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“Which Old Wives’ Tale Is Actually True?” (30 Answers)

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It’s wild to think that knowledge and information wasn’t as easily and readily available just a few decades ago. Thanks to the internet, it now reaches billions of people on demand, and the world is better off because of it.

Now, old wives’ tales were among the many things that worked before the internet in terms of spreading information. Granted, they were often dubious or even superstitious, but their prevalence was strong.

Well, turns out, not all of it was hogwash as folks on Reddit were recently sharing old wives’ tales that turned out to be true. Thanks, internet!

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Gargling with salt water helps a sore throat as well as tooth and gum issues.

herefortheguffaws Report

Final score:

170points

KombatBunni 10 months ago

It really does. I’ve done it a few times when I’ve had sore gums

32points

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#2

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) When rain is coming, your joints hurt.

I used to roll my eyes and laugh when Granny said her arthritis was acting up because it was going to rain. I was 10 years old.

I'm now 53 and not laughing. Granny 1, me 0

Money-Bear7166 , Towfiqu barbhuiya Report

Final score:

159points

Mir Adwari 10 months ago

This comment has been deleted.

22points

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#3

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) I can't believe there are over 400 comments and nobody has mentioned one of the most valuable old wives' tales: That garlic had medicinal powers for a wide variety of ailments.

MsTerious1 , Surya Prakash Report

Final score:

155points

Mister E 10 months ago

Not to mention it works perfectly against vampires. I've been using garlic for years and never had any encounters

169points

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So, old wives’ tales as a concept originated centuries ago in the form of the oral tradition of storytelling. The whole idea behind old wives’ tales was to teach lessons and make concepts like death or aging easier to understand.

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These tales were primarily aimed at children, but once they grew up, it was easy to understand why some grownups began picking them up too.

#4

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) Open a window to let out ghosts. If you are seeing things it's probably actually gas or carbon dioxide.

TheseusPankration , ENGY NAGUIB Report

Final score:

155points

PandaJon 10 months ago

Or you might be letting more ghosts in

70points

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#5

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) Gathering herbs by the light of the moon.

Some plants, pollinated by moths, have their most potent oils at night to attract night insects. So if you need it at its strongest, pick it at night.

ivylass , Joonas kääriäinen Report

Final score:

151points

PandaJon 10 months ago

Wolf's bane by a full moon is best, my dear.

55points

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#6

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) “Doomed is the child who, when kissed on the forehead, tastes salty. He is cursed and will soon die.”

It’s cystic fibrosis. Nowadays, we know that cystic fibrosis is due to a non functional protein that regulates salt transport; when that protein doesn’t work, you get thick, sticky mucus clogging up every membrane… and a whole bunch of salt being pumped onto the skin.

Many diseases existed for a looooooong time before we had the framework to understand them, but our ancestors were paying attention and trying to understand these tragedies through the lenses that they had. And sometimes, that’s how you get an old wives’ tale that is right on the money!

Adventurous-Onion589 , Kampus Production Report

Final score:

150points

Andrea Hall 10 months ago

My twin brother died of CF. He was diagnosed at 3 days old because they did a salt test, and they had to cut him open and remove part of his bowel because he had a blockage and wasn't able to use the bathroom on his own. This is also due to the mucus and malabsorbtion issues that are symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis. It's an absolutely horrible disease. However, yes. Typically, the first way they test someone for Cystic Fibrosis is to do a salt test to check the salt levels on your skin.

12points

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Now, one of the major reasons why old wives’ tales were usually fake was because of the fact that they were most often propagated by illiterate women and communicated to children. If they were trying to scare kids off from a particular behavior, it didn’t have to be true—they just had to stop them from doing something. And it was really hard to fact-check them.

#7

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) Pregnant women should not be near cat litter. Source: am blind in one eye from toxoplasmosis acquired in utero.

do-eye-dare , Laura LaRose Report

Final score:

141points

Iampenny 10 months ago

I never knew this was considered an "old wive's tale" I always thought it was a well known proven fact.

151points

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#8

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) More of an old nurse's tale, but redheads need more anesthetic. Turns out that there is a linked gene to red hair that increases resistance or metabolism or something to the drug.

At any rate, waking up in the middle of a full colonoscopy sucks. Hearing the doctor say, "Ah, s**t, she's awake, give her another one..."

And the nurse, all melodramatic as she pushes another syringes worth into your IV, saying to him, "Are you *SURE*, Doctor???" as your eyes slowly close again is especially awesome.

spentpatience , Mariana Report

Final score:

123points

Zaphod 10 months ago

I regained partial conciousness during a surgery on my thumb. I was a hardcore alcoholic, so it wasn't enough anesthetic for me.

35points

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#9

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) Nurses used to put Jaundices babies on window sills until their color returned. No idea how they figured it out but it’s actually a legitimate cure!

Pluckyplatypus26 , Pixabay Report

Final score:

119points

Nilsen 10 months ago

I live next to a hospital, and from my window I can see the blue light from the tiny solarium in the maternity ward

56points

Lesbiancats 10 months ago

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Karen Startz Richardson 10 months ago

UV light breaks down the bilirubin that causes jaundice.

26points

Mia Seth 10 months ago

When I was an infant I had a high Bilirubin and was put on a billi-bed. Got my first tan at 2ish days old.

6points

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talliloo 10 months ago

my grandson was born very jaundiced and premature as well. when finally released from hospital my son was told to expose him to sunlight as often as possible, thankfully we lived in an area with warm temps. so, several times a day he would take him to his patio and hold him out in the sun. have a couple of great pics of him holding him up like rafiki in the lion king.

21points

OpheliaPoe 9 months ago

My son was born jaundiced in 2020 and we would sit in our rocking chair in front of a big south facing window. They sent him home with a bili blanket but we preferred holding him in a sunny window and it worked wonderfully!

0points

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arthbach 10 months ago

They figured it out using the scientific process. Someone noticed that jaundiced babies recovered more quickly if when they were closer to the window. Therefore, they started testing, and realised it was indeed the case. Others tested, and the results were confirmed. Then lights were tried instead of window. Some proved more effective than others. They knew the solution before they understood the mechanism. It's a bit like this just now with some forms of migraine medication. They know some drugs work, but they haven't yet found out why.

15points

shankShaw deReemer 10 months ago

I'm just glad they know and can provide relief to those of us who are cursed with migraines.

1point

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Historyharlot93 10 months ago

My baby brother was born with jaundice (in the 70’s) and my mom was told to move his bassinet from window to window so he would stay in the sunshine. It worked.

8points

Cynthia Carter 10 months ago

Our son was 11 weeks premature and was under the light for a couple of days after he was born in 1977. He even had tiny sungoggles!

7points

Goth Mouse (he/they) 10 months ago

My baby cousin had this when i when i was little, she was very small and i thought they put her in the sun to make her grow 😂

6points

Heffalump 10 months ago

We now know it's a legitimate cure because a male doctor noticed that the babies on the sunny side of the nursery were less jaundiced, so they conducted tests that male doctor's could accept. Nurse midwives already knew it was a legitimate cure.

2points

MellonCollie 10 months ago

We had to move our newborn's bassinet to the window with most sunlight for a few days, for the same reasons, and that was in 2020. It works wonders.

1point

lanie hooper 10 months ago

We had to leave our preemie on a console near a single pane window in our old Victorian house,. Double pane would’ve blocked out the positive benefits from the sun. It definitely helped!

1point

Gia SDP 10 months ago

It's the sunlight that helps the vitamin deficiency in babies' jaundice.

1point

jmdirks 10 months ago

Vitamin D maybe???

0points

Riley Quinn 10 months ago

Gotta remove the ripening tomatoes first, though.

0points

Joyce mann 10 months ago

Did that for my daughter

0points

Well then 10 months ago

We did this with my son. He was premature and we were told to have him in the sun naked several times a day. We would put him in his carrier and set him in the windowsill in addition to several sessions with the Bili-blanket.

