Oh, no!

NOT THE MERCUROCHROME!

Old-time Remedies for a New Age

by Dorette Rota Jackson

Everyone grew up with old-time remedies we learned from our parents and grandparents. RowHome reached out to our readers for some of the cures they grew up with. Now may be the perfect time to pass them on to a new generation. Or maybe not.

Vicks Vapo Rub was the cure-all for colds. Rub some under your nose, on your forehead, even on the bottom of your feet before you put your socks on to open those nasal passages.

Mercurochrome – that red liquid that stained everything – really did burn when your mom put it on your scraped knees and cuts.

Warm water & salt gargle relieved sore throats.

And nothing made your teeth sparkle like a paste of baking soda & peroxide on your brush!

Here are a few other favorites our RowHome readers shared with us!

Paregoric for baby’s gums and menstrual cramps.

Warm milk to sleep better.

Homemade chicken soup for a cold (with Acini di pepe if you had the flu!)

Ichthammol drawing salve. It draws out infection from pimples and splinters – an old remedy that still works great!

Drink hot water for indigestion. It will make you belch.

Cod liver oil for constipation.

Water, honey, lemon & whiskey for cold/sore throat.

Pile on the blankets to sweat out a fever.

Whiskey and hot tea to break up congestion.

Apple cider vinegar on a wart to remove it.

Apple cider vinegar and water for fat loss.

Aloe for burns – right off your plant on the windowsill!

Oatmeal for bug bites.

What is the oldest remedy in the world?

The bark of the willow tree contains one of the oldest medicinal remedies in human history. In its modern form, we call it aspirin. More than 3,500 years ago, the ancient Sumerians and Egyptians used willow bark as a traditional medicine for pain relief. (healthline.com)

Olive oil for chapped lips.

Brioschi for upset stomachs.

Stuffy nose? Boil garlic in some water then stand over it and breathe in the fumes.

Hot water and mustard solution can soothe aching feet.

Heather boiled in water and applied warm to the top of the head cured a headache.

A spoonful of sugar gets rid of hiccups.

Banana peels soothe poison ivy.

A paste of baking soda and water will bring splinters to the surface. Rub it on, cover with bandage & the next day, the splinter will rise to the surface so you can pluck it out.

Chew on a few dried apricots to ease digestion.

Crush a strawberry, mix with baking soda and brush onto your teeth to whiten your smile.

Dip a cotton ball into Listerine and dab onto a fever blister until it dries up.

Did you know…

An aspirin contains the same ingredients as many dandruff shampoos (salicylic acid). Crush a tablespoon of aspirin and add it to your regular shampoo before applying to your hair. Leave in for 5-10 minutes. Rinse. (Farmer’s Almanac)

Pregnancy and early motherhood are an especially vulnerable time for women as they are faced with an abundance of emotional, psychological, hormonal, and physical life changes. Despite the many appointments women attend for their baby, they often receive one routine follow-up visit at six weeks postpartum. At this visit, many OB GYN professionals will screen for postpartum depression. Particularly for first-time mothers, many may not realize they are experiencing clinical levels of depression or anxiety after having a baby. They may also experience shame or embarrassment about thoughts or feelings that may be entirely new to them. Therefore, this follow up visit may or may not be successful in identifying mothers who can benefit from additional support for their mental health.

Perinatal mental health refers to a woman’s emotional state during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. While many may have heard of postpartum depression, perinatal mental health in general is not often discussed enough. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, also known as PMADs, are a category of mental health conditions women suffer from during pregnancy and through the postpartum period. These conditions can include perinatal depression, as well as a variety of anxiety disorders including obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, posttraumatic disorder, and specific phobias.

PMADs are extremely common, affecting 1 in 5 women. Yet, they often go unrecognized, and therefore, untreated, for many. Signs of depression may include intense feelings of sadness or anger; difficulty sleeping when given the opportunity; trouble concentrating; loss of interest; or challenges with making decisions, amongst others. Symptoms of anxiety may occur alongside or separate from depression, and may include irritability, an inability to relax, experiencing intrusive thoughts, nausea or panic-like symptoms. PMAD symptoms overall can range from mild, moderate, to severe. In severe cases, women can suffer from episodes of postpartum psychosis, or have thoughts about hurting themselves or their baby. Women with a prior history of depression/anxiety or other mental health conditions are more susceptible to struggling with PMADs. Other factors such as lack of social support, financial strains, or other stressful life events may also contribute to the development of perinatal mental illnesses. Positively, these conditions are very treatable when recognized and addressed appropriately.

The key to successful intervention is early intervention. Treatment may include therapy, medication, or both. The earlier symptoms are identified, the more amenable to interventions individuals will be. While awareness about perinatal mental health has increased, there is still a great need to identify and assess for PMADs. Also of note, fathers may also suffer from depression or anxiety after the birth of a child.

What should you do if you or a loved one appears to be struggling with a PMAD? Talk with your health-care provider (OB GYN/primary care physician) or a supportive friend/family member about your symptoms. Consider therapy with a trained, licensed mental health professional.

Though born in Northumberland County and residing in Montgomery County, Paul Varano has earned his stripes as an upholder of life in the City of Brotherly Love. Through employment with Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia (CCP), the focused physician keeps hearts in his adopted hometown beating more strongly and hopes for longevity take shape by stressing healthy practices in a truly caring fashion.

“I think that people have an advanced collective sense of the importance of self-care,” Varano says of perceptions of his patients. “That rubs off on me as someone who treats them because I want to see them thrive, too.”

The Shamokin native has faithfully followed the Hippocratic Oath for 12 years, with nine of them as a doctor. Blessed with an affinity for science, he has made Center City and South Philly the beneficiaries of his commitment to cardiac care. He believes his youth and considerate bedside manner have won trust at a time when people might even feel prone to deem themselves experts because of the plethora of information available to them.