Thread: Russian "Folk medicines"

I remember coming home one day, and seeing my son sitting in a chair, with garlic in his nose, and his feet soaking in a hot bath ( he had a cold). My wife was taking "care" of him, it was an experience I am sure he will never forget. Tonight I have had an application of Finalgon on my sore back ( a ceiling (heavy plaster) fell on me at work today). My shoulders and back are burning HOT! Tell me - oh great Russian Healers - what are your remedies for aliments?

Well there were a lot, and a funny part many of them worked!

Diarea = fill a shot-glass with vodka, add salt, as much it can be dissolved there, drink it at once (you can it a small piece of something after that to shut down horrible test). The problem is gone for 24 hrs approx. It does not cure, but holds you together, it worked with me when I had urgent work with people, when I worked as an interpritor, several times, never failed.

Why are you remedying him against diarrhoea???

Wow... sounds like that cures the runs by totally dehydrating you

ooops, I did not pay full attantion when I read.

The best remedy for aliments, just to hire an assasing.

(disclimer: I am kidding)

I heard you can stop diarrhea by putting ginger in your bellybutton....

you better put ginger where the problem is coming from.

just kidding. Do not try it.

you better put ginger where the problem is coming from.

just kidding. Do not try it.

I think you are mistaken. Unless you have a HORRIBLE (and i mean HORRIBLE) problem, fecal matter does not pour from your belly button.

Unless of course you mean that diarrhea is a stomach problem, then it makes sense.

No, I mean, if you put ginger where your fecal material comes from, diarrhoea will be the least of your problems.

Ok. Im a bit confused. Here is our paraphrased conversation so far:

saibot: Putting ginger in your bellybutton stops diarrhea.

Pioner: Putting ginger where the problem is is going to make it worse.

saibot: Poop doesn't come from your bellybutton, unless you are a freak.

Pioner: Putting ginger where fecal matter comes out (your @$$) is bad.

I agree with your statement. Im just trying to make sure we understand eachother....

I just love when you guys talk medicine

Last winter I had a cold (prostuda) and my husband wanted to put a mustard plaster on my chest. If I had known I can run that fast I would have tried out for the olympics......

By the way, garlic is really helping with the cure of stuffed nose. But it is not necessary to put it in.
I do the following for my kids: chop some fresh garlic, put it in a small cloth bag (1"x1") and hang in their room for the night. Couple nights and the cold is gone.
I was surprised myself, when tried that out of respect for my mom-in-law.
Plus, it smells like in Italian kitchen

My husband likes to eat whole fresh garlic to prevent prostuda. A lot of cultures believe that garlic has medicinal properties but Americans don't buy into this. So the "garlic cure" is hotly debated at our house.

One of my Russian friends said that when she was very young, if they got a bump, or something similar (I hope not an open wound!) Her grandma would clean it with urine. Ewwww!
-Fantom

Originally Posted by JB

My husband likes to eat whole fresh garlic to prevent prostuda. A lot of cultures believe that garlic has medicinal properties but Americans don't buy into this. So the "garlic cure" is hotly debated at our house.

Indeed, to the point that they sell garlic pills in the US! (they don't smell cos they're coated but the effect is said to be the same)

Originally Posted by saibot

I agree with your statement. Im just trying to make sure we understand eachother....

yes, I think you got it now.

And this phrase:

Pioner: Putting ginger where the problem is is going to make it worse.

actually was: Where the problem (fecal material) is coming from.

But fecal material from belly button, a very interesting idea.

Good gracious, what are you talking about?!

Originally Posted by JB

My husband likes to eat whole fresh garlic to prevent prostuda. A lot of cultures believe that garlic has medicinal properties but Americans don't buy into this. So the "garlic cure" is hotly debated at our house.

Garlic may help prevent prostuda and many other deasises, it does not cure it, for sure, because viruses stay inside of the cell, and they really do not care what's going outside.

But garlic helps to keep vimrires away, why not to give it a try?

Originally Posted by fantom605

One of my Russian friends said that when she was very young, if they got a bump, or something similar (I hope not an open wound!) Her grandma would clean it with urine. Ewwww!
-Fantom

Funny enough it may work, but not because it cures. In old Russia, specially during WW2 urine could be the only available strerile liquid around. So you wash the mud and bacterias out of wound and it heals much faster. Anyhow, it is not a case right now, but good to know, in case if something happens to you, let say in montains.