Ava Maria, the healer......

Ava Maria Gledhill (1877-1969), my great grandmother who was a village nurse, natural therapist, midwife, and laying-out person. She was also my inspiration, the person who made me aware of alternative therapies and of my heritage, both of family and as a healer.

I have in my possession a book of Ava's from the early 19th century and pertaining to be the work of Aristotle (clearly it is not authored by him as things occurring in 1512 are mentioned). A possible author may be William Salmon (1644-1713), a noted Professor of Physick. 

The book is a handy pocket sized volume and shows the tell-tale signs of much use. 

Aside from chapters on the work of a midwife including detailed descriptions of birth deformities, and a question and answer section on various problems, there is a section on useful recipes like the one below:

A most excellent remedy for a cold. 


Take a large tea-cup full of linseed, two pennyworth of stick liquorice, and a quarter of a pound of sun raisins. Put these into two quarts of soft-water, and let it simmer over a slow fire till it is reduced to one; then add to it a quarter of a pound of brown sugar candy pounded, a table-spoonfull of old rum, and a table spoonfull of the best white wine vinegar, or lemon juice. [The rum and vinegar are best to be added only to a quantity you are going immediately to take, for if it put into the whole, it will grow flat]. Drink half a pint at going to bed, and take a little when the cough is troublesome. This receipt generally cures the worst of colds in two to three days, and if taken in time be said to be almost an infallible remedy. It is a most balsamic cordial for the lungs, without the opening qualities which endanger fresh colds in going out. It has been known to cure colds that have been almost settled into consumptions in less than three weeks.

Above is Ava with her young family before the First World War. My grandmother Mary is the little girl standing beside her.