Homemade Herbal Liniment

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Susan Wyman with grandson J.J.

COUNTRY LORE

A decade ago, due to budget constraints as well as a natural penchant for wanting to be self-sufficient and thrifty, I started searching for some inexpensive, easily made herbal therapies. The primary recipe whose effectiveness has stood the test of time is my herbal liniment. We use it most often for sore muscles and any kind of cut or skin eruption. It also works for athlete's foot. Apply frequently, saturating the affected area thoroughly. (If dripped on clothing, it's yellow color usually washes out.) The liniment can be kept in the refrigerator to be used as a cold poultice for withdrawing heat from an inflamed area. Just saturate a clean, soft cloth and apply frequently. For a hot poultice, soak a cloth with liniment, put it in a bowl, and microwave for one minute. Apply often, to relax spasms from sore muscles and joints.

I have heard that this liniment is helpful for arthritis. Also, one friend told me that it's the only thing that brings her son relief from fire ant bites, to which he is highly allergic. Evidently, it works better than his prescription medication.

My most dramatic personal experiment was with sore throats and mouth sores. Let me say at the outset, this stuff tastes vile! For small mouth sores or toothaches, you can dab it on with a cotton swab or rub it on, but for sore throats, what really works best is the tough-minded approach. Pour a tablespoon or so in your mouth and swish it around the affected area and spit it out. I could not believe how fast it works.

A word of caution: do not swallow the liniment! It contains rubbing alcohol and is not to be ingested. And don't get it in your eyes.