Old-School Food Remedies That Doctors Love

Today, we rely a lot on modern medicine and drugs. But, many times, our grandparents relied on cures that could be found in the kitchen. As it turns out, that trove is still rich with effective remedies.

In fact, even modern medicine relies on plants more than many of us realize, says Catherine Ulbricht, PharmD, senior attending pharmacist at Massachusetts General Hospital and chief editor of publications for the Natural Standard Research Collaboration, which evaluates scientific data on herbs.

“Practically all of the most widely used drugs have an herbal origin,” Ulbricht says. “The number one OTC medication, aspirin, is a synthetic version of a compound found in the willow tree. Many statins are based on fungi, and Tamiflu originated from Chinese star anise.”

Flashback from fan: “One remedy his father would give would be a couple of drops of kerosene on a spoonful of sugar. Another was liver oil and castor oil and the three 6’s (666). It was explained that the medicine three 6’s got it’s name because it taste like the devil. If someone had swelling somewhere on the body, there was a wild plant that looked like tobacco they would use. The plant would be boiled and then the liquid from it would be used to soak the elbow, knee or whatever part had swelling. It would often help reduce the swelling.”

Following, you’ll find a host of age-old remedies whose remarkable effectiveness has been confirmed by new research.

Lemon Balm

Tradition says: Melissa officinalis, a lemon-scented member of the mint family, has long been used to banish anxiety, boost memory, and aid sleep and digestion. It is “good against the biting of venomous beasts, comforts the heart, and driveth away all melancholy and sadnesse,” wrote Elizabethan-era herbalist John Gerard in 1597.