12 Forgotten Home Apothecary Remedies Worth Bringing Back

Your great-grandmother didn’t run to CVS every time someone got a headache or an upset stomach. She walked to her kitchen, grabbed a few ingredients, and whipped up something that actually worked. Wild concept, right?

I’ve been experimenting with old-school remedies for about five years now, and honestly, some of these forgotten treatments work better than their modern counterparts. No, I’m not saying you should ditch your doctor—I’m saying maybe we threw out some seriously good remedies along with the outdated medical practices. Let’s fix that.

Onion Poultice for Chest Congestion

What It Actually Does

Remember when grandma slapped a warm onion on your chest when you had a cold? Turns out she wasn’t just being eccentric. Onions contain quercetin and sulfur compounds that help break up mucus and reduce inflammation.

I tried this last winter when I had bronchitis, and I kid you not, I could breathe easier within 20 minutes. The smell is… well, it’s onions on your chest, so manage your expectations. But it genuinely works for loosening stubborn chest congestion.

How to Make It

Chop a large onion and sauté it lightly—you want it warm, not crispy. Wrap the warm onions in a clean cloth, test the temperature (don’t burn yourself, obviously), and place it on your chest for 15-20 minutes.

You’ll smell like French onion soup for a while, but breathing trumps smelling pretty. Cover with a towel to keep the heat in and prepare for some serious mucus drainage.

Violet Leaf Tea for Headaches

The Forgotten Flower Power

Sweet violets aren’t just pretty spring flowers—they’re serious headache medicine. Victorian herbalists used violet leaf tea for migraines and tension headaches, and then somehow we all forgot about it.

I started drinking this for my chronic tension headaches about two years ago. It works differently than aspirin—instead of just numbing pain, it seems to address the inflammation and tension causing it. Plus, it tastes floral and lovely, not like punishment.

Brewing Your Cup

Steep fresh or dried violet leaves (about 1-2 teaspoons) in hot water for 10 minutes. Drink it at the first sign of a headache—don’t wait until you’re already suffering.

The key is consistency. I drink it 2-3 times when I feel a headache coming on. FYI, the flowers work too, but leaves pack more medicinal punch 🙂

Mullein Flower Oil for Ear Infections

Nature’s Ear Drops

Mullein flower oil was the go-to remedy for ear infections before antibiotics took over. Those fuzzy yellow flowers have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that soothe earaches incredibly well.

Before seeing a doctor, I applied mullein oil to my child’s swimmer’s ear last summer. By day two, she felt better after taking two drops three times a day. Even so, we completed the course of treatment, but really? The majority of the heavy lifting, I believe, was done by the oil.

Making the Infusion

Fill a small jar with fresh mullein flowers and cover completely with olive oil. Let it sit in a sunny window for 2-3 weeks, shaking daily. Strain through cheesecloth and store in a dark bottle.

Warm the oil slightly before using—cold oil in your ear feels awful. A few drops in the affected ear, and lie on your side for 10 minutes. Simple, effective, and way less stressful than urgent care.

Plantain Salve for Everything Skin-Related

The Weed That Heals

Not the broad-leaf weed you’ve been attempting to eradicate from your yard, the banana. Plantains are incredibly effective at healing minor burns, rashes, insect bites, cuts, and scrapes. It has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties.

I keep a jar of plantain salve in my purse, bathroom, and kitchen. Burned yourself cooking? Plantain. Mosquito bite driving you insane? Plantain. Paper cut being dramatic? You guessed it—plantain.

Creating Your Own Salve

Harvest fresh plantain leaves, chop them, and infuse in olive oil for 4-6 weeks. Strain, then warm the oil and add beeswax (roughly 1 ounce wax per cup of oil) until it reaches salve consistency.

Pour into small tins while warm. The texture should be spreadable but solid—think lip balm consistency. This stuff is magical for insect bites especially. I’ve converted at least a dozen friends into plantain believers.

Elderberry Syrup for Immune Support

The Comeback Kid

Okay, elderberry has made somewhat of a comeback, but most people are buying expensive store-bought versions when making it yourself costs pennies. Our ancestors made gallons of this stuff every fall.

Every September, I prepare a large quantity, which we consume during the cold and flu season. Since I started this routine, my family has experienced a significant decrease in illness. Elderberries actually prevent the spread of viruses, according to the research.

Homemade Recipe That Beats Store-Bought

Simmer 1 cup dried elderberries in 3 cups water for 30-40 minutes until reduced by half. Strain, add 1 cup raw honey while still warm, and store in the fridge.

During the illness season, take 1 tablespoon daily; if you’re already ill, take it every few hours. Kids don’t object to it because it tastes good enough. While simmering, add ginger and cinnamon for added flavor and immune-boosting benefits.

Dandelion Root Coffee for Liver Support

Your Yard’s Secret Weapon

Roasted dandelion root tastes surprisingly similar to coffee and supports liver function and digestion. People used to drink this daily before coffee became cheap and accessible.

I switch between regular coffee and “coffee” made from dandelions to give my liver a rest. Does it have a coffee-like flavor? No, and it is dishonest for anyone to claim it does. Once you change your expectations, though, it’s rich, nutty, and genuinely pleasurable.

Roasting Your Own

Dig up dandelion roots, scrub them clean, and chop into small pieces. Roast at 300°F for about 2 hours until dark brown. Grind and brew like regular coffee—1 tablespoon per cup of water.

