Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
- Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Need Sweet Spirits of Nitre (the traditional folk medicine)
A. My mother always gave me nitre in a little water for a fever.
John Brown- Curwensville Pennsylvania. USA
February 21, 2024
Q. Sometimes, as a child I would have a constant feeling of having to urinate. My parents would give me Spirit of Nitre ... problem solved. Many years later, an adult friend complained of this feeling. We went to Pharmacy to see if a script was needed. That's how I found out it no longer existed. What would I take if it happened to me today,
Purple Tooth - Didion- Westville, Connecticut
April 12, 2024
Ed. note: Since 1989 this forum has enjoyed the camaraderie & warm aloha which real names & locations afford. If you're not into that spirit, those who do post with their real name may be less likely to engage with you.
Sweet Spirits of Nitre Memorabilia on eBay affil links
Q. Do you know where I can get Spirits of sweet nitre?
Wendy L [last name deleted by Editor]- Delano Pennsylvania
December 28, 2022
A. Hi Wendy,
You can't. It's banned by the FDA.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
⇩ Related postings, oldest first ⇩
Q. Can you please tell me where I can purchase the product Sweet Spirits of Nitre?
MONIQUE J [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- WASHINGTON, DC
2004
A. A pale yellow liquid, of a sweetish taste and a pleasant ethereal odor. It is obtained by the distillation of alcohol with nitric and sulfuric acids, and consists essentially of ethyl nitrite with a little acetic aldehyde. It is used as a diaphoretic, diuretic, antispasmodic, etc. Called also sweet spirit of niter
For those of us who don't know (I had to grab a reference myself).
Marc Banks- Elizabeth City, North Carolina
A. Sweet spirit of nitre, so one sees, taken off market!
What would cost 25 cents to cure simple blisters, now cost us $25.00 Now, we have all types of molecular compound derivatives, sporting and supporting these overpriced compounds. Guess what, filled with steroids!
Real Estate - Garden Grove, California
2005
A. I used spirit of niter 45 years ago. I was having trouble trying to urinate. I kept trying to go 6 or 8 times and I was hurting My father was living with us and he asked me what was going on I told him I could not pee. He asked me if we had any spirit of niter? So I looked in the medicine chest and found some. He told me to take 3/4 drops of it with some sugar in warm water. Well in a half of an hour I was having my back getting hot at the belt line I tried to pee several times and about 45 minutes after I took the niter I passes a kidney stone.WHEW {{If it works take it off of the market. and sell something for more money.}}[my wording]
Harold S [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Waterloo, New York
A. I have taken Sweet spirits of niter since I was a child, usually only when I have tried every other means to cure my problem with urination, and now I have been having problems and have been to my Dr and have been on medications that have not given me any relief, I know that this works for me and I usually only took it when I absolutely needed it. I would be ever so grateful if anyone could tell me where I can get this as most pharmacies don't even know what I am referring to, Can you please help me to locate this so that I can avoid being in misery with my urinary problems. I am 65 years old and I have used this since I was a child and never had any problems it has saved me much misery and many trips to the Doctor and as I said I have been on antibiotics and nothing has helped I just want to be able to give this old fashioned remedy a try to see if I will feel better. Please Reply back to me,Thank You
Rosanna V [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Rockledge, Florida
2006
on Amazon
Ed. note: Perhaps the same stuff, or maybe not at all. But I certainly wouldn't drink it :-(
(affil links)
A. I BOUGHT A SMALL BOTTLE ONLINE FROM AMAZON ⇨
AND I DID WHAT MY MOTHER IN THE 1940S-50S) DID FOR A BELLY ACHE. THE ONE I BOUGHT HAS NO MANUFACTURER'S NAME ON BOTTLE, NOR DOES IT HAVE ANYTHING ON BOTTLE EXCEPT 'SWEET SPIRITS OF NITRE'. I PUT FEW DROPS INTO GLASS, ALONG WITH A LITTLE SUGAR AND WATER, AND TOOK A SIP, IT TASTED LIKE IT MIGHT BE POISON.
