Shakespeare’s witches, with their "Eye of newt, and toe of frog”, could well have been related to some of our Irish ancient ancestors if some of these remedies are to be believed.
From healing dead hands, hair clippings, ancient feng shui and disgusting drinks and potions ancient Irish superstitions and remedies were certainly strange.
Here’s our selection of the top ten:
1. A dead hand
The hand of a corpse was believed to be a cure for all diseases. Sick people would be brought to a house where a corpse was laid out so that the hand could be laid on them.
Similarly the corner of the sheet used to wrap a corpse was used to cure a headache or a swollen limb.
2. How to cure burns
The candles used at funerals were also thought to have curative powers. The butts of the candles would be saved to cure burns. Another Irish cure for burns is said to be raw potato.
3. Minty fresh immunity
A bunch of mint tied around your wrist was thought to cure stomach disorders as well as warding off infection and disease.
4. Ancient Irish Feng Shui
The Irish believed that a sick person’s bed should face north to south and never east to west.
5. Graveyard cure
Nettles gathered from a churchyard and boiled down were believed to cure water retention when boiled down into a drink.
6. Curative nature of the sea
The ancient Irish believed that if a person had a fever they should be placed on the shore when the tide is coming in. When the tide retreats it would carry the fever and the disease with it.
7. Iron ring
An iron ring worn on the fourth finger would ward off rheumatism.
8. Fertility remedy
It was thought that the seed of dock leaves (rumex) tied to the left hand of a woman would prevent her from being barren.
9. Pure blood
They believed that boiled down carrots would purify the blood.
10. No more fitting
Our ancestors believed that the clippings of the hair and nails of a child tied in linen and placed under the ill person’s bed would cure convulsions.
Source: www.the-irish-path.com
5 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.pilib04 | Sep 24, 2012, 02:18 PM EDT
Searlit, when that happens simply rub together a few pieces of wild impatiens and the sting/rash will subside.
canadianirish | Sep 22, 2012, 03:54 PM EDT
@Searlit - peppermint tea should be taken with caution especially if one suffers from acid reflux. It also bothered my stomach something awful as did the fennel seed tea.
Searlit | Sep 21, 2012, 03:42 PM EDT
*make that dried nettle tea, since the fresh nettle will sting you with a rash!
Searlit | Sep 21, 2012, 11:09 AM EDT
Oh, you're so right ellenfromcork. Especially, since peppermint tea will settle your stomach (so won't fennel seed tea)and nettle tea fortifies the skin and helps relieve allergy symptoms. Sláinte!
ellenfromcork | Sep 21, 2012, 10:54 AM EDT
Ah, everyone knows a cup of tea cures everything!