Sunday, October 9, 2011

Got Headache?

I love Autumn and all of its glorious colors.  I do not like Ragweed and all of the mucus it produces.  Here at the Farmette we have plied ourselves with prescribed nose sprays, allergy pills, etc...  And, we all still seem to be alive, but the allergy headaches still arise from time to time. 



I am glad that I have modern means to combat my headaches, no matter their origins.  While consulting, The Old Farmer's Almanac,  I came across some interesting headache remedies from the past.  


*Apply tobacco leaves to your temples. 
*Weave a match into your hair. 
*Paste a leaf of cottonwood on each temple and do not remove it until it falls off on its own, taking the skin with it.  
*Mix a beaver gland with olive oil and beeswax, shape it into a pill, and swallow it.  
*Apply cobwebs across the bridge of your nose. 
*Boil cottonweed in lye and smoke it.  

and my personal favorite......
*Form fresh cow manure into a heat-producing poultice and put it on your head. 

While I know that there is a lot of truth behind old remedies, I am just glad that I don't have to put fresh manure on my forehead. 
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38 comments:

  1. I'm wondering myself how the beaver gland mixed with olive oil tastes like...tho I'm not sure I want to find out :)

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  3. Texwisgirl - And the remedy said the manure would be hot! Seriously? lol

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  4. Judy - Where would you even get beaver gland? Even back then?!

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  5. I bet I get an allergy headache every other day. Mucinex D and Advil are the best cures for me.

    A beaver gland? Oh my...

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  6. You might need to contact a witch for the beaver gland!!! It is that time of year......!!!

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  7. I've heard of the tobacco leaf one...from years ago when I lived in Southside VA, where lots of tobacco was grown. Don't know whether it worked or not, my Mom gave me aspirin. Not to keen on the manure one either. It would have to be really bodacious headache to go that route.

    Love your autumn photos!

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  8. Ha ha! Those are hilarious, thank goodness for tylenol :)

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  9. Beaver gland..sounds delish :|

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  10. Thanks for the chuckle. I am dealing with a case of gout and was wondering how people dealt with the pain of it in the "olden days".. now I'm not so sure I want to find out. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  11. Howdy Gorgeous
    Love the post :)
    Yes it is Fall and allergies abound in our neck of the woods,plus I'm heading back for another extended stay with the parents where I seem to be a magnet for all things pollen .
    Anyhoo just popped in to say howdy and wish you and yours many happy blessings this Fall season:)
    Thank you for sharing you delightful talents with us here in blogland.
    Big hugs coming your way !!!

    Until next time
    Happy Trails

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  12. I can't stop laughing at fresh cow manure on your head. Thankful for Advil and all modern medicine!

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  13. I'm glad I don't have to locate a beaver gland.

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  14. I think I would have kept the headache...we are lucky to have the remedies we have now for sure...

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  15. The ragweed has been killing me for the last week or so. I think I'm going with the cobweb on my nose instead of the beaver gland treatment ;)!! lol!

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  16. Reading your post out loud while husband is laughing along...very funny! xo

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  17. Sherri - PTL for Tylenol and Advil!

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  18. I'm sure your family appreciates your not going with the manure remedy.

    I've heard about it, but it was described as in using a "Fresh Cow Patty".

    With patty's in mind, there is a Cow Patty cookie recipe, for those of you brave enough to try. :)

    http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/cow-patty-cookies/detail.aspx

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  19. Don't know that I would try the Beaver Gland! Too funny.

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  20. Perhaps Advil is actually an extract of cow manure ...

    You might only want to try smoking the lye-boiled cottonweed in private though - no point getting the ATF boys upset ;-)

    btw - those look like some prize-winning sunflower heads !

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  21. yup.....whoever came up with putting s*&t on your head to cure a headache had a sense of humor..

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  22. I know a few Chinese traditional remedies for headaches too... but I don't think you would even want to know about it ...

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  24. I'm trying that match thing this AM. hahahaha

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  25. Personally, I'm going with the *Paste a leaf of cottonwood on each temple and do not remove it until it falls off on its own, taking the skin with it.*

    Allergies and skin wrinkles eliminated in one blow! :)

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  26. LOL! I have SO done that cow manure one and I'm just sayin'... It really does the trick! You don't think about your headache at all after that.

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  27. Beaver gland and cow manure...hmmm...the headache doesn't sound so bad after that!

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  28. Or that beaver gland. It sounds awful!! I do not have any of these things to worry about. Have never had allergies and am so thankful for that. Although when we moved to the new house there was some adjustments to what was growing here vs. the old house. Have a great week!

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  29. Trying to get fresh manure would probably increase anybody's headache...

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  30. Oh my....I know for certain that a lot of the old remedies do work, but there are several listed here that I might would have to pass on..

    thanks for sharing..
    Hugs,
    shug

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  31. Heeehehhe!!! Now if your lookin' for some 'fresh' cow-patties just give me a call!

    These were great!!!

    I do pray the ragweed settles and your headache is put to bed for good!

    God bless and enjoy this beautiful week sweetie!!!

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  32. "until the cottonwood falls off on its own and takes the skin with it?" but yes, I'll be threatening my boys with steaming manure the next time the fuss about nasal spray.
    awesome photos, the sunflowers are my favorite

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  33. I've been around enough cow manure in my life cleaning and shoveling out barns...

    I can attest to the sinus-opening power of a ripe cow patty, especially in the large quantity, economy size...

    I'm sure it would have the same medicinal effects...

    Dann in Ohio

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  34. You know what? I wouldn't want to put manure on my forehead either, but have you ever had one of those splitting headaches where you think you'd just about do ANYTHING to get rid of it? That cow poop is sounding pretty good right about now...

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  35. Think I'll stick with the modern standby. Guess back then, before the advent of modern pain pills, you had to make do with what was there.

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  36. Wow...that's quite an intriguing list of remedies. This reinforces my thinking that I never would have survived back in the good 'ol days. A beaver gland? Manure to the forehead? I'm really quite fond of my headache remedy: two pills from the Tylenol bottle. (Btw, when I lived in SD, I used to get such a kick reading the Farmers Almanac.)

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  37. The beaver gland is the one that grossed me out the most...thanks for the chuckle today.

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  38. Wow you wonder how the oldtimers made it. LOL
    I think the manure one is the best you should try it. B

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