12 local sickness remedies we remember growing up in Northern Ireland
How many were you forced to try? 🤣
It’s tradition to go running to your mummy when you’re not feeling well. But did they always have the right answer? Perhaps not!
Whether it's a headache, hay fever or even a bad back, some of our family traditions include special home remedies, passed down from generation to generation. Some are more questionable than others…
Check out some of the most nostalgic local remedies, some are still used today 👇
Mug of Tea
The healing power of a cup of Punjana or Namosa is INCREDIBLE. You could stub your toe…cup of tea. Hangover headache…cup of tea. Sprained ankle…a cup of tea with two sugars and you'll be right as rain.
Hot Water Bottle
Tired and tested – a hot water bottle works wonders for stomach or back pain. There's something so comforting about this cosy and comforting treatment, it's like a warm hug.
Sudocrem
Did you know Sudocrem was first invented in Dublin in 1931! This velvety thick cream helps soothe skin ailments, everything from nappy rash to acne and sunburn.
Slap a layer of this creamy stuff on a wound and you'll be fighting fit in no time.
Dry Burnt Toast
Back in the day, nurses up and down the country used to serve dry burnt toast to those in hospital with stomach pain.
Apparently, the charcoal in the burnt toast absorbs toxins in the stomach, helping get rid of that upset feeling.
A Swig of Brandy
Curing everything from toothaches to nervous stomachs, "a spoonful of Brandy and you'll be grand."
A Hot Port/Toddy
Often suggested for a cold or flu, this combination of a shot (or two) or whiskey/port, in hot water with lemon or cloves can help banish any runny noses. It would certainly clear your chest, that's for sure!
Flat 7UP or Coke
Open a can of this sweet nectar and let the bubbles fizz away. This is a quick trick to settle the stomach and replenish fluids/glucose in the body.
A Hot Bath
After a hard day's work or a stint in the rain, a "good soak" can do wonders to help you relax and unwind. A glass of wine and face mask could also help, but that's maybe going too far.
Dock Leaves
You know the way urine is supposed to dull the pain of a jellyfish sting, well dock leaves were the ultimate cure for nettle stings. It's handy that in most country dwellings, dock leaves tend to grow nearby.
When you gently rub one of the leaves on the irritated skin, the sap produced helps cool and remove the stinging sensation.
A Spoonful of Honey
Often added to tea, the heat and thick consistency act as an elixir for sore throats and nasty coughs.
Many people also swear that a teaspoon of local honey everyday helps alleviate hay fever symptoms, desensitising you to pollen. Although there's no scientific evidence to this bold statement, it kind of makes sense.
A Raw Potato
Not sure how hygienic this one is, but you know how much we love our spuds, but this certainly is an old wives' tale.
Rumour has it burns could be healed by cutting a raw potato in half and applied to the scolded area.
A Pint of Guinness
This is definitely a myth, but traditionally small quantities of Guinness were given to pregnant woman, due to the high quantity of iron.
Guinness doesn't have a particularly high iron content, but it does contain "antioxidant compounds" that slow down the deposit of cholesterol on artery walls. It's believed that this can help reduce blood clots and ultimately the risk of heart attacks.
Read more:
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Tried & tested hangover cures the people of Northern Ireland swear by