Non-Plant Remedies
A
Acupuncture - Mr Willoughby cures Jamie's seasickness with acupuncture (V, chapter 41)
Alum - Claire uses alum and sulfur to coat the dressing of a man whose wound won't stop bleeding (DIA, chapter 36) Alum is hydrated potassium aluminium sulphate, a natural mineral found in ground and surface water. Alum powder is antiseptic and astringent
Ammoniac spirits - refer to Spirits of Ammonia
Ant eggs - Claire finds a jar of Ant Eggs in Davie Beaton's surgery at Castle Leoch (Outlander, chapter 7)
Arsenic - refer to White arsenic
Alum - Claire uses alum and sulfur to coat the dressing of a man whose wound won't stop bleeding (DIA, chapter 36) Alum is hydrated potassium aluminium sulphate, a natural mineral found in ground and surface water. Alum powder is antiseptic and astringent
Ammoniac spirits - refer to Spirits of Ammonia
Ant eggs - Claire finds a jar of Ant Eggs in Davie Beaton's surgery at Castle Leoch (Outlander, chapter 7)
Arsenic - refer to White arsenic
B
Bran mixed with cock's blood - Mary MacNab wants to give this to Rabbie for his epilepsy but is dissuaded by Claire (DIA, chapter 31)
Bromide - Geillie uses this to finish Arthur off quickly after he discovers her pregnancy (Cross Stitch only, chapter 25)
Burnt feathers - the smell of burnt feathers is supposed to prevent fainting. Louise de la Tour calls for burnt feathers to be brought after Claire learns that Jamie is in the Bastille (DIA, chapter 27) Mary MacNab believes that waving burnt feathers under Rabbie's nose will bring him out of an epileptic fit (DIA, chapter 31)
Bromide - Geillie uses this to finish Arthur off quickly after he discovers her pregnancy (Cross Stitch only, chapter 25)
Burnt feathers - the smell of burnt feathers is supposed to prevent fainting. Louise de la Tour calls for burnt feathers to be brought after Claire learns that Jamie is in the Bastille (DIA, chapter 27) Mary MacNab believes that waving burnt feathers under Rabbie's nose will bring him out of an epileptic fit (DIA, chapter 31)
C
Charm stones - When Claire is seeking to reassure Mary MacNab that Rabbie's epileptic fits will not harm him, she realises that words are not enough and she needs to provide Mary with something more concrete. Claire gives Mary one of the charm stones that Master Raymond has sent her and tells her to sew it into Rabbie's pocket to protect him. The stone is milky white, possibly chalcedony, and has the figure of a writhing man carved into one side (DIA, chapter 31)
Cold water - Mary MacNab believes that dashing cold water over Rabbie will bring him out of an epileptic fit (DIA, chapter 31)
Cyanide - Claire tells Jamie this is what Geillis used to kill Arthur Duncan (Outlander, chapter 26) Colum asks Claire to give him the same poison that Geillis used to kill Arthur so that he can end his own life at the time of his own choosing, and Claire complies (DIA, chapter 37)
Cobwebs - used to dress wounds (Outlander, chapter 7)
Crocodile's blood - Claire finds a jar of crocodile's blood in Master Raymond's shop. It is actually a mixture of mustard and thyme in walnut oil, the rotted pulp of a gourd and pig's blood (DIA, chapter 8)
Cold water - Mary MacNab believes that dashing cold water over Rabbie will bring him out of an epileptic fit (DIA, chapter 31)
Cyanide - Claire tells Jamie this is what Geillis used to kill Arthur Duncan (Outlander, chapter 26) Colum asks Claire to give him the same poison that Geillis used to kill Arthur so that he can end his own life at the time of his own choosing, and Claire complies (DIA, chapter 37)
Cobwebs - used to dress wounds (Outlander, chapter 7)
Crocodile's blood - Claire finds a jar of crocodile's blood in Master Raymond's shop. It is actually a mixture of mustard and thyme in walnut oil, the rotted pulp of a gourd and pig's blood (DIA, chapter 8)
D
Dried eels - Mr Willoughby tells Claire that dried eels are very good at cleansing the blood, aiding liver function and keeping the skin in good condition (V, chapter 40)
G
Goose grease - Claire mixes this with camphor to make an ointment to rub on Jamie's chest when he has the flu (DIA, chapter 38)
H
Hanged-men's grease - a salve made from the rendered fat from hanged criminals and supposedly good for rheumatism and joint-ill. Monsieur Forez gives a jar of this to Claire, and not knowing what it is, she uses it on Jamie (DIA, chapter 22)
Hartshorn - when Claire steps into Haugh's apothecary shop for the first time after returning through the stones she can smell hartshorn (V, chapter 29) Hartshorn comes from the horn of a male red deer - 'hart' is an old word for stag, hence 'hart's horn'. The horns were shaved down and various substances made from the shavings.
