Madame Young's Guide to Health / Her experience and practice for nearly forty years; a true family herbal, wherein is displayed the true properties and medical virtues of all the roots, herbs, &c., indigenous to the United States, and their combination in all the diseases the human body is heir to; also, an explanation of the human body, its liability to injuries through ignorance of its structure. Dedicated exclusively to her sex.

by Amelia Young

Syrup for Consumption.—Take spikenard, elecampane, comfrey and yellow willow root, put into a stone pot and cover; let it stand and steep twelve hours, then strain it and add loaf sugar and one pint wine to a quart. Take half gill three times a day.

Flax Seed Syrup.—Take one pint flax seed and a small handful spikenard; boil in about three parts water until it becomes quite thick, then strain it through a thin strainer; add half pint molasses or strained honey, put it on to simmer, and be particular to take off the scum. The flax seed and spikenard should be washed clean. Take two tablespoonsful on going to bed, one in the morning, fasting, and one a little before dinner.

Marks on Children.—Take one gill of rum, one gill port wine, one spoonful tar, one spoonful black pepper and a piece of mutton tallow; take a parsnip and pound so as to get the strength; simmer the whole together in fresh butter till the liquid part is evaporated; then strain the ointment and anoint the sore.

Cough Syrup.—Take tamarac twigs, inside bark of white pine, oak of Jerusalem, colts-foot, maiden hair and wild turnip; half gill three times a day.

Stomach Plaster.—Four pounds beeswax, two pounds frankincense (gum therics), two and a half pounds burgundy pitch, two pounds rosin, one pound Venice turpentine, two and half ounces winter’s bark, two and half ounces oil spearmint, four ounces alspice, two and half ounces camphor, two and half ounces cloves, six ounces red sanders.

Weak Stomach.—Take half pound green bark balsam fir, one pound white pine bark, half pound bark sumach roots, two ounces garden sallindine, and a little milk weed roots; boil in four quarts of water down to two quarts, add one pint of good rum, and sweeten with honey or sugar; take half a gill three times a day, an hour before eating.

Pain in the Breast.—Take white pine, one ounce grated touch-wood, and put in one quart French brandy; quarter gill three times a day.

Make a tea of golden maiden hair for a common drink.

Strengthening Syrup.—Take white pine, pitch pine and balm of gilead buds; make a syrup. Dose—half gill three times a day; live upon a light, nourishing diet.

For Consumptive Females.—Take polly pod roots, boil them in water to suitable strength, then sweeten, and add one pint of sweet wine to one quart. Take half gill three times a day.