There are some medical remedies mentioned in the Talmud, as well as in other, later works, such as the Rambam’s books on medicine (he was also a doctor). However, these are not special, secret remedies. The Torah tells us that he who injures is responsible to see to the healing of the injured.[1] The Talmud derives from this verse that it is proper and mandatory to seek medical help to deal with illness,[2] and this refers to the conventional medicine of the time.
The remedies mentioned in ancient sources are based on the best medical information available to the rabbis in their time. When modern medicine agrees, that is wonderful. When it does not, one should follow present-day experts. I hope and assume that your husband is receiving the best medical care available to you.
We, of course, do not rely exclusively upon medical help. We are instructed to turn to HaShem for help, for He is the true Healer. However, as with medical remedies, there are different, complementary religious approaches. We should rededicate ourselves to the proper service of HaShem, which is the purpose of our being put in this world. Each weekday Shemoneh Esrei includes a prayer for health, in general; it is an appropriate place to insert our requests regarding specific people who need refuah. We can say Tehillim (Psalms) on behalf of the ill. We can go to holy places to pray and ask holy people to join us in prayer. Tzedaka (charity) is a particularly powerful mitzva in this regard.
Will these things bring health? In any given case, we have no way of knowing. However, the good deeds will be remembered above and will manifest themselves in ways we may never know. The ancient “remedies” of prayers and good deeds, along with the best in modern medicine, are the best we can do. We extend our sincere wishes for your husband’s full and speedy recovery. If you would like to send us his name (Jewish name and mother’s Jewish name), we will, God willing, include him in the list of the sick for whom we pray.