AND I'D LOOK IT UP ON GOOGLE TO FIND OUT JUST WHAT IT'S FOR.
YOU CAN DO THE SAME TO READ ALL ABOUT IT.
- Fredericksburg, Arizona
September 8, 2021
opinion! Big pharma owns both parties, so the FDA banned sweet spiris of nitre and virtually every "traditional remedy" by ruling that centuries-old folk cures are "new drugs" (frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=1997_register&docid=97-6411.pdf ⇩):
"310.502 Certain drugs accorded new drug status through rulemaking procedures.
(a) The drugs listed in this paragraph (a) have been determined by rulemaking procedures to be new drugs within the meaning of section 201(p) of the act. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, an approved new drug application under section 505 of the act and part 314 of this chapter is required for marketing the following drugs:
...
(12) Sweet spirits of nitre drug products."
The revolving-door FDA serves the mega-corps so, rather than testing inexpensive traditional medicines like this one, bluestone, silver ointments, and others, the FDA has outlawed them all as "new" drugs until someone runs the FDA tests ... knowing of course that traditional medicines can't be patented, so no money can be made to compensate for the cost of the testing, so no one will ever sponsor the tests they've dictated ... thereby rendering all traditional cures illegal :-(
Please note that I am NOT claiming or implying that Spirits of Nitre is safe! I have absolutely no qualifications to even guess. Rather, what I am saying is that if the FDA actually cared about citizen health they would certainly test them or commission a university do so.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
[Ed. update: The above link is broken. Thankfully, the Internet Archive saved a copy here
These days information often appears on the internet, then disappears forever. If that is a concern to you please consider a donation to The Internet Archive.
P.S. - Postings asking where to get it should not be interpreted as people asking where to buy an illegal substance. Those posters will probably be shocked to learn that the sweet spirits of nitre their grandmother gave them 70 years ago is a "new drug" :-)
on AbeBooks
or eBay or
Amazon
(affil links)
Q. I've been trying to find a source for spirit of nitre and all I've found is people who've never heard of it. I finally have information on it.
It's also great for breaking up the congestion, colds, and fever: 1/2 teaspoon in a glass of water.
- Dallas, Texas
2006
I was given spirits of nitre when I was a child in the early nineteen forties for fevers. We were talking about it today and I decided to find out what was in it. It always took the fever away.
Beverly M [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Altamonte Springs, Florida
2006
A. I myself was given sweet spirits of niter as a child when we were sick and had a fever. I have also asked about it and got that (What?) look.
James B [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Rawson, Ohio
2007
Q. I have some "Spirits of Sweet Nitre" and find that it is extremely effective in the treatment of colic in horses. I have very little left and would like to purchase more. I am wondering if anyone knows where, and or how, I could do this?
Jean Vandenha- Enderby, BC, Canada
2007
A. Hello,
In case you have not found this stuff, in South Africa one of the old Dutch remedies they sell is called Witdulsies and it contains Ethyl Nitrate and Ethanol. Maybe it can help you. I don't know if you can get it from where you are though.
- Johannesburg, South Africa
Q. I to would like to find Sweet spirits of Niter... This was given to me as a child and it cured me of kidney infection.
I also took it 30 years ago for a a stiff neck . It worked
- Waynesboro, Virginia
My mother mixed water sugar and sweet spirit of nitre for fevers when I was a child..I inquired several years ago at a drug store and the pharmacist had never heard of it..I notice that many people are posting from New Jersey...Is it a Jersey thing?
Carrie Harrison- Bradley Beach, New Jersey
A. I am a Jersey native and had never heard of it until this thread, Carrie. Sorry. The "many people posting from New Jersey" is probably just because the website and its operators are in NJ.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
! I did a google search on Sweet Spirit of Nitre as my Amish mother in law gave me some today to apply to a bee sting. She send home a partial bottle full with me and said it's good for drawing out the fever in my arm (huge bee sting, painful, red, swollen.) I inquired about this product and she said an Amish lady makes it and sells it. The instructions say: adult dose: up to 1/2 t in water. Do not exceed 3 doses per day or 15 doses per week. Not for long term use. Store in a cool dark place.
