One of my warmest childhood memories is when my grandmother propped me up in bed with a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup whenever I had a stinking cold. Miraculously, I’d be up on my feet, and as right as rain in no time. How did granny get to be such a medical genius? She, no doubt, learnt it from her mother, who learnt it from her mother, who learnt it from her mother… and there you have the origin of Old Wives Tales (OWT) and the reason they are still with us today.

While granny was on the mark with some cures, others were somewhat suspect. Let’s look at the truth and fallacies of some OWT.

Chicken Noodle Soup is the Best Remedy for the Common Cold – TRUE!

Granny was spot on with her cure. Researchers offer that steaming soup clears nasal congestion and provides the body with necessary hydration to flush out viral bugs. According to an ABC News report, Dr. Stephen Rennard, a pulmonary expert at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, found evidence that the soup contains anti-inflammatory properties that may help prevent a cold’s wretched side effects.

A University of California study has shown amino acid cysteine to be a common by-product of chicken soup. This amino acid has the same components as acetylecysteine, an antibiotic prescribed to people with respiratory infections.

Don’t Go Out With Wet Hair, You’ll Catch a Cold – FALSE!

Many are the times I’ve ascribed a cold to a particular event such as my head getting wet and cold thereby lowering my resistance to cold germs. But what about those times I got wet from walking in the rain, and did not catch a cold.

Scientists tell us that colds are caused by over 200 different strains of viruses known as rhinoviruses. (It should be noted that colds are not caused by the same viruses responsible for influenza.) The Common Cold Unit in Salisbury, England, conducted repeated experiments in which people were left shivering in the cold and did not come down with any more colds than those who stayed warm. Finger to nose contact is the most likely means of viral transmission. Viruses are passed on from person to person through spray from coughing or sneezing. Physicians say the best way to avoid colds is to keep hands clean and keep them away from noses.

For an Upset Tummy Drink Flat Coke and Eat Crackers – TRUE!

Tell someone you have the trots or skitters and it seems to induce mirth. Diarrhea is no matter for merriment, especially for the sufferer. Health Care expert Anna Mickell tells us this most commonly caused by a virus or bacterium that has made its way into food or water. Other causes may include rich food, too much alcohol, emotional upheaval, reaction to drugs and food allergies.

Preventing dehydration is the main treatment in the initial stages of diarrhea. Mickell recommends small amounts of clear, lightly sweetened fluid every hour. Ideal fluids include flat coke, diluted lemonade and weak cordial. When the diarrhea has subsided, the patient should eat bland, non-greasy foods such as dry bread, crackers, clear soups and poached eggs.

For a Sore Throat Gargle With Warm Salt Water – TRUE!

Complain to my husband about a sore throat and you can take it to the bank that he’s going to say, “Go gargle with salt water.” The experts agree with him. (I married a genius!) Researchers at the University of Maryland state that most of sore throat cases are caused by viruses on which antibiotics would be wasted. Granny’s tried and tested remedy of a good gargle with salt water (½ teaspoon salt in 240mls warm water) every three to four hours, is not only the safest and least expensive, but probably the most effective treatment.

Feed a Cold and Starve a Fever – MAYBE?

When you feel like death warmed over and are delirious with fever, the last thing on your mind is food. Cold and flu experts at
MyPharmacy
suggest that rather than fasting or feasting, the wisest course of action when you are ill is to eat when you are hungry. However, it is important that you eat nutritious food and supplements to help regain your strength. Drinking fluids is highly recommended. Broths not only provide fluid, but also protein and nutrients necessary for healing. Of course you can always count on Grandma’s old standby – chicken noodle soup.

For Nosebleeds Put a Wad of Paper Under Your Lip, Put Ice on the Back of Your Neck or Tip Your Head Back – FALSE!

Whatever was Gran thinking when she came up with the wad of paper under the lip? Go figure that one out? Experts tell us that because the nose has many blood vessels and is situated in a prominent position on the face, trauma to the face can cause nosebleeds. Nosebleeds can also occur when the nasal membranes dry out and crack. This problem is often encountered in dry climates or during winter months when indoor heaters dry out the air. Some anti-inflammatory medications may also cause nosebleeds.

Health care experts advise that the best way to stop a nosebleed is to squeeze or pinch the nostrils together with the thumb and index finger. Hold this position for about 5 minutes. Repeat the technique until the bleeding stops. Sit, relax and keep the head elevated. Do not lie down or put your head between your legs. Apply crushed ice to the nose and cheek areas. After a nosebleed, rest with your head elevated.

The Best Cure for a “Hangover Breakfast” – Black Coffee, Two Eggs, Tomato Juice and an Aspirin – All Mixed Together – FALSE!

Like most people, I do not like to suffer. And the best way to avoid it is not to eat or drink in excess. But people, being people, will always have gluttons for punishment. Consider some facts about the effects of alcohol on the body:

Medical experts state that the body absorbs about 90 percent of the alcohol in a drink. The rest is excreted through the breath, perspiration and urine. On average, a normal liver can process 10 grams of alcohol per hour – the equivalent of one glass of wine, half a pint of beer, or one shot of 80 proof spirits.

Alcohol is a depressant that slows down the activity of the central nervous system by replacing the water around the nervous cells in the body.

There are, however, a few things you can do to make a hangover less severe. Before drinking eat a substantial meal or have at least one glass of milk to protect your stomach lining. After drinking, have a pint of water before bedtime to minimize dehydration.

The bad news, according to experts, is that a hangover can’t be cured once you have one. Some cures may exacerbate the problem. Aspirin and ibuprofen can irritate the stomach lining. Acetaminophen can strain the liver. Copious amounts of coffee can give you a caffeine buzz. Sleep would be a better remedy. Better to drink a lot of fruit juice or eat something sweet and wait for the sugar to absorb the alcohol.

Rub Butter on a Burn – FALSE!

Drs. Rutherford and Dowshen of
KidsHealth.org
say never apply butter, grease, powder or any remedies to a first-degree burn. Before you phone for medical assistance, run cool water over the burned area or hold a clean, cold compress on the burn until the pain subsides. Remove clothing (that is not stuck to the flesh) from the burned area. If water is not available use any cold drinkable fluid, but do not use ice. If the burn area is small, loosely cover it with a sterile gauze pad or bandage. For second and third degree burns follow the instructions for first degree burns. Do not break blisters.

Cure Hiccups by Swallowing Sugar, Sucking on a Lemon, Drinking from a Far Side of a Glass – TRUE!

The medical term for hiccups (hiccoughs), according to Dr. Garry Wilkes, is known as singultus, originating from Latin, which means “the act of one catching one’s breath while sobbing.” Hiccups appear to serve no purpose in humans or other mammals. A hiccup bout is any episode that lasts for more than a few minutes. The reason many traditional remedies are effective is because they employ methods that stimulate components of the hiccup reflex.

And Finally, Laughter is Good for the Soul – TRUE

Grandma didn’t say this but researchers at the University of Maryland who have studied the influence of laughter on the body, concluded that a good guffaw has a positive effect on blood flow, the immune response and blood sugar levels. Check out the net for some more outrageous OWT and if for some reason you develop hiccups between your chuckles, you’ll know what to do.