Healthy balls - Mr Willoughby has two Baoding balls made from streaked jade (V, chapter 26) Baoding balls are rotated in the hand to improve manual dexterity and strength and are also thought to help recovery from injuries
Hobnailed liver - Claire jokingly suggests this to Jamie as a cure for his hangover headache (DIA, chapter 6) Hobnailed liver is medical slang for cirrhosis of the liver which is of course most commonly caused by alcoholism
Holy water - Father MacMurtry prays and sprinkles holy water on Rabbie MacNab to try and cure him of epilepsy by driving the devils out (DIA, chapter 31)
Horse Dung - used by Davie Beaton as part of a headache remedy (Outlander, chapter 7) Jamie says you can make a poultice from fresh horse dung to help mend a horse's cracked hoof (DIA, chapter 36)
Hot water - heat is used to fight infection in wounds. Claire soaks Jamie's wounded hand in freshly boiled water as hot as he can stand while at the Abbey of Ste. Anne de Beaupre (Outlander, chapter 39)
Human Skull - Claire finds a jar of powdered human skull in Davie Beaton's surgery at Castle Leoch (Outlander, chapter 7)
Hartshorn - when Claire steps into Haugh's apothecary shop for the first time after returning through the stones she can smell hartshorn (V, chapter 29) Hartshorn comes from the horn of a male red deer - 'hart' is an old word for stag, hence 'hart's horn'. The horns were shaved down and various substances made from the shavings.
Healthy balls - Mr Willoughby has two Baoding balls made from streaked jade (V, chapter 26) Baoding balls are rotated in the hand to improve manual dexterity and strength and are also thought to help recovery from injuries
Hobnailed liver - Claire jokingly suggests this to Jamie as a cure for his hangover headache (DIA, chapter 6) Hobnailed liver is medical slang for cirrhosis of the liver which is of course most commonly caused by alcoholism
Holy water - Father MacMurtry prays and sprinkles holy water on Rabbie MacNab to try and cure him of epilepsy by driving the devils out (DIA, chapter 31)
Horse Dung - used by Davie Beaton as part of a headache remedy (Outlander, chapter 7) Jamie says you can make a poultice from fresh horse dung to help mend a horse's cracked hoof (DIA, chapter 36)
Hot water - heat is used to fight infection in wounds. Claire soaks Jamie's wounded hand in freshly boiled water as hot as he can stand while at the Abbey of Ste. Anne de Beaupre (Outlander, chapter 39)
Human Skull - Claire finds a jar of powdered human skull in Davie Beaton's surgery at Castle Leoch (Outlander, chapter 7)
I
Iron nails - soaked in ale with cedarwood shavings to treat carbuncles (Outlander, chapter 30)
L
Leeches - leeches are a type of worm and are used regularly throughout the books for the medical relief of internal bleeding. Claire first encounters these when Mrs FitzGibbons uses them on Jamie's eye after Angus beats him (Outlander, chapter 6)
M
Mole's foot - Jamie carries a dried mole's foot in his sporran to guard against rheumatism (Outlander, chapter 31)
Mouse ear - Davie Beaton used ground mouse ear in a poultice (Outlander, chapter 7)
Mouse ear - Davie Beaton used ground mouse ear in a poultice (Outlander, chapter 7)
O
Oil of Earthworms - Claire finds jars of oil of earthworms in Davie Beaton's surgery at Castle Leoch (Outlander, chapter 7)
P
Pigeon's Blood - Claire finds a jar of Pigeon's Blood in Davie Beaton's surgery at Castle Leoch (Outlander, chapter 7)
Powder of Egyptiane Mummie - Claire finds a jar of dust labelled with this name in Davie Beaton's surgery at Castle Leoch (Outlander, chapter 7)
Purified lard - Claire wants some purified lard when she prepares her medical kit for the voyage to the West Indies in search of Ian (V, chapter 40)
Purles Ovis - balls of sheep dung. Kept in a jar in Davie Beaton's surgery (Outlander, chapter 7)
Powder of Egyptiane Mummie - Claire finds a jar of dust labelled with this name in Davie Beaton's surgery at Castle Leoch (Outlander, chapter 7)
