Early settlers in the Missouri Ozarks had to make do with what they had when illness or accidents visited. They had few doctors nearby so they depended on the traditions and superstitions handed down to them from their forefathers to treat the ailments of their family members. If you know a good old fashioned home remedy please submit it to us and we will display it on our Home Remedy list.

Leg Cramps: Place the toe of one shoe inside the other at bedtime.

Croup: Put one tablespoon of salt into one half pint of cider vinegar.

Swallow a half spoonful every ten seconds. Relief should come within one minute.

Rheumatism: Carry a buckeye in your pocket.

Headache: Sleep with a pair of scissors under your pillow. The scissors will "cut" the headache.

Crick in the neck: Go to the hog pen and find a place where the hog has rubbed its neck on the fence.
                               Rub your neck on the same spot. The crick should be gone within a few minutes.

Cough: Bake onions in the oven until they are tender. Pour the juice into a glass and drink when cool.

Burns: Rub with corn starch or vanilla.

Influenza: Mix and drink equal parts of honey, lemon juice and whiskey.

Warts: Take your best friend's dirty dish rag and rub it on the warts. Bury the rag.  
             When the dish rag rots the warts will be gone.