Pantry Medicine - Second 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.
The second shelf in the pantry carries Oats, Flour, Mustard, Pepper and dried herbs (first shelf is here). What follows is a translation of his words and I take no credit for his knowledge, though I have added applicable recommendations.
One addition to his credit…
He employed the term Հասարակ (hasarag) in the title of his work. Hasarag simply means ordinary or basic, but often it is used as an insult to debase something for being too rudimentary or ‘common’. Maybe the term back then did not have this connotation yet, and I am over emphasizing the symbolism, but I see it represent how folk medicine is always within reach.
Oats and grains:
A decoction of oats, rice, flour or barley was employed as a cooling agent for the following afflictions: vomiting, indigestion, stomach pain, urinary tract pain, diarrhea, neuritis and cough.
Ground any of the aforementioned in a mortar and pestle and add to a pot of boiling water (1 tbsp of flour to a cup of water), bring to a simmer and allow for liquid to thicken then strain. Once cooled, mix sugar into it. The afflicted should drink as much of this decoction as they can. This could also serve as an enema. Rice water is an accessible remedy when dealing with stomach pain or a digestive flare up that can soothe inflammation. You can also add it to your hair routine by rinsing it through post-shampoo to restore moisture.
Mustard:
Mustard seed is an essential ingredient in the medicinal kitchen and it helps battle inflammation, headaches, vertigo, fainting, toothaches and neuralgia. Ground seed can be prepared into a paste with water or vinegar, then wrapped in thin muslin or cheesecloth. This is to be placed on top of painful limbs — which should be covered with cream or butter before applying the mustard. Wild radish can be substituted for mustard whenever it is necessary to use a more rapid agent. Mustard rubs are a common homeopathic remedy, consider stocking up on mustard massage oil to save yourself a step and massage into painful joints or tender muscles.
Pepper:
Pepper is useful in invigorating and strengthening the stomach. However, ground pepper on its own is too warming. If one has 8-10 pepper balls in the mornings before they have ate anything, this greatly strengthens the stomach, initiates the appetite, debloats and aids digestion. The stomach loosens and it prevents bile from collecting in the stomach. Making a pepper tincture is a really easy way to capitalize on these benefits. Place 1/2 cup freshly ground pepper in a clean jar, cover it completetely with vegetable glycerin (food-grade) and let it sit in a dark place for 4-6 weeks with periodic shaking, then strain. Drink a few drops on an empty stomach diluted in cold water.
Dried Herbs:
Elderberry leaves and flowers can be made into a tea to treat coughs and your everyday cold. Chamomile, bitter orange and mint can be made into a tea for muscle tremors, stomach weakness, indigestion, and fainting. Marshmallow root tea or mouth rinse can be prepared for throat pain and cough.
All these herbs can also be used as a poultice and applied topically for nerve pain, swelling, skin abscesses, and muscle contractions. Prepare by adding 2 tbsp of herbs and a pinch of oats in a mortar to grind, then transfer to clear dish. Add hot water until you reach a paste like consistency, wrap in muslin or cheesecloth and apply 3x a day.
Stay common.
