Home Remedies Galore

Whenever we were sick growing up, Nonna always seemed to have some sort of trick to help us out. Whether it be a tooth ache or a head ache, she always had some trick up her sleeve. Nonna would never pop a Tylenol in your mouth and tell you to "Vai a dormire" (go to sleep).

Whenever there was a sore throat, trouble sleeping, or just trying to wind down after a long day she would suggest Chamomile tea. When she said the name, however, it sounded like she was saying "gagumila". This got me very confused when I was older when people would talk about this kind of tea since I was so used to how Nonna would say it. I'm sure I still slip and say it according to how Nonna would say it.

Oil, plants, and alcohol were the next tools used by Nonna.  For ear aches she would suggest heating up a spoonful of olive oil and pouring the hot liquid into the affected ear. It was the most uncomfortable feeling, but worked! Got a sun burn? No problem! Just go into Nonna's porch where she has an Aloe Vera plant year round. This was very useful in the summers. The next useful tool was putting some sort of alcohol on a tooth ache. I think that the only way this helped was by intoxicating the child to make them forget about  the pain.

Nonna was very resourceful on what she could use to make us feel better.  I guess when you grow up on a hill in Italy, you have to be resourceful in the remedies you use. There was no "dottore" (doctor) you could see easily.