Grandma's Remedies: Traditional Treatments from Mustard Poultices to Rosehip Syrup

Recalling the homemade remedies that families used long before modern medicines became so widely available, this collection brings together remedies that have been gathered from dusty medicine chests found in attics, recalled from childhoods long past, or discovered in family archives and libraries. In addition to the suggestions?including those claiming that drinking two cups of strong black coffee will alleviate an asthma attack or that chewing toasted fennel seeds will help combat indigestion?the guide also paints a vivid portrait of the world of grandparents and great-grandparents, showing how inventive and resourceful they were with the materials at hand.

Cherry Chappell is the author of Minding Your Own Business: Survival Strategies for Starting Up on Your Own, Perfect Wedding Planning, and Writing Better Letters.