I was ever happy about having a mustard plaster, but I remember that it worked.
Also the best way to clean a copper pot is with a past made from equal parts salt, white vinegar and flour.
Great post. I think we need to resurrect some of the old wisdom rather than using the awful chemicals we have become used to.
My mom always made mustard plasters for me when I had bronchitis as a child – mustart powder, flour and enough milk to make a paste. Put the past between two Kleenexes and wrap it in an old towel. I don’t think I was ever happy about having a mustard plaster, but I remember that it worked.
Also the best way to clean a copper pot is with a past made from equal parts salt, white vinegar and flour.
Great post. I think we need to resurrect some of the old wisdom rather than using the awful chemicals we have become used to.
My mom always made mustard plasters for me when I had bronchitis as a child – mustart powder, flour and enough milk to make a paste. Put the past between two Kleenexes and wrap it in an old towel. I don’t think I was ever happy about having a mustard plaster, but I remember that it worked.
Also the best way to clean a copper pot is with a past made from equal parts salt, white vinegar and flour.
Great post. I think we need to resurrect some of the old wisdom rather than using the awful chemicals we have become used to.
My mom always made mustard plasters for me when I had bronchitis as a child – mustart powder, flour and enough milk to make a paste. Put the past between two Kleenexes and wrap it in an old towel. I don’t think I was ever happy about having a mustard plaster, but I remember that it worked.
Also the best way to clean a copper pot is with a past made from equal parts salt, white vinegar and flour.
Great post. I think we need to resurrect some of the old wisdom rather than using the awful chemicals we have become used to.
My mom always made mustard plasters for me when I had bronchitis as a child – mustart powder, flour and enough milk to make a paste. Put the past between two Kleenexes and wrap it in an old towel. I don’t think I was ever happy about having a mustard plaster, but I remember that it worked.
Also the best way to clean a copper pot is with a past made from equal parts salt, white vinegar and flour.
Sorry, that should have been paste – bad fingers.
Sorry, that should have been paste – bad fingers.
Sorry, that should have been paste – bad fingers.
Sorry, that should have been paste – bad fingers.
Sorry, that should have been paste – bad fingers.
I’ve heard about mustard plasters, Lynn, but never before how they were made. Interesting that it worked!
I’ve heard about mustard plasters, Lynn, but never before how they were made. Interesting that it worked!
I’ve heard about mustard plasters, Lynn, but never before how they were made. Interesting that it worked!
I’ve heard about mustard plasters, Lynn, but never before how they were made. Interesting that it worked!
I’ve heard about mustard plasters, Lynn, but never before how they were made. Interesting that it worked!