Folk Remedies Then and Now Trivia Quiz

Answer: Buttercups

In the days of yore, many herbal cures were usually the province of the Druids or elderly women in villages who had either learned their trade by trial and error, or had their knowledge handed down to them from their ancestors. Such wisdom was usually a heavily guarded secret and often passed on to the next generation only at the end of the healer's lifetime.

This particular cure was vastly more pleasant than remedies of the day for various other health problems.

Answer: A raisin

Ague is what we know today as a fever. It was, and is, usually accompanied by chills, a rise in body temperature, shivering and sometimes feelings of nausea and faintness. Ague or fever is usually a reaction by the body in response to a perceived threat within the body and an attempt to neutralise some internal viral or bacterial infection. Believe it or not, another cure from back then, this time for feverish colds, was a drink of mashed up spiders.

This gave rise to the nursery rhyme, "Little Miss Muffet."

Answer: A dead man's tooth

Many folk remedies were beneficial because of the medicinal qualities contained in the various herbs and flowers and other plants of the time - but there is no known benefit to be had from touching a dead man's tooth. The belief that it could do so however, which is extremely odd, is no more peculiar than another belief from those times that the touch of a king could cure skin diseases. One would hope, however, that the dead man's tooth was not attached to the rest of him. Two other toothache cures from that time as well were never shaving on a Sunday, and/or rubbing the tooth from a dead horse over one's jaw.

Answer: Blood from a bull or hare

A woman's face was her fortune back then - and perhaps it is even today - so women have tried to fade freckles, otherwise known as nature's kisses, since time began. This cure was just one of many. Another cure of the time to remove nature's little dots was dabbing them with water distilled from crushed walnuts. Human nature never changes. Today, it is recommended by those in the home grown beauty products business that dabbing the face with lemon juice could be a successful way to fade freckles.

Answer: Packing the ear with wool from a black sheep

Many Irish cures involved the use of herbs or flowers, or secret chants, or animal body parts. These remedies sprang partly from the belief that illness and bad luck was a result of displeasing the fairy folk, and that the curative power given to doctors and other healers were gifts from forgiving fairies.

Many of these cures were still in use right up until the 19th century and had evolved over time as a combination of common sense and observation - "wid a liddle bit of assistance from de liddle people" thrown in for good measure.

Answer: Goose droppings

If that one had worked, geese really would lay golden eggs. Sadly for those gentlemen with dignified domes, it doesn't. Oh, but feel free to try it for yourself by all means. If it's any consolation, however, one belief that has done the rounds for very many years today has it that bald men are much more virile than those who are still fully thatched.

As for the droppings of the bird being a cure for this problem, one wonders which goose fell for that one in the first place.

Answer: Eel skins

Though its use is documented as a cure for cramps, it's very puzzing how and why this particular remedy came about. However, as long as the belief in its effectiveness had an "eeling" effect, that's the main thing, I suppose.

Answer: A drink of ground up monkey gallbladder

Monkey parts were commonly used in folk remedies in China. The gall bladder from a monkey was also used as a cure for eye disease and stomach aches - and monkey blood was used to increase strength, impart energy and believed to have anti-aging properties. Even today in Asia, monkey brains are used in various remedies, and for impotency cures, and are also even considered a gourmet food. I'm quite certain that, after their first dose of monkey gallbladder, the behaviour of tantrum throwing Chinese children would have improved beyond all measure. Mine would!

Answer: Frogs

What is it with people and frogs? If France isn't filled with a lot of little frog amputees that have been sacrified in the kitchen, then Peru is dishing up the fluids from little frogs that have given their all to assist in the bedroom. White bean broth, honey, aloe vera and skinned frogs are mixed up all together in a blender in this cure. Apparently the little victims contain an ingredient called Maca, a substance known for its erotic powers.

In fact, it makes you hop straight into bed. This delightful substance is also supposed to cure asthma, but what with its erotic powers and all, you'd never stop puffing I'm afraid.

Answer: Dog dung

Well, we've all heard of people with barking coughs, haven't we? The dog dung had to be weathered and white with age before being mixed with the sweetener and then taken. Fresh dog dung is not pleasing to the palate, it seems. There doesn't appear to be a preference for the output of any particular breed of canine for this medicine, but I would recommend a small dog - a very small dog in fact. Something like a pygmy Chihuahua with growth problems would suit me just fine.