Amish Home Remedies From Our Farmhouse | CWH Ministry
Growing up on a fourth-generation Amish farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, I never
once saw a medicine cabinet full of store-bought pills. What I saw instead was my Mom —
quiet, unhurried, and utterly confident — reaching for what the land and the kitchen
already provided. These remedies aren't things she read in a book. They were passed down
from her father, and his grandparents before him. I'm sharing them with you because they've
blessed our family, and I believe they can bless yours too.
Remedy No. 1
Mattie's Recipe for Flus, Colds & Immune Building
This is my Mom's go-to at the very first sign of a flu coming on. It's warming,
soothing — and honestly, it tastes so good you'll want it even when you're feeling fine.
You'll Need
1 whole lemon — sliced, rind and all — in a quart jar or mug
1 tablespoon raw honey
2 drops Thieves Essential Oil (we use Young Living, or any immune-boosting oil)
2 drops Oregano Oil
How to Make It
Place the sliced lemon (with rind) into your jar or mug.
Add the raw honey, Thieves oil, and oregano oil.
Fill to the top with boiling water.
Let steep for at least 30 minutes.
Sip slowly while you work — or wrap up in a blanket and rest.
Farmhouse Tip: The longer it steeps, the stronger and more effective it becomes.
Don't rush it — good things take time on the farm.
Remedy No. 2
The Busy Farmer's Flu Fighter
This one is mine. When I feel something coming and I don't have time to slow down,
this is what I reach for. Fast, fierce, and it works.
You'll Need
Grape juice, prune juice, or water with Vitamin D powder
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
How to Make It
Pour your juice or water into a glass.
Add the cayenne pepper and stir well.
Drink it down as quickly as possible.
Farmhouse Tip: The longer the cayenne sits in the liquid, the stronger
the taste gets — so stir and drink fast. A little fiery, but your body will thank you.
Remedy No. 3
Grandma's Burnt Toast for Belly Aches & Feeling Unwell
This old-fashioned remedy has been in our family for generations. According to our
grandparents, the charcoal in burnt toast acts like a natural cleanser — pulling toxins
and settling the stomach. And honestly? It tastes better than it sounds.
You'll Need
1–2 slices of bread
Raw butter
A pinch of salt
Raw honey (optional, but recommended)
How to Make It
Toast the bread until it is deeply dark — even slightly or fully black.
Spread generously with raw butter.
Add a pinch of salt, and honey if you like.
Eat slowly and let it settle.
Farmhouse Tip: I eat burnt toast even when I'm feeling perfectly healthy —
just as a regular cleanser. Our grandparents were onto something.
Remedy No. 4
The Onion Draw — Pull Toxins Out Overnight
This one surprises people the first time they hear it — but once they try it, they
come back to it again and again. The next morning, the onion will often be mushy,
sometimes even darkened — and there's a good chance your body will feel the difference.
You'll Need
1 whole onion — chemical-free preferred
Plastic wrap (saran wrap)
A thick pair of socks or stockings
How to Do It
Slice the onion into rounds.
Warm the slices to body temperature or slightly above.
Place the warm onion slices on the soles of your feet (best if someone helps keep them in place).
Wrap your feet with plastic wrap to hold everything snug.
Pull on a thick pair of socks or stockings over the top.
Tiptoe to bed and sleep. In the morning, check the onion — and notice how your body feels.
Farmhouse Tip: Use chemical-free onions whenever possible —
you want the onion doing its work, not whatever was sprayed on it.
Remedy No. 5
The Bedside Onion — Keep the Air Clean & Breathing Open
Simpler, but just as useful. A sliced onion left near the bed works quietly through
the night — keeping the air clean and your breathing open. My Mom does this regularly
during cold and flu season.
How to Do It
Slice an onion and place it on a small plate.
Set it on your nightstand or beside the bed before you sleep.
Replace the onion every one to two days.
Farmhouse Tip: No wrapping, no fuss — just a plate and a fresh onion.
Simple things often work the best.
From Our Farmhouse to Yours
These remedies aren't complicated. They don't come with a long list of ingredients
or a big price tag. They come from something simpler — generations of people who
paid attention, who cared for each other, and who trusted what the land provided.
My Mom still uses every one of these. I hope they serve your family
as well as they've served ours.
CWH Ministry · Lapp Family Farm · Lancaster County, PA