Purified lard - Claire wants some purified lard when she prepares her medical kit for the voyage to the West Indies in search of Ian (V, chapter 40)
Purles Ovis - balls of sheep dung. Kept in a jar in Davie Beaton's surgery (Outlander, chapter 7)
R
Raw meat - to stop swelling and bruising (Outlander, chapter 6)
S
Saltpeter - Geillie uses this to finish Arthur off quickly after he discovers her pregnancy (Outlander only, chapter 25)
Slaters - Also known as woodlice. Davie Beaton used ground up slaters in medicines and poultices (Outlander, chapter 7)
Snails - Claire finds jars of dried snails in Davie Beaton's surgery at Castle Leoch (Outlander, chapter 7)
Snow - Claire packs snow around Jamie's body to try and bring his fever down at the Abbey of Ste. Anne de Beaupre (Outlander, chapter 39)
Spirits of ammonia - ammonia is a chemical compound used to arouse consciousness and the active ingredient of smelling salts. Smelling salts are used to bring people out of a faint and to restore mental alertness. When mixed with water they are known as spirits of ammonia. Claire makes sure she has her spirits of ammonia handy after learning that Jamie has challenged Randall to a duel (DIA, chapter 24)
Spitting - Mr Willoughby spits on Duncan Innes's arm stump to scare away the ghost of his missing arm so that ti won't bother Duncan with phantom pains (V, chapter 43)
Spring water drunk from the skull of a suicide - Mary MacNab thinks this is an effective remedy for epilepsy (DIA, chapter 31)
Sterile water - used to cut alcohol to make a disinfectant for wounds (DIA, chapter 36)
Sulfur - Claire uses alum and sulfur to coat the dressing of a man whose wound won't stop bleeding (DIA, chapter 36) Sulfur is an abundant naturally occurring element. It was used to treat skin diseases
Slaters - Also known as woodlice. Davie Beaton used ground up slaters in medicines and poultices (Outlander, chapter 7)
Snails - Claire finds jars of dried snails in Davie Beaton's surgery at Castle Leoch (Outlander, chapter 7)
Snow - Claire packs snow around Jamie's body to try and bring his fever down at the Abbey of Ste. Anne de Beaupre (Outlander, chapter 39)
Spirits of ammonia - ammonia is a chemical compound used to arouse consciousness and the active ingredient of smelling salts. Smelling salts are used to bring people out of a faint and to restore mental alertness. When mixed with water they are known as spirits of ammonia. Claire makes sure she has her spirits of ammonia handy after learning that Jamie has challenged Randall to a duel (DIA, chapter 24)
Spitting - Mr Willoughby spits on Duncan Innes's arm stump to scare away the ghost of his missing arm so that ti won't bother Duncan with phantom pains (V, chapter 43)
Spring water drunk from the skull of a suicide - Mary MacNab thinks this is an effective remedy for epilepsy (DIA, chapter 31)
Sterile water - used to cut alcohol to make a disinfectant for wounds (DIA, chapter 36)
Sulfur - Claire uses alum and sulfur to coat the dressing of a man whose wound won't stop bleeding (DIA, chapter 36) Sulfur is an abundant naturally occurring element. It was used to treat skin diseases
T
Tallow - At the Battle of Prestonpans Claire calls for tallow and garlic for dressings. Claire uses tallow to coat the dry, cracked lips of Jamie's man Kincaid as he dies (DIA, chapter 36) Tallow is a rendered form of beef or mutton fat which can be kept for extended periods without refrigeration
Toads - Claire finds jars of dried toads in Davie Beaton's surgery at Castle Leoch (Outlander, chapter 7)
Toads - Claire finds jars of dried toads in Davie Beaton's surgery at Castle Leoch (Outlander, chapter 7)
V
Vinum Millepedatum - millipedes soaked in wine. Claire finds jars of this in Davie Beaton's surgery at Castle Leoch (Outlander, chapter 7)
W
White arsenic - Geillie uses this to slowly poison her husband Arthur (Outlander, chapter 25)
White arsenic - Geillie uses this to slowly poison her husband Arthur (Outlander, chapter 25)