GRANNIES PANACEA
My grandma had her own antidotes for any aches and pains
From bellyache to dock leaves to wrap around a sprain,
There was no N.H.S.in my day but we had our ailments too
She had loads of remedies and these are just a few.
There was Zambuk and Wintergreen and the dreaded castor oil
And a Kaolin poultice slapped on a troublesome boil,
Liquid paraffin to keep your bowels in very fine fettle
Plus: for bronchitis and pneumonia a permanent steam kettle.
Feverfew for headaches and a vinegar headband too,
Friars balsam and pure lemon for coughs, colds and flu.
Indian Brandee for colic and for the female regular pains,
And Nurse Christian ointment for the dreaded chilblains.
Bread poultices were used to bring carbuncles to a head
And a magnet was supposed to help cramp when put into your bed,
A 24 carat wedding ring was rubbed over a painful stye
Not forgetting the cold tea to bathe a badly swollen eye.
A small warm onion placed inside a very painful ear,
Oil of cloves on a raging tooth that had brought many a tear.
People have said that these old cures have helped get rid of pain
Maybe it was psychological and they helped to numb the brain,
But many of the folk who have had these aids are still alive today
And what magic formula the remedies held I really could not say.
Copyright © - Maisie Walker 2003 - All rights reserved
