A mixture of herbs taken in the form of a tea was thought to be useful in the treatment of catarrh. The herbs involved were coltsfoot, mullein, thyme and yarrow.
Another cure involved heating a pint of milk with mace, nutmeg, cinnamon and sugar until it was on the point of boiling. Two glasses of white wine or sherry were then added and the mixture heated and stirred until it curdled. It was then strained and given to the patient.
A snuff made from a mixture of roasted coffee, menthol and sugar ground together to make a powder was another suggested old remedy.
It was often thought that the bowels were involved in a whole range of illness, and aperients were recommended in catarrh.
Cinnamon, ginger, cloves, chamomile, rosemary, sage, thyme, rose, lavender, borage and balm were used in the treatment of catarrh, as were pepper, tea, vinegar, witch hazel and olive oil. Onions, leeks and garlic were thought to be effective catarrh remedies, as were watercress, turnip juice, elder, plantain, yarrow, marigold, myrrh and nettle. Eucalyptus was a common remedy.
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