The flavor improves when you mix it with actual coffee at first—50/50 blend helps with the transition. IMO, it’s an acquired taste, but the liver-cleansing benefits make it worth the effort.

Thyme Steam for Respiratory Issues

The Antibacterial Powerhouse

Thymol, a potent antimicrobial compound, is found in thyme. Bronchitis, sinus infections, and persistent coughs can all be relieved by steaming your face over water infused with thyme.

I do this whenever I feel a respiratory infection brewing. The steam opens everything up, and the thymol actually kills bacteria. It’s like a spa treatment that’s also medicine.

Proper Steaming Technique

Boil water, pour into a bowl with a handful of fresh or dried thyme. Drape a towel over your head and the bowl, creating a tent. Breathe deeply for 10-15 minutes.

Don’t get too close—steam burns are real and not fun. I learned this the hard way. Keep your face at least 12 inches from the water and take breaks if it gets too intense.

Ginger Compress for Muscle Pain

External Application Magic

Everyone knows ginger tea for nausea, but a ginger compress for sore muscles and arthritis pain? That’s forgotten knowledge right there. The warming, anti-inflammatory properties work externally just as well as internally.

I use these on my lower back after yard work or long hikes. The heat penetrates deep, and the ginger compounds reduce inflammation in a way heating pads alone can’t match.

Making an Effective Compress

Peel and grate fresh ginger (approximately 1/4 cup) and simmers it in 4 cups of water during 10 minutes. Wet a clean piece of cloth with the hot ginger water, squeeze out this excess and apply to the painful parts.

Cover with a dry towel to retain heat. Reapply every 10 minutes for about 30-40 minutes total. Your skin will turn pink—that’s increased circulation doing its job. Just don’t apply to broken skin or you’ll regret it immediately.

Calendula Cream for Wound Healing

The Skin Repair Expert

Calendula (pot marigold) speeds up wound healing, reduces scarring, and fights infection. Hospitals in Europe still use calendula products because the science supports what herbalists have known forever.

I keep calendula cream on hand for everything from diaper rash to kitchen burns to post-surgical scar care. It’s gentle enough for babies but powerful enough for serious skin repair.

Infusing Your Own Cream

Steep calendula flowers, dry then blend with oil during 4-6 weeks. Whisk in the beeswax and a small amount of vitamin E oil and strain into a basic cream by heating the infused oil and mixing.

The bright orange color comes from the carotenoids that aid healing. Use it liberally—it absorbs quickly and doesn’t stain. I’ve seen it reduce healing time on cuts by at least half compared to leaving them untreated.

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse for Scalp Health

Old-School Hair Care

Before fancy shampoos existed, people used vinegar rinses to keep their hair clean and scalps healthy. The acetic acid balances pH, removes buildup, and treats dandruff naturally.

I began doing it once a week approximately one year ago and now I have never seen my hair better. It is sleeker, I do not have itchy scalp, and I do not use as much product. When your hair comes dry the vinegar smell goes away–swear.

The Right Ratio

Mix 2-4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar in 1 cup water. After shampooing, pour over hair and scalp, massage in, and rinse after a few minutes.

Start with less vinegar and work up—too much can dry your hair out. I add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to boost scalp circulation and make it smell better during application.

Sage Tea for Sore Throats

The Gargling Game-Changer

Sage has potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Gargling with strong sage tea treats sore throats faster than most over-the-counter remedies I’ve tried.

The tannins in sage create a protective coating that soothes irritation while the antibacterial compounds fight infection. I gargle with this at the first throat tickle, and it often stops a cold before it really starts.

Brewing Strong Medicine

Steep 2-3 teaspoons dried sage in 1 cup boiling water for 15 minutes—you want this concentrated. Let it cool to warm (not hot) and gargle for 30 seconds, then spit.

Do this every few hours when you feel sore in your throat. You may swallow some too, sage tea can also manage the digestive upsets and the hot flashes, thus multitasking medicine. Do not take when pregnant however, sage can stimulate births.

Baking Soda Paste for Insect Stings

The Kitchen Cure

Baking soda neutralizes the acidic venom in bee and wasp stings almost instantly. Every grandmother kept a box of baking soda for this exact purpose, and somehow we all forgot about it.

I was stung by a wasp last summer and I prepared this paste in less than two min. The analgesic effect was instantaneous–there was none to overestimate. The current anti-itch creams did not even measure up to the effectiveness of this.

Quick Application

Mix baking soda with just enough water to form a thick paste. Apply directly to the sting and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Reapply as needed.

The alkaline paste counteracts the acidic venom and draws out inflammation. Keep it wet—if it dries out, spray with water to reactivate it. This works for fire ant bites too, which is saying something.

Bringing the Old Ways Forward

These cures had withstood the ages since they were effective. Oh, there is a place of modern medicine, I am not telling you to use chamomile tea to mend a broken bone. However, in the case of minor illnesses, these forgotten remedies tend to be as effective or more so as what is available at the pharmacy.

Start with one or two that resonate with you. Make a batch, try it out, see what happens. I began with elderberry syrup and plantain salve, and five years later, I’ve replaced probably 60% of my medicine cabinet with homemade remedies.

The best part? You know exactly what’s in them, they cost almost nothing to make, and you’re connecting with centuries of practical wisdom. Your ancestors weren’t dumb—they just worked with what they had. And what they had was pretty damn effective :/

Now go dig up some dandelions and stop paying $8 for a tiny bottle of elderberry syrup. You’ve got this.