0points

Jenny Mason 10 months ago

My son was placed under a sunlamp straight after he was born, he was jaundiced and had a low temperature.

0points

Alex Ruddies 10 months ago

I wonder if it has something to do with vitamin d.

0points

Pedro Badan 10 months ago

How? Sunlight? Isn't jaundice something to do with the liver not working properly? How does sunlight help? Feel free to ignore these questions, I know I could google them but I can't be bothered.

0points

HTakeover 10 months ago

Adult jaundice can be a lot of things - liver, gall, etc. Baby jaundice is almost always bilirubin.

8points

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CK 10 months ago

Old school phototherapy. Did they protect the babies' eyes like they do now?

0points

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As the centuries went by and human progress was ever so surely moving forward, old wives’ tales started getting debunked. One of the biggest oofs out there is the idea people can catch a cold from the cold.

That has since been proven to be false because a cold is caused by an infection, and not the temperature.

#10

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) If he cheats with you, he’ll cheat on you.

JohnMcClanesPenis , Yaroslav Shuraev Report

Final score:

112points

MP 10 months ago

That’s not an old wives tale either. Just general advice and not a hard and fast rule like most of the others.

77points

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#11

Honey as topical medicine. It’s actually used in hospitals now for certain kinds of wound dressings. It’s anti microbial and keeps other s**t from getting in the wound.

thesleepymermaid Report

Final score:

111points

Debbie 10 months ago

Again, organic honey, not the ones bought in big stores. They have been overprocessed.

27points

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#12

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) Red sky at night, sailors’ delight

A red sky appears when dust and small particles are trapped in the atmosphere by high pressure. This scatters blue light leaving only red light to give the sky its notable appearance. A red sky at sunset means high pressure is moving in from the west, so therefore the next day will usually be dry and pleasant.

— Met office

justhangingaroud , Pixabay Report

Final score:

109points

Ace 10 months ago (edited)

More commonly "Red sky at night, Shepherds' delight, Red ski in the morning,Shepherds' warning". It's a predictor of weather on land, not so much at sea.

45points

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Other cold-related myths include: vaccinations can make you sick (they don’t, it’s a killed virus), heaps of vitamin C will keep away illness (studies can’t prove it), and chicken soup cures colds (nope, wrong again, it’s just comfort food that hydrates you, and perhaps can help ease congestion, but otherwise doesn’t have any specific effect on a viral infection).

#13

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) Drinking gelatin to up amniotic fluid during pregnancy.

They wanted to schedule a c-section at 32 weeks for my kid, due to low amniotic fluid. My friends midwife told me to mix gelatin packets into apple juice and drink it before it started to thicken.. 3x a day. Brought my levels up from a 3 to an 8.. and managed to keep the kid baking for another 4 weeks.. she was born at 36 weeks, weighing 4lbs 3oz.. so, the gods only know how tiny she would have been at 32 weeks..

She was discharged with me three days later, at 4lbs 1oz.. perfectly healthy, besides being as tiny as a doll.. and she didn't wear clothes for four months because I was terrified of breaking her..

But, yeah, I *never* thought it would work..

sp0rkify , Ervins Strauhmanis Report

Final score:

97points

LaserBrain 10 months ago

Kept the kid baking, that's a good one :)

51points

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#14

A lot of the ones about herbal remedies. You can grow a lot of things that pharmaceutical companies deconstruct and reconstruct to make into pills. Common weeds are edible and good for your health. It’s crazy how much we’ve forgotten about the benefits of plants.

xXJustDanielleXx Report

Final score:

93points

Surenu 10 months ago

Except the pill has a carefully measured amount of active ingredient, whereas with the plant you never know if you're getting a therapeutic, recreational or lethal dose. There's a reason doctor's don't have huge herb gardens anymore.

102points

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#15

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) A good senator is a poor senator

Flat-Track-5454 , Laura Musikanski Report

Final score:

91points

MP 10 months ago

That may be true but it’s not an old wives tale. Just a quip.

49points

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Nowadays, old wives’ tales are quite literally a thing of the past and anything can be proven or disproven in just a few moments online without having to rely on dubious maiden wisdom.

