Mumps, pleurisy, and croup are common ailments that surprisingly people spend a lot of “health dollars” at their doctors office seeking a cure. In this post we will reveal some little known facts about natural herbal cures for mumps, pleurisy, and croup. Please note in extreme cases of infection or ailments do not hesitate to contact a doctor or other medical professionals as soon as possible.

Mumps.-This disease chiefly affects children, and is sometimes contagious. It is generally known by an external movable swelling on both sides of the neck, sometimes only on one side, which may be considered a tumour or swelling of the parotid glands.

Treatment.-Keep the head and face warm, avoid taking cold, and apply fomentations of equal parts of Marsh Mallow and Camomile.

Putrid Sore Throat  or Cynanche Maligna.  Known by the inflammations being of a dark or purple colour, and by sloughing or mortification; it sometimes is a termination of the cynanche tonsillaris, and generally accompanies a low scarlatina. It usually makes its attack with cold shiverings, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting, succeeded by heat restlessness, thirst, debility, oppression at the chest, flushed face, red eyes, hurried respiration, and hoarseness.

Treatment-If the patient can swallow, give an infusion of two tablespoonfuls of Capsicum and a teaspoonful of Salt in ½ pint of boiling water, adding thereto the same quantity of warm vinegar; then strain. Dose: Two table-spoonfuls every half-hour. If a gargle be necessary first inhale the vapour in the vapour bath; then take infusion of Capsicum, 4 ounces; Tincture of Myrrh, ½ ounce; Vinegar, 1 ounce. Mix these for a gargle, still continuing the Capsicum mixture. If fever attends, and the skin be dry, give some diaphoretic, as (26), but be careful not to purge too much. Should diarrhoea arise in the progress, administer the astringent decoction (5). The food may be tapioca, arrowroot, rice, sago, and panado.

Cures For Croup.-Croup is an inflammation of the mucous membrane covering the windpipe. From sudden cold acting on this part, a coagulated lymph forms, which causes that peculiar wheezing, sonorous inspiration, with great difficulty of breathing. Children are most liable to this disease.

Symptoms.-Drowsiness, fretfulness, eyes very heavy, pulse rapid, face flushed, and a crowing cough.

Treatment.-First charge the body with a strong tea of Sage, Balm, and Pennyroyal, and the infusion of Capsicum; then in one or two hours give 2 teaspoonfuls of Lobelia vinegar mixture , till vomiting is produced freely. Keep up perspiration and the digestive organs in active exercise, and allow the patient to have fresh air in the room. The vapour bath will be serviceable in producing perspiration.

Pleurisy or pleuritis.-Causes: Exposure to cold, and all causes which usually precede other inflammations and fever, attacking chiefly those of a vigorous and plethoric habit; it frequently attacks the strongest constitutions.

Symptoms.-Inflammation of the membrane, lining or covering of the lungs, coming on with chilliness and shivering, succeeded by heat and thirst; restlessness; a violent acute pain on one side, near the ribs, extending towards the shoulder-blades, back, and breast, and worse when the affected side is lain on; difficult breathing; redness of the cheeks; nausea with hard short cough, the matter spit up being yellowish or bloody.

Treatment.-Remove the inflammation by giving ½ teaspoonful of Capsicum in ½ teacupful of sweetened water, with hot bricks and vinegar cloths to the feet; then apply hot flannels to the pains, and reduce the pulse, which is a good sign. Then administer the purgative . If the foregoing does not succeed, give an emetic, with Capsicum, Yarrow, and Raspberry Leaves. Be careful in the vomiting but keep up the fomentation; promote expectoration as soon as Nature dictates, and give an expectorant. When the disease is removed assist the tone and stomach. By this treatment the worst cases are cured in eight days.