Pantry Medicine-First Shelf

Dr. Davit Rosdomyantz published two sections on common medicine in the Կռունկ (Crane) journal of 1861. Within the first section he spent a great deal of time stressing his view that medicine can be found in household materials all around us. That even when we don’t have access to pharmacists and traditional medicines, help is no further than the kitchen pantry.

I placed his ingredients onto two shelves. The first shelf carries Sugar, Vinegar, Oil and Flaxseed, the second carries Oats, Flour, Mustard, Chamomile and Elderberry. What follows is a translation of his words and I take no credit for his knowledge, though I have added applicable recommendations.

Sugar:
Sugar is not very potent and therefore runs little risk of stomach pain and intestinal discomfort. It can be used dissolved into water as a cooling agent to break a fever or to diminish general inflammation. Sugar water can also be drank when dealing with intense anger, riled passions and feelings of fear-underlying the relationship between anger and heat. This mixture doesn’t only cool the body but also works to dislodge irritant bile and helps expel it. Sugar can also be mixed with warming foods to diminish their irritating nature. For instance, coffee or tea. Drinking a little sugar water when you you’re dealing with anger, pain, stomach irritation and hard to digest foods can be a short and sweet cure. Note that it may have a laxative effect as it can help clean out the stomach and intestines but overuse can lead to blackened and rotten teeth.

Vinegar: 
Vinegar can be a helpful remedy for many afflictions. If someone has fainted, bring it near their nose or rub it into their temples, face, hands and feet. If battling a bad fever or diarrhea, it is helpful to sprinkle the bed and ground with vinegar or to hang vinegar soaked hand towels to help clean the air. Do not place it over the fire or upon coal because it would be ill advised to inhale. In instances of fever and hemorrhaging, a small mixture of water and vinegar sweetened with honey or sugar will help as a cooling drink. Vinegar was also used as an antidote to overdoses — poisoning caused by sedatives such as opium, belladonna, and hemlock — mixed into a solution with water and applying it to the head and under the heart. Try drinking a sweetened vinegar-water drink next time you run a fever.

Oil:
Oil, fat, and cream were used interchangeably in Rosdomyantz’ text. You can use fresh butter, cream or oil in the place of any salve to help soften painful areas and skin. In cases when it is necessary to diminish internal pain, nerve tension, spasms and muscle contractions massage the area for a long time with fresh fat or oil, it will yield the same benefits as the most priceless salve. Grapeseed and sunflower oil can be great on-hand options if dealing with muscle tension and pain. Warm gently and massage onto affected areas.

Flaxseed and Flaxseed Flour:
The benefits and uses of flaxseed cannot be overstated. When it comes to tender areas and abscesses that are swollen, or hardened, a poultice of flaxseed can help relieve pain and diminish inflammation. You can prepare a poultice of flaxseed in the following way: cook flaxseed or ground flaxseed with elderberry flowers and milk (or water) until it is reduced to a thick paste that can be wrapped in a cloth and placed on top of painful areas. Flaxseed can also be prepared as tea that is also very helpful. The recipe is as follows: 1 tablespoon of flaxseed, 4 tea cups of boiling water (tea cup = 6 oz), allow for it to cool and strain it. A bit of lemon juice can be mixed into this. This drink can be especially helpful for whooping cough, bloody cough and short sightedness. Even more so for kidney pain and inability to urinate. Prepare a flaxseed poultice following the instructions and apply to painful joints and sprains. Keep flaxseed tea in mind the next time you have a lingering cough.

Bonus: Burn Ointment

The following ointment is great for burns. Olive or Flaxseed Oil, egg yolk and egg white. Combine these in equal parts, and apply onto a cloth that is then wrapped onto burnt areas. Change 6-8 times a day.