However, the fact that something is an old wives’ tale doesn’t mean it’s automatically fake. This listicle is proof of it.

#16

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) A cut onion rubbed on insect bites takes away the sting. I’ve tried it on wasp and ant bites and works instantly.

Vivid-Farm6291 , Karolina Grabowska Report

Final score:

91points

PandaJon 10 months ago

Just stop biting wasps and ants

116points

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#17

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) Chicken soup when you're sick

Gotta stay hydrated!

PumpKiing , Valeria Boltneva Report

Final score:

86points

MP 10 months ago

Probably that it’s a good mix of hydration, warmth, protein, carbs and vegetables.

58points

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#18

My mom had what she called an old Indian trick and was able to predict if it was going to rain within 30 minutes.
In college I learned that is it got closer to raining leaves would cup to catch the water and when my mom would go outside and look at the tree leaves she could like look and see if they were cupping and she would be able to predict if it was going to rain.

craftycorgimom Report

Final score:

77points

MP 10 months ago

I can tell too. They turn to the silvery looking shiny side

44points

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For example, older folks experience joint pain right before rain because the barometric pressure tends to decrease, which in turn might make the muscles, tendons and other tissue around joints expand and put more pressure on the joints. Hence the pain.

#19

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) A while back, scientists set out to prove false the old wives tale that if a pregnant woman has lots of of heartburn, her baby will be born with a thick head of hair. Except…they ended up doing the opposite. Turns out heartburn really is associated with a baby having lots of hair:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17150070/

yourlittlebirdie , Yves Scheuber Report

Final score:

76points

Lisa T 10 months ago

I had bad heartburn with all three of mine and they never had much hair at all

38points

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#20

Beer makes breast milk drop. I had never heard of this before giving birth, and a couple people had asked me while pregnant if I had my beer lined up for after I gave birth and just laughed it off. A few days after giving birth my milk still wasn’t coming in and at the pediatrician, she said, “Listen it’s an old wives tale but I swear by it, drink a beer. Preferably non alcoholic because you just need the hops.” After the appointment I grabbed a case of Heineken 0 chugged two and within hours we were breastfeeding. I now give Heineken 0 as a gift to expectant moms.

Final score:

76points

Lisa T 10 months ago

Stout or dark beers are best

25points

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#21

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) People can smell illness (at least in babies). I cant link a paper because I'm busy proving it! So far in my research people can smell the difference between a well baby vs a poorly baby

twilightprincess98 , Leah Kelley Report

Final score:

73points

Šimon Špaček 10 months ago

My wife usually knows that I caught some virus before I do, just because the smell. It is creepy "oh, I smell that you will stay home tomorrow" is pretty creepy line, especially because she was right 100% so far.

79points

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Another cool trick is to rub ammonia onto a mosquito bite to stop it from itching. The idea lies in the ammonia solution equalizing the counter pH of the itching caused by the bite.

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#22

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) My grandmother always insisted that a new mom in the family get up and walk as soon after delivery as possible. Said if you stay in the bed alot after giving birth your hips would spread and stay that way. Turns out the hormone changes during childbirth cause your cartilage to become flexible so your hips can widen some. It wears off fast though so if you stay in the bed for days, like they did back in the day, your cartilage hardens back up spread out. When you walk your center of gravity is in your pelvis and pushes it back together. I've never seen a medical study on it but none of the women in my family have wider hips after having kids.

AvailableAd6071 , Olga Pozney Report

Final score:

70points

PeepPeep the duck 10 months ago (edited)

The Coori people (aboriginal tribe for international peeps) say this too, and too keep walking while pregnant and no be bed ridden if possible

24points

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#23

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) If you ever feel dehydrated get a pinch of salt put it in your water and add lemon (no sugar) and just drink. It helps.

invisablehoney , Lisa Fotios Report

Final score:

58points

Zaphod 10 months ago

I wanted to sell a hangover rehydration powder. You need sodium to activate the transportation of water across membranes against concentration gradients.

9points

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#24

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) Cold cabbage leaves relieves engorgement and mastitis pain while nursing!