Just thought I'd mention that the Amish still use it. I asked to get a full bottle next time she orders, she did mention that it is expensive. I would never give it to a child, but my mother in law said they always used to use it. (All 10 of her children are alive and healthy!)
So, the product is out there :-) I do not have the source at this time. I enjoyed your posts about it.
~*Karen in Holmes Co.Ohio
- Millersburg, Ohio
2007
A. In the 1940s when I was a youngster, I remember my Grandfather giving me a liquid with sweet nitre in it when I was very sick. Those were the days before antibiotics and one could die from a fever associated with an infection associated with a sore throat or ear infection. My Grandfather was a Feldsher - field surgeon in German. It is the equivalent of a nurse practitioner today. He treated many soldiers of the Tsar's military with his various herbal medicines during the Boxer rebellion in 1900. That was the only type of medicine at the time. At the time it had to be administered very carefully or it could cause death. Modern pharmaceuticals take care of our ills better and more safely today.
Joe Schiesl- Manassas, Virginia
I was born in 1927. I experienced "bad dreams" . From early age until age 3 or 4.. I would hear distant sounds get louder and louder Crescendo and decrescendo. At the same time I would have visual retinal bizarre response like spinning spirals and blinking lights.I would awaken crying and my mother would give me some "spirits on Nitre" to calm me ..The bad dreams diminished with time. A colleague jokingly said I was probably relieving the birth canal contractions.. Could be. Salvatore Dali, the great artist said he remembered being born....
Larry Dalglish- Cresco, Pennsylvania
A. THIS IS EXCELLENT MEDICINE FOR FEVER BLISTERS, IT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT EVER GOT RID OF THEM IN JUST A MATTER OF A FEW DAYS. WITHOUT IT IT NOW TAKES SOMETHING LIKE 2 WEEKS OR BETTER TO GET RID OF, IT'S A SHAME THAT IT WAS TAKEN OFF OF THE MARKET, A GREAT LOSS TO US WHO SUFFER FROM FEVER BLISTERS.
Charles Johnson- Kernersville, North Carolina
A. My father used to take sweet nitre to urinate back around 1945. He ended up having an emergency operation to remove a bunch of kidney stones around 1965. Like a half of quart of stones. He did recover but it took a while.
Alex Stempien- Boonville, New York
Q. Hi,I was wondering if someone can tell me were I would find sweet spirit of nitre. My husband has been diagnosed with kidney failure (they aren't filtering properly) and we know that a mixture of this with spirit of Juniper and friars balsam (sorry if not spelt correctly) help as I was given them in a capsule when young and cured my kidney's and urine infection.Also fixed my Aunt's severe kidney problems. Please could you let me know were I can purchase some. I live in Newcastle Australia. Regards Mel
Melissa Fentonnil - NSW Australia
2007
This discussion of Sweet Spirit of Nitre is fascinating and brings me back to my childhood in the 1950s. My mother, too, would give it to me with water when I had a fever and hallucinations, which were very much as described above. Sounds would become slow and distorted and visuals would seem to travel at me and then away. I can still remember the smell and taste of the Sweet Spirit of Nitre and it brings memories of my dear mother taking care of me. I've never found anyone to talk to about this and thank you all for sharing this with me!
Inez Steele- Haverhill, Massachusetts
A. I was looking for some Sweet spirits of Niter for a cure for Jaundice and done some research. It seems that it is available from the Amish people in America. See details:
Tom Brady- Ireland
January 2, 2008
Ed. note: Tom had received this lead from a 3rd party, but unfortunately we did not have their permission to make it public. Both the party being quoted and the store supposedly stocking it contacted us to ask that their names be removed, which we've now done. Sorry.
This is to thank Mr. Tom Brady.
