If you were raised in a Lebanese household, you’ll relate to the memory of your mother coming up with absurd remedies right from the kitchen whenever you got sick. Let’s see if any of these ring a bell.
P.S some of them are legit!
Here are a few reader submissions:
1. Radwan Al Mokdad
‘Tehbeele: inhaling the vapor of boiling water with Quina leaves for a running nose and coughs.personal rating: 9/10 super effective but smells terrible.’
2. Moustapha Hejazi
‘Placing a piece of Lebanese bread on my head to “absorb” the swelling’
3. AbuKareem Jarouche
‘Shut up or I’ll give you something to cry about’
4. Roula Assio
‘You forgot el arak !! Stomach ache, tooth ache… bread with arak…’
5.Maya OfSirens
‘Tea with cognac for a stomach ache, and Laban to dip you burnt finger in!’
6.Josette Hajjar
‘Putting arak on stomach to relieve nausea or stomach pain’
7. Joulia Mai Bou Karroum
‘Toothpaste for burns and Kebish Kronfol for dental pain’
Those were the reader submissions, now onto our original list:
1. Boiling everything and anything
Cups of cumin, cinnamon, thyme, mint, anise seeds, and every other herb on earth are presented to treat everything from bronchitis to period cramps.
2. Olive oil and honey
These two are national favorites. Olive oil doesn’t just belong on tabboule, labne, and hummus, and honey is not just a sweetener. It doesn’t matter what the question is, the answer is always olive oil – except when it’s honey. A pimple that won’t go away? A scar? A burn? Just rub a bit of olive oil or honey over it and you’re good to go.
3. A Cotton ball soaked in tea
Puffy eye? Let’s dip this cotton ball in scorching hot tea and put it over your eye. Thanks, mom.
4. Maward and mazaher (rose water and orange blossom water)
Where do we start? They treat stomach aches, make for a great skin toner, and can sometimes be applied to pink eye.
5. 7 UP
Who needs an IV bag to replenish electrolytes after throwing up when you can have a diluted cup of 7 UP? Sounds legit.
6. Pomegranate molasses (rebb rimmen)
You have never experienced true pain until you had pomegranate molasses put on your mouth sores.
7. A bite into a Lemon
If you were ever nauseated, you were immediately presented with half a lemon to bite into.
8. Meramiyye (Sage)
Stomach out of whack? Fear not, the meramiyye pot would already be on the stovetop before you even finish that sentence. Hint: can also be used to ward bad energy away from a home.
9. Boiled potatoes, rice, and yogurt
Every time you had an upset stomach or were food poisoned, you were immediately put on 3-day diet of boiled potatoes, rice, and yogurt – NO SEASONINGS ALLOWED!