It sounds SO old wives tale but it’s been proved true.

C1nnamon_Apples , freestocks.org Report

Final score:

55points

Chris Jones 10 months ago

Well, it's cold which can be soothing for inflammation. There are studies that show it helped with not other understanding as to why. There are studies that show it didn't help. The conclusion? The information is too random and it needs to be studied properly.

16points

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Since it’s easy to fall prey to a fake kind of thinking, then the same tricks that apply to identifying fake news also apply to old wives’ tales:

Always check the source because if it looks fake or it has a dubious reputation, its content is probably fake too. It also helps to run the information against a quick Google search to see if others confirm it.

#25

Ammonia on a mosquito bite.

Dab a bit of ammonia on it, and don't touch it, count to 120 seconds, and the bite is 'gone' (inflammation etc).

When I first heard of it, I didn't believe it. Now, just a touch of kitchen ammonia and don't scratch and it's beyond gone. Completely.

Mackheath1 , icon0 com Report

Final score:

51points

Ace 10 months ago

That's a normal medical treatment, not an old woves' tale,

10points

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#26

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) Letting a baby eat after you will cause them to get cavities. When my sister told us not to let my nephew eat something we've taken a bite out of, I thought she was full of s**t. It turns out adults really can transfer cavity causing bacteria to babies.

MoonLitCrystal , Pixabay Report

Final score:

50points

Roxy222uk 10 months ago

I can't see how that transfer is avoidable within a family. You're going to both lick a wooden spoon, sip out of a glass etc at some point, and that's without the kissing.

28points

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#27

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) Looking at something too close (like the TV) for too long will strain your eyes.

You need to exercise your long distance focusing muscles to prevent myopia. If you always look at things close up, you can develop it. Studies show that myopia is more often linked with behavior and environment rather than genetics.

False_Ad3429 , Amateur Hub Report

Final score:

47points

Zaphod 10 months ago

I never needed galsses until I truned 40. Older people need reading glasses, in part, because of loss of "accomadation". That is, your eyes lose their ability to bend the lens to focus.

12points

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If anything, be skeptical of everything you hear and ask yourself how and why? The more you try to ask and answer these questions, the more likely you’ll find reason to deem something false or true.

In other words, deem it fake until proven true.

#28

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) You really don't want to touch that frozen metal pole with your tongue.

jtbc , Christmas Tree Films Report

Final score:

47points

PandaJon 10 months ago

But watching your friend do it is hysterical

53points

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#29

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) a stitch in time saves nine.

so true.

Mission_Revolution94 , Michael Burrows Report

Final score:

43points

Barbara Kayton 10 months ago

I’ve heard this expression my entire life, and only after reading this in print, right now, and having recently started learning more about sewing, did it click that “nine” meant nine stitches! I always understood the gist of the saying, just never paid close attention to the words!

6points

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#30

Don’t pee into the wind

Happy_BlackCrow Report

Final score:

40points

Javelina Poppers 10 months ago

Don't eat yellow snow either.

37points

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So, have you heard any old wives’ tales lately that you were mind-blown to learn are actually real? Why not share yours in the comment section below!

And if you need a fix of more tales, be sure to check out the original Reddit thread.

#31

Don’t shower during a lightning storm - you might get electrocuted

presearchingg Report

Final score:

19points

Nadine Debard 10 months ago

Earth (electric) line is connected to plumbing, so if electricity comes through your house you may be electrocuted. When there's a thunderstorm, the US National Weather Service recommends seeking a safe location, away from electrical systems, electronic equipment and running water.

12points

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#32

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) Red sky in the morning, shepherd’s warning. Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight.

turniptit , Lisa Fotios Report

Final score:

17points

PandaJon 10 months ago

Red sky at noon, shepherds balloon 🎈

19points

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#33

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) [They found a potential antibiotic in a frog after a folklore to throw the frog in milk so it doesn’t spoil as fast](https://www.acs.org/pressroom/presspacs/2013/acs-presspac-february-6-2013/frog-in-bucket-of-milk-folklore-leads-to-potential-new-antibiotics.html).

