Folk Medicine in Ireland

As we celebrate our National holiday, we take a glance at some former remedies and cures, some of which were practised in rural parts of Ireland until the 1950's.

 Located at 615.88 LOG

Patrick Logan is the acknowledged authority in this subject and the library holds copies of his titles: Making The Cure (1972) and Irish Folk Medicine (2009).

Example of Folk Remedy - Patrick Logan:

"One such case which I studied nearly twenty-five years ago is of some interest. The patient, a lady, had her oedema treated by the official medical remedies of the seventeenth century. This consisted of reducing her intake of fluids and giving her what official medicine of the seventeenth century called cholagogues, as well as emetics and sweating. The purgatives given were croton oil, large doses of salts, jalap and scamony. The emetic given was mustard and, to add to her discomfort, she was sweated with blankets and hot water bottles during a hot summer."