I am 77 years old. When in my forties, I had a urinary problem, my mother suggested three drops in a glass of water. The problem was cleared the next day and I don't know what became of the rest of the bottle but when my youngest son had problems, I couldn't find any anywhere. (It had been taken off the market in the 80's). He wound up going to the doctor; high fee plus medicine and a repeat visit.
As has been stated: "If it works, remove it."
It just came to mind as I was sitting here. Hope no one needs any. Thanks again.
- Mobile, Alabama
For at least seven years I've been searching for Spirits of Nitre for bladder infections that seem to plague elderly bedridden friends. I grew up in the '30s and clearly remember Mother administering a few drops in water for her children's occasional bouts of bladder problems. It worked! One of my old friends died recently wishing for relief she was certain Nitre would provide, but all my efforts to find some for her failed. It's too late tonight to contact the Amish lady that makes it. I'm so grateful for this exciting clue, and will order some first thing in the morning.
Gloria Hall- San Antonio, Texas
January 12, 2008
! Spirits of Niter
In my family as a child we knew we were sick when mom was getting out the spirits of niter. It was usually used by my mom when we were running a high fever. She would get a teaspoon of sugar, put one or two drops of niter in it then we would take the spoon full followed by a full glass of water. The taste was awful...but it worked. This was in the late 60's and early to mid 70's and we were still taking it. All of us are healthy and no one had a bad reaction to it. Wish I could find it now!
- Downingtown, Pennsylvania
February 21, 2008
A. 55 years ago this was purchased at a drug store and ten drops placed in water to drink and help with excess acid in ones system. I have called every pharmacy around my area to no avail.
Lucille Fekete- Plantation, Florida
A. My grandmother would heat the small bottle of sweet spirit of niter in warm water. She would use it for when when we had an ear ache. It was so soothing to me, would go right to sleep. And I was born in 1959.
Carla Kelly- Downingtown Pennsylvania
August 30, 2023
Q. When my son was born in 1965 and ran a fever, I was told by my mother-in-law to place a drop on a little sugar and then follow up with as much water as he would drink. This always worked for me and I was wondering if this could have harmed him in any way. Now my Great Granddaughter is running a fever and my Granddaughter has asked me for advice.
After reading some of the posts, I am not sure if this is a good idea. Am I wrong?
- Lake Elsinore, California
May 6, 2008
Oh my God, I remember Nitre too...And I also learned very early on, don't cry wolf, or fake illness to get out of school, cause you were gonna get " Dosed "...It never killed us, but for about the first 15 minutes afterwards, we wish we would have went ahead and died cause it was so bad...
mark mckeehen- willard, Ohio
For 3 months now I have had urine problems. the problems are, frequent urination, lower back pain, abdominal pain, my doctor has had me try 3 bladder control pills, and have tried antibiotics twice,
.....i need to add that I had cervical cancer and was treated with chemotherapy and internal and external radiation, I am now at year 2 since end of treatment and am cancer free so far, I have also been checked for bladder and colon cancer and both negative, when I had a cystoscopy, he found bleeding vessels and cauterized them, one did break open and I started to bleed again, possibly because I had passed many stones in various sizes(which may have caused the bleeding, my doctor does not communicate very well, and yes I am looking into a second opinion as well as talking to my radiologist, as the doctors are blaming the problems on the radiation....
Today , I still have frequent urination, severe back pains and abdominal pains, I do have the spirit of nitre and am on day 2 of taking it, should I only take it to day 5 in hopes that it will improve my 3 issues I have had for 3 months..
Please let me know your opinion
As my doctor wants to do a surgery to implant a stimulus to signal my bladder to tell my brain not to pee...i guess, doesn't sound like something I want to do all to soon, especially when I feel it is still other issues.
Thank you, sharon
- Las Vegas, Nevada
August 7, 2008
Ed. note: So sorry for your hardship, Sharon, but soliciting medical advice from strangers on the internet is a really really bad idea :-(
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