Intrepid00 , Ilo Frey Report

Final score:

17points

Ace 10 months ago

"Potential".

9points

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#34

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) If you have bad back pain or a broken rib and have to sneeze; LOOK UP. Will hurt way less.

RanchDubois_ , Andrea Piacquadio Report

Final score:

16points

Ace 10 months ago

Rubbish.

11points

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#35

Vicks vapor rub on the bottom of your feet and put socks over it.
For some weird reason it helps with cold and flu.

HuckleberryUnited613 Report

Final score:

16points

Javelina Poppers 10 months ago

Vicks Vaporub on small annoyingly painful paper cuts and nicks takes the pain away instantly. I've been doing this for years.

14points

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#36

Beer before liquor, definitely sicker. Liquor before beer, everything's clear.

superminh13 Report

Final score:

16points

MP 10 months ago

Didn’t believe it until I lived it

6points

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#37

There were certain bones of saints people touched and got healed from minor ailments. Turns out there's a fungus that grows on bones. It produces penicilin.

Final score:

16points

Nadine Debard 10 months ago

Last time I touched an amoxicillin pill I didn't healed magically. I had to swallow it, twice a day during 7 days. Magical bones... Meh.

19points

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#38

In my country (Romania) there's many that still stand up to today.

I remember having INSANE toothache and my grandma put salt in a sock, warmed it up and gave it to me to hold it there on my cheek.

Another one is Mint Tea, have stomach pain? Just drink mint tea without sugar (can add honey) and it will go away.

Steam with salt will clean up your messy nose when you're cold.

If your throat hurts BAD, put a warm potato on a ~~banana~~ **bandana*** and tie it up on your throat (idk why a potato, it just works)

Dip your ~~shocks~~ **socks*** into vinegar when you have high fever and it will go away.

If you get sun burnt, put Yogurt on your skin and it should go away (my grandma said vinegar too, it works, but idk how *healthy* it is and it hurts like crazy)

That's all I can remember, they sound so stupid but they somehow work.

AndrewFrozzen30 Report

Final score:

15points

NapQueen 10 months ago

I was about to put a warm potato on a banana for my sore throat....

17points

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#39

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Great fiber vitamins and filling so you eat less

NoEstablishment6450 Report

Final score:

14points

Roxy222uk 10 months ago

I reckon that the pectin in apples in particular is advantageous. It's a soluble fibre and helps to carry out of the body all sorts of substances that have been taken to the bowel as waste, including unneeded hormones and cholesterol. If they just sit there they can be reabsorbed and cause problems. Our body evolved when we were eating plenty of vegetable matter and relies on it being present to function properly. Brown rice and oat bran are also good sources of soluble fibre.

5points

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#40

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) “Many hands make light work”.

As a kid, when my dad said it, I thought he was referring to electric energy. It took me an embarrassing long time to realize more people working mean less work overall.

Wideawakedup , Burak The Weekender Report

Final score:

12points

Šimon Špaček 10 months ago

Not only less work for each person, but how much time you spend walking to get something, trying to hold something awkwardly while reaching for something,... I found out that when we work around house (be it garden or building something or anything really), two people working together will do about three times as much work as one person doing it. And will be much less exhausted.

4points

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#41

Jack and Jill went up the hill

To fetch a pail of water

Jack fell down and broke his crown

And Jill came tumbling after.

Up Jack got and home did trot

As fast as he could caper

Went to bed to mend his head

With vinegar and brown paper.

According to my 96yr old grandma, if you have a sprain, a bruise or any kind of muscle ache, you wrap it in a brown paper bag soaked in vinegar. She's been doing it for almost a century and says it works for her. I have my doubts, but as long as she's happy, it's cool, even if she's a little stinky, lol.

ineedstheanime Report

Final score:

11points

Lydsylou (she/her) 10 months ago

I've never understood why they went to the top of the hill to get the water? Wouldn't it make a lot more sense to build a well at the bottom of the hill because water flows downhill?

