Do you have any Old Wives' tales that sound stupid but you know people that believe in them?

Question

I am constantly surprised by the remedies that my grandmother and many other people used in "the old days!" They ate mothballs for colds and tried to poison children when they got the flu! They think that coughing will prevent a heart attack! What are some old stories that you have heard that are absolutely ridiculous,but that some people swear by?

Answer 1

I know some that work. For a head cold use pee(urine) from a baby or young person who is the opposite sex of the user.For a sprain, heat the urine and doak your injured foot in iy.The pain and swelling will disappear by the next day.When a baby is teething,to avoid the child having to use anything for pain during the process, kill a rat, get its tooth/teeth, put it in a cloth bag that is sewn up.Let the child wear it around the neck until after the teeth erupt. To get rid of hiccups, wet a piece of brown paper from a paper bag and put it on the forehead.The hiccups will stop in 5-30 minutes.These ideas would horrify the 'educated' but they are tried and true methods.

Answer 2

my kids had warts took them to a Doctor he said there was an old wives tale but it worked You wrap white adhesive tape around the wart and leave the tape on for six days and twelve hours if the tape starts to come off just add more tape but do not take it off before the proper time. when you take it off the wart will be gone or will disappear with in a few days . the warts were gone for my kids

Answer 3

I know some people that believe if a bird flies into your home someone you know will die. There are several ppl who wouldn't let me do certain things when I was pregnant. I guess it's just all passed down through the generations.

Answer 4

1. When you were pregnant if you see something like a crippled dog, your baby would be born with a disability.

2. Having the wind blow on you, especially if your hair was wet, caused colds.

Answer 5

rubbing a cats fluffy tail in your eye to rid of styes and eye infections(cats are dirty). putting mustard on mouth sores. (mustard is acidic and hurts the flesