HORSERADISH

This root is a potent stimulant for the body, and country wisdom indicates it may be used internally to clear the nasal passages, reduce fluid in the system, act as a digestive aid, and cleanse the system of infection.You can grow the root and, frankly, the taste is far superior to the old roots found in most markets. Horseradish sauce can be purchased in the refrigerated section of any market.

To dry the fresh roots, wash, scrub, and hand dry them, and cut the long root into strips. Dry them in a low temperature oven. Store them in labeled jars. These roots can be added to salad dressings and soups, or used as side dressings for meat or in medicinal preparations. Here ate some of our many generation old recipes.

Sinus Remedy

juice of 1 fresh, peeled pulped horseradish root juice of 2 3 lemons

Combine the two juices together. Place the liquid in a labeled jar, and store it in the refrigerator (lemon juice is susceptible to mold). Use half a teaspoon at a time between meals. Use it for several months until the mucus in the sinus area is cleared up.

A word on this remedy: It is sharp and will undoubtedly bring tears to your eyes, but this is considered an evidence of its effectiveness.

Tissue Swelling (Edema) (For persistent water retention, see a physician.)

4 tablespoons freshly grated horseradish root

2 cups apple cider vinegar

4 tablespoons glycerine a preservative screw top bottle

Add the freshly grated root to the cider. Place the cider in a warm place for half a day. Occasionally open the jar or loosen the screw top, and shake. The second part of the day,move the preparation to a cool place. Keep on shaking the jari every once in a while. After about twelve hours, strain out the horseradish. Add the glycerine. Bottle, label, and in a cool place.

Internal use:

Drink one tablespoon several times a day. External use: Heat the liquid, and apply it on cotton or a washcloth to the swollen tissue areas.

The horseradish apple cider garlic drink for internal infection:

Horseradish Toothbrush

Did you ever wonder how people washed their teeth before machine made toothbrushes were devised? They made them from resilient twigs, such as dogwood, or from various roots, such as horseradish, marshmallow, alfalfa, and licorice.

This next recipe has a twin advantage. It produces homemade toothbrushes as well as a very pungent and effective antiseptic mouthwash. While the cloves and the tincture of myrrh are optional, they are exceptional tooth and mouth aids. You can also add a pinch of goldenseal powder, too, if there is a need to control sores in the mouth.

Toothbrush and/or Mouthwash

1 or more roots of horseradish. Cut into 6 inch strips.

1 medium bark of cinnamon

1 pint inexpensive brandy

12 to a handful of cloves optional: place in brandy

1 teaspoon tincture of myrrh optional: place in brandy.

(If you are using the cloves and tincture of myrrh, place them in the brandy and put them aside.) Unstrip or unravel one end of each horseradish strip. Simmer the strips in water with cinnamon bark. When the root seems tender (this may take fifteen or more minutes), strain off the water and reserve the cinnamon. Add the slightly brittle horseradish to the brandy. Soak the horseradish for three hours or more.

Mouthwash: Strain off the brandy. Reserve the horseradish for drying. Add the cinnamon and cloves to the brandy, and soak them for a few more days. This mouthwash is very strong and will have to be diluted.

Toothbrushes: Place the horseradish strips on a screen with circulating air, or in a warm oven to dry. To use, dip them in warm water and rub the gums and the teeth.

Note: In the past, these roots were dried and then soaked in one of the gum resins to harden, and dried again before using.

Old Rheumatism Remedy Some of the older doctors in our family instructed their patients to swallow tiny unbruised pieces of horseradish root without chewing, and to follow this regime for a month, For chronic rheumatism, they seem to have achieved some good results with this procedure.

Acne Cure Make up a tincture in a pint of ninety proof alcohol (or use vinegar) with several ounces of horseradish. Add,a pinch of grated nutmeg and a peel of bitter orange. Or you may purchase compound spirit of horseradish at the drugstore. Apply some tincture (or spirit) to each pimple with a cotton tipped stick.