‘What was that stuff Mum used to put in the water when we had a cold….. then she’d put a towel over our heads.’
‘Friars Balsam’, my sister said. It was hot water in a bowl, drop of that in, head over bowl, towel over head – sit there, breath deep and don’t move until I tell you! Mother’s love😊
‘Thanks, wonder if they still sell it. It might help ease my sniffy snorty coughy post nasal drip symptoms. Vapor rub’s no help at all’
Success ~ $5 a small bottle at a discount chemist
- “Used as an inhalation, with hot water, for relief from nasal congestion or as an expectorant in colds, coughs, laryngitis, bronchitis and asthma. Also used as an antiseptic and protectant for minor cuts and abrasions, chapped skin and lips, cracked nipples, small skin fissures and bedsores. Can relieve itching from chilblains, eczema and urticaria (hives).”
I’m not getting undressed and kneeling on the floor to try it though😃
Still Waters 
Ahhhh yes that stuff for stuffed noses….remember it well.
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I didn’t think it was made anymore – will be able to relive childhood memories now
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this is all new to me. I will try to remember the name just in case I get cracked nipples. brahahaha can’t stop giggling at that one… glad it helped. stuffy noses are horrid
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I can assure you I won’t be trying that just for the experience Sandra. Actually I thought it was only for inhalation
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Good luck. My mother used generous dollops of Vicks Vapor Rub in a bowl of hot water. Which made my eyes and my nose run but did (temporarily) relieve the congestion. I knew of Friar’s Balsam but don’t think we ever used it.
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I don’t remember Vicks being in the house at all. Friars Balsam and Camphorated Oil were the go to at our place
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My mother used Vicks Vapor in a special steamer thing that pumped hot steamy air through the room. I hated it . It was like sleeping in a sauna and any posters or pictures taped to the walls inevitably fell off from tbe steam.
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That’s cruel…..not only couldn’t you breath but you had to watch the pop stars fall from grace…..
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While the balsam used to sit with the million other medications in our childhood drug cupboard, I can’t remember it ever being used. For us it was Vicks in bowl of steaming water. I am sure the Raleigh man who visited had his own miracle product on board too.
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Oh my goodness I’d not heard of Raleighs for years – blue and gold tin that we used to used for pins when they were empty.
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Like I said to EC… Friars Balsam and Camphorated Oil were the go to’s in our house.
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Mom used to put it in a vaporizer that ran and blew medicated steam all night. Good or not, it smelled nice.
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You were lucky – no mechanical devices in our house
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I used it when breast feeding. The smell! Sounds as if you and I have the same bug. Vick’s isn’t cutting it here either.
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Genuine question – were your babies put off the breast by the smell
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Apparently aborigines used to create a kind of eucalyptus steamer by digging a pit, laying hot rocks in the bottom filling it with Euc leaves, lying in it, covering with more leaves and some earth to get it steaming nicely. I bet if that is true it that cured all sorts of things.
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A fragrant hot rock siesta would be welcome any day – especially on cold wet days like today.
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I vaguely recall a doctor advocating its use for one of my Boys.Hope it makes you feel better.
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