Ye olde cold cures that sound disgusting... but might work better than Lemsip
Ye olde cold cures that sound disgusting... but might work better than Lemsip
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So, you've got an annoying sniffle, sore throat or pesky cough and want to shake it off as quickly as possible. You are probably going to reach for lozenges, Lemsip or Vicks. But remedies used by past kings of England could be just as soothing, experts claim.
![[An 18th century cure for a sore throat written in a notebook by Scottish aristocrat Lady Augusta Murray (pictured) suggests gargling a combination of vinegar and port]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/17/93199827-14197343-An_18th_century_cure_for_a_sore_throat_written_in_a_notebook_by_-a-1_1734369128371.jpg)
Although some ye olde cold cures of centuries past suggest boiling an owls head or smearing goat excrement to your forehead to relieve a headache, there are some slightly less extreme remedies that might actually work. Dr Kathryn Maude, a medieval specialist at the National Archives at Kew unearthed two 15th century prescriptions in the papers of King Henry VI.
![[Dr Kathryn Maude (pictured) unearthed two 15th century prescriptions in the papers of King Henry VI. One was for soothing a head cold, the other for clearing congestion]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/00/93256065-14197343-image-a-10_1734481367168.jpg)
One was for soothing a head cold, the other for clearing congestion. 'Imagine a medieval Vicks VapoRub,' she said. The recipes, for a herbal head poultice and a stale ale, mustard seed and nutmeg inhalation, were discovered among miscellaneous items from the Chancery, the King's writing office.
![[Dr Philippa Kaye tried the King's recipe clearing congestion herself and claimed the combination of steam and mustard cleared her sinuses, but also made her eyes stream and gave her a headache]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/16/93158683-14197343-Dr_Philippa_Kaye_tried_the_King_s_recipe_clearing_congestion_her-m-22_1734365519406.jpg)
Dr Maude explained 'stale ale' was not as odd as it sounds, for it meant aged, strong, top-quality ale, rather than ale that had gone off. While some ye olde cold cures of centuries past suggest boiling an owls head or smearing goat excrement to your forehead to relieve a headache — there are some that might actually work (File image of a sick man).
![[Dr Phillipa said that although the combination of the steam with the mustard definitely felt like it might clear your sinuses, it also made her eyes stream and seemed to give her a headache]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/00/93158681-14197343-Dr_Phillipa_said_that_although_the_combination_of_the_steam_with-a-9_1734480607574.jpg)
An 18th century cure for a sore throat written in a notebook by Scottish aristocrat Lady Augusta Murray (pictured) suggests gargling a combination of vinegar and port. The poultice for a feverish head asks for a mix of camomile, sage wood, betony and wild purslane, which are all native to the UK and would have been commonly found.
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