Amish Home Remedies and Household Hints

I thought I'd share a few more homemade remedies and household hints from the Wickey sisters, two Amish women that live in southern Indiana.  I can't vouch for any of these, but some sound intriguing (disclaimer:  reader assumes all risk for any harm caused by these home-remedies, which are being shared for cultural insight only)

There are several here that I find intriguing.   The remedies for nervousness are interesting.  I can be a jittery person sometimes so I'm tempted to try that "celery tea"   I guess it isn't technically tea if it doesn't have tea in it, "hot herbal drinks" might be a more accurate description.

Oh, and the other tip below to take notice of:  I love broccoli, cabbage and brussels sprouts, but, phewee, they can stink when cooking.   So a slice of bread added can get rid of that?  Wow, we'll have to try that!  Okay, here are your Wicky sister tips!

HAND-CONDITIONER:  Twice a week massage hands with a little olive oil to which 1 /2 teaspoon of white sugar has been added.

HOMEMADE TEAS TO CALM NERVOUSNESS:

Celery Tea: 1 teaspoon celery seed in a cup of boiling water.  Drink as hot as you can, seeds and all.

Willow Bark Tea: Make a tea of willow bark.  Peel the outside bark off the outer smaller branches:  1 teaspoon to a pint of boiling water.  Boil slowly for 10 minutes. Drink 1 to 3 cups  a day till relieved.

Squawvine Tea:  soothing to the nerves.  1 heaping teaspoon crushed; add to a cup of boiling water.  Let stand 20 minutes.  Drink to 2 to 4 cups a day till nerves relax.

NURSING MOMS:  Equal parts of anise seed, caraway seed and fennel seed combined or can use separate or alternate.  Will increase milk flow.   Crush seeds or powder them.  Use 1 heaping teaspoon to a cup of boiling water.  Cover.  When cool drink 1 to 2 cups daily as long as you like.

CUTTING BOARD CLEANING:  To rid your cutting board of onions, garlic or fish smell, cut a lime in two and rub the smelly surface with the cut side of the lime, squeezing it as you rub.  Even a vegetable brush or sponge that has been used in the kitchen perks up and loses any odor when dipped in lime juice. It works like a charm, even on your hands and nails and keeps them quite soft.  Rinse with tap afterwards and that is all there is to it.

SMELLY COOKING:  Place a heel of bread on top of cabbage before putting the lid on the pot and cooking. There will be no odor.  The bread has no effect on the cabbage and should be removed after cooking.  Good for broccoli and brussels sprouts also.

SKILLET CARE:  A little salt sprinkled int he frying pan will keep fat or lard from splattering.  This also makes cleaning up the range easier.'

TEA KETTLE CARE:  To clean a tea kettle use ¼ cup vinegar and 3 teaspoons salt.  Boil for 15 minutes, saves a lot of scrubbing!