15points

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#42

Hair of the dog. Not sayin' pile another drunk night on top of a hangover; however, small amounts of alcohol will help lessen the effects of a hangover. 🍻

Cracklin_Rose Report

Final score:

11points

Bored something 10 months ago

I swear by 2 glasses of water before bed and it stops a hangover.

14points

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#43

My mother has a trick for when you have the hiccups, it works EVERY TIME.

Chug a tall glass of water while pinching your nose closed to not breath, take many small sips while swallowing, and then just pause after for a moment. Resume breathing normally

idolovehummus Report

Final score:

10points

Ace 10 months ago

"Chug" and "Small sips" would seem to be mutually exclusive.

23points

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#44

No good deed goes unpunished.

JewelryBells Report

Final score:

9points

MP 10 months ago

Not an old wives tale. Maybe an old timey saying

8points

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#45

My grandma always sprinkled cinnamon on everything she eat. She put it in her drink. She told me it would keep a virus away. She never got sick.

Content_Pool_1391 Report

Final score:

8points

CK 10 months ago

Cinnamon does have health benefits, but there are different kinds of cinnamon, and you have to be careful. Cassia cinnamon has a much higher amount of coumarin, which can be toxic in large amounts.

10points

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#46

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) Vinegar. That's it. That's my old wive's tale. Just vinegar.

Dependent_Top_4425 , CA Creative Report

Final score:

3points

Muhammad Fauzi Rizal 10 months ago

what for?

13points

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#47

Alcohol and trampolines don't mix.

Mark-Might-Lose Report

Final score:

3points

Lisa T 10 months ago

Neither do trampolines and weak bladders

18points

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#48

"Which Old Wives' Tale Is Actually True?" (30 Answers) When your scars itch it's going to rain.

dragonfeet1 , Karolina Grabowska Report

Final score:

0points

Nadine Debard 10 months ago

That seems absolutely wrong. When my scars itched the nerves were just growing back. C-section.

6points

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#49

There’s some evidence showing that pregnant women carrying female embryos/fetuses are more likely to experience severe nausea.

fmajordminor Report

Final score:

-5points

Flora Porter 10 months ago

I thought it was boys, due to the amount of testosterone.

5points

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#50

If he’s single, over 45, has a great job and everybody loves him—there is something seriously wrong with him.

PersistingWill Report

Final score:

-13points

BoredPossum 10 months ago

He's obviously two raccoons in a trenchcoat.

30points

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Robertas Lisickis

Some time ago, Robertas used to spend his days watching how deep the imprint in his chair will become as he wrote for Bored Panda. Wrote about pretty much everything under and beyond the sun. Not anymore, though. He's now probably playing Gwent or hosting Dungeons and Dragons adventures for those with an inclination for chaos.

Some time ago, Robertas used to spend his days watching how deep the imprint in his chair will become as he wrote for Bored Panda. Wrote about pretty much everything under and beyond the sun. Not anymore, though. He's now probably playing Gwent or hosting Dungeons and Dragons adventures for those with an inclination for chaos.

Gabija Palšytė

Gabija is a photo editor at Bored Panda. Before joining the team, she achieved a Professional Bachelor degree in Photography and has been working as a freelance photographer since. She also has a special place in her heart for film photography, movies and nature.

Gabija is a photo editor at Bored Panda. Before joining the team, she achieved a Professional Bachelor degree in Photography and has been working as a freelance photographer since. She also has a special place in her heart for film photography, movies and nature.

What do you think ?

Ace 10 months ago (edited)

These seem to mostly fall into one of two categories - they're simply repeated unproven Old Wives' tales or they're well understood phenomena. One or two are simply everyday proverbs, why they're included here is not clear.

13points

CK 10 months ago

A lot of old beliefs are things that were observed to be true, but were originally attributed to the wrong cause, and later the real scientific cause was discovered.

5points

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Pedro Badan 10 months ago

I don't think whoever wrote this quite understands what an "old wives' tale" is 😕

8points

INGI 10 months ago

Definitely not!!!

3points

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Chonky_not_stonky 10 months ago

A suspicious amount of these have anecdotal evidence as "proof".

