Breast, Soreness of

An old treatment for the relief of painful, swollen breast, in nursing mothers, was the eating of sprouted barley, which was thought to dry up the milk. Crushed fresh parsley leaves applied externally were also thought to relieve engorgement of breast when breast-feeding. A poultice or compress using witch hazel was supposed to relieve breast engorgement.

Sore breast or nipples were thought to be relieved by the application of mixture of groundsel and daisies. A poultice made from chamomile flowers and bruised marshmallow roots was also said to bring relief.

An ointment could be made from alum, sugar, vinegar and salt. This was simmered and spread on a piece of cloth that was applied to the area of the sore breast.

A drink made of vervain, betony and agrimony was also said to relieve breast pain. The herbs were crushed and mixed with the beer and boiling milk.

Breathlessness

Hawthorn was used to treat breathlessness, particularly when it was a symptom of heart disease.

A mixture of caraway seeds, aniseed, nutmeg, licorice and sugar was recommended for shortness of breath. This mixture was crushed and a pinch of it was to be taken every morning and evening.

Bronchitis

Many herbs were used in the treatment of bronchitis. These included angelica, borage, bugle, butterbur, caraway, chervil chickweed, coltsfolt and comfrey. Daisy, fennel, fenugreek, ground ivy, knotgrass, liquorice, madder, myrrh, marjoram were other herbs that were commonly used in the treatment of bronchitis.

Other herbs that were thought to bring relief to sufferers from bronchitis were mullein, onion, parsley, plantain, primrose and sage. Savory, speedwell, thyme, watercress and white horehound were also used as treatments for bronchitis.

Cinnamon, honey, ginger, and tea were used a bronchial treatments, as was eucalyptus. Carrot and turnip were also used.

All of the mentioned herbs and plants here have an article here. Just use the search function to see all of them so you can find a herbal remedy for bronchitis.

Broom

Broom is a shrub that was used in medieval times. Herbalist used to mix the ashes of burnt broom with white wine to cure fluid retention.

In more recent times it continued to be used as a diuretic. It was also used in remedies for kidney, bladder and liver disorders. Gout and sciatica were also treated with it.

Broom was also used in cases of excessive menstrual flow and was an anticoagulant. It was used to treat low blood pressure and sometimes heart disease. However, it had to be used with great caution, since it could adversely affect the heart or respiratory system.

Bruises

There were many remedies in folk medicines for the treatment for bruises. A local application of vinegar was once a popular cure for bruise. Alternatively, vinegar could be used in a poultice made from bran and breadcrumbs or oatmeal. This was applied to bruises and sprains.

Water was used in some suggested remedies. One of these advocated wrapping the bruised area with cloths dipped in very hot water and repeating the treatment several times. This was to prevent the bruise from swelling. Also to prevent the bruise swelling, a cloth could be folded five or six times, dipped in very cold water and applied to the bruise. When the cloth ceased to be cold it was to be removed and the process repeated.

Olive oil was the basis of another cure. A piece of cloth or wool was dipped in it and the bruises rubbed with it. The bruise was then covered with a compress saturated in oil.

Alternatively, a tallow candle was used. The bruise was rubbed with the cold tallow candle to prevent discoloration occurring.

A mixture of chopped parsley mixed with butter could also be applied, as could a piece of brown paper with treacle spread on it. A mixture of feverfew, ribwort, plantain, sage and bugle crushed and boiled in unsalted butter or vegetable oil was another suggested cure. This was strained and applied to the bruise.

A poultice could be made of hyssop leaves and applied to the bruise, and poultices could also be made from cabbage leaves or burdock. Mallow leaves crushed and mixed with unsalted butter or vegetable oil were advocated to be smeared on bruises to stop the pain and reduce the swelling.

A lotion could be made from infusing a handful of rosemary leaves in a pint of boiling water and adding the white of an egg and a teaspoon of brandy to the mixture when it was cool. Another lotion could be made from boiling some comfrey leaves.

The crushed fresh leaves of plantain were also thought to relieve bruising when applied to the bruised area, and yarrow and hops were both used externally. Rose water was thought to reduce swelling , as was lavender oil, while a poultice or compress of witch hazel was thought to be particularly effective in the treatment of bruises. Wintergreen , tansy, and white horehound were thought to be useful in the treatment of bruises, as were celery, herb Robert, fenugreek and hyssop.

Buckthorn

The bark of buckthorn alder was used as a treatment for chronic constipation and hemorrhoids.

Buckthorn is less common in Britain than buckthorn alder is. It too was used as a purgative and was also used as a diuretic. Externally it was used to treat bruises.

Bugle

Bugle was used to stem the flow of blood from cuts and to stop the flow of menstrual blood. It was also used in heart disorders and in the relief of bronchitis.

Bugloss

Bugloss was used in respiratory disorders to help bring up phlegm. It was also used as a diuretic. Feverish diseases were treated with it, as was inflammation. It was used in the relief of nervous complaints.

Bunions

There are many home remedies and treatments for bunions. Now, I will give you some of them so you can cures for bunions which you can easily do at home.

Belladonna and glycerin, painted on the affected area, was one cure. Later, iodine was used.

Also, a cold compress can help relieve the pain. You can likewise do a little massage on the bunion to ease the pain.

Another cure is to dissolve epsom salts in warm water and soaking the affected area in it for half an hour.