The Victorians used to turn to natural elements when they were stricken with an illness which proved to be effective and take the pain or illness away most of the times. This article will go through some of the most popular forms of Victorian age medication and some of the ingredients you would be most likely to find if you were to peep into Victorian medicine cabinets.
Victorian medicines for Opium poisoning
Usually a liquid, but an alcoholic extract can be consequently dried as well. Some of the things that the concoction would consist of would be: Culpepper’s Complete Herbal, Saffron alike extracted a dram and an half, Castorium one dram, ten drops of the oil from nutmegs and more.
After all of the ingredients were gathered, the mixture must be evaporated in a bath so that the mass would be left behind.
Due to this illness being quite serious but fairly common, the things that needed to be done were emptying the stomach and keeping up the circulation. Therefore one dosage of Potassium Permanganate helped to do the trick and serves as the perfect antidote for the problem.
Victorian medicine to strengthen
Another well-known medicine found in Victorian medicine cabinets. The main natural herbal ingredient used to revive strength and energy were drachmas of Camomile flowers. This was the dominant ingredient however other things were added such as orange peel, root rhubarb, carbonated soda and then the concoction would be strained into a bottle, getting rid of all the non-fluid parts.
Have you noticed, however, the main bulk of Victorian medicines are from very pure, rooted ingredients that have come straight from the ground? Therefore whilst they needed the aid of a doctor in most cases, they were able to retrieve some of, if not most of the ingredients for themselves in their gardens or farms.
Victorian era medicines for rheumatism
You would get one spoon of gum-guacum and mix this together with two teaspoonfuls of milk. After this, a total of six drops of laudanum were added and you were all set to go! This Victorian medicine was taken three times per day.
For coughs, this one was maybe the most simple to make and to find the ingredients. You needed vinegar and Treacle of which you would put two spoons into the mix. Then you would add 60 drops of Laudanum. After this, you would need to take one teaspoon of the medicine night and morning.