When I was in 4-H many years ago, I took a Veterinary Science project. As part of the project, I had to write about the way various equine ailments were treated. I had a great source–or so I thought. It was my great-grandmother’s old veterinary book, published in the late 1800s. I found out that I could cure almost anything by using turpentine, castor oil, pine tar, or kerosene. Sometimes these materials were used externally as wound dressings and at other times mixed with other ingredients for oral treatment. After finishing my paper and giving it to my mom to read, she gently informed me that veterinary science had moved beyond turpentine, pine tar and kerosene. I found a new source in the library and wrote a new paper, but I’ve always been fascinated by the use of turpentine as a medicine.
Turpentine is made from pine trees and has a long history of use as a solvent, paint thinner and water repellent, as well as a medicine. We now know that turpentine should NOT be ingested, as it causes kidney and lung damage, but before the side effects were understood, it was used routinely in medical treatments. Romans used it to treat depression. Doctors used it both internally and externally throughout history to treat wounds, infections and to kill internal parasites such as tape worms. It was a widely used component in the snake oil treatments sold in medicine shows in the late 1800s, and during Prohibition, turpentine was used to make fake gin. Also, many folk remedies contained turpentine and when ingested, it will make urine smell like violets.
Turpentine does have some medicinal benefits. It is an antiseptic and it burns enough to make one feel like the germs are indeed being killed. It will help stop heavy bleeding. It is also still an ingredient in Vick’s Vapor-Rub, although it’s listed as an inactive ingredient. (Can you recall the feel of PJs stuck to your chest as Mom used Vicks to fight cold symptoms? I sure can.)
Do any of you have home remedies that you still use? I don’t use turpentine, but I’m totally onboard with ginger tea and mint tea for nausea, as well as baking soda paste on bee stings.