4points

FaceTime Audio 10 months ago

My family swears by hot showers during sickness. My grandpa literally had a heart attack and KNEW he was having a heart attack, but he took a shower before going to the hospital. He survived, but I don’t credit the shower. Personally, I hate showers when I’m sick because it’s hard to breathe with it so I get dizzy and tired.

2points

Carol Close Taylor 10 months ago

Haste makes waste. No truer words were ever spoken!

0points

D20 Games 10 months ago (edited)

So I've got a few, that can be proven with a Google search. 1) Witch Hazel, it's an external anti-inflammatory, it is found in beauty aisles now, for skin care. Or next to the rubbing alcohol in the medicine aisle. It's the active ingredient in hemorrhoid creams. It was commonly used in the middle ages by new mothers in the first week after giving birth to reduce swelling and stave off inflammation and infection. 2) Cherry Juice, this is an internal anti-inflammatory. At around the early 1700's it was discovered that drinking the juice from cherries helped ease aches in the hands and feet. By the 1760's cherry juice was being used to treat gout, successfully. 8oz glass of cherry juice a day will reduce swelling and pain from arthritis, after about a month, you should not have any pain or aches. It also prevents ankles and legs from swelling from pregnancy.

0points

marianne eliza 10 months ago

Thumbs down. The OP needs to find out what an old wives tale actually is.

0points

Curlz 10 months ago

Alot of these are related to pregnancy. It's amazing our ancestor's passed this info on. If's also a shame women weren't in the medical field-we'd know so much more now!! It makes sense that women would be better suited at observing and nurturing...

0points

Petra Schaap 10 months ago

where i come from, old wives tales means something different

0points

Ace 10 months ago (edited)

These seem to mostly fall into one of two categories - they're simply repeated unproven Old Wives' tales or they're well understood phenomena. One or two are simply everyday proverbs, why they're included here is not clear.

13points

CK 10 months ago

A lot of old beliefs are things that were observed to be true, but were originally attributed to the wrong cause, and later the real scientific cause was discovered.

5points

Load More Replies...

Pedro Badan 10 months ago

I don't think whoever wrote this quite understands what an "old wives' tale" is 😕

8points

INGI 10 months ago

Definitely not!!!

3points

Load More Replies...

Chonky_not_stonky 10 months ago

A suspicious amount of these have anecdotal evidence as "proof".

4points

FaceTime Audio 10 months ago

My family swears by hot showers during sickness. My grandpa literally had a heart attack and KNEW he was having a heart attack, but he took a shower before going to the hospital. He survived, but I don’t credit the shower. Personally, I hate showers when I’m sick because it’s hard to breathe with it so I get dizzy and tired.

2points

Carol Close Taylor 10 months ago

Haste makes waste. No truer words were ever spoken!

0points

D20 Games 10 months ago (edited)

So I've got a few, that can be proven with a Google search. 1) Witch Hazel, it's an external anti-inflammatory, it is found in beauty aisles now, for skin care. Or next to the rubbing alcohol in the medicine aisle. It's the active ingredient in hemorrhoid creams. It was commonly used in the middle ages by new mothers in the first week after giving birth to reduce swelling and stave off inflammation and infection. 2) Cherry Juice, this is an internal anti-inflammatory. At around the early 1700's it was discovered that drinking the juice from cherries helped ease aches in the hands and feet. By the 1760's cherry juice was being used to treat gout, successfully. 8oz glass of cherry juice a day will reduce swelling and pain from arthritis, after about a month, you should not have any pain or aches. It also prevents ankles and legs from swelling from pregnancy.

0points

marianne eliza 10 months ago

Thumbs down. The OP needs to find out what an old wives tale actually is.

0points

Curlz 10 months ago

Alot of these are related to pregnancy. It's amazing our ancestor's passed this info on. If's also a shame women weren't in the medical field-we'd know so much more now!! It makes sense that women would be better suited at observing and nurturing...

0points

Petra Schaap 10 months ago

where i come from, old wives tales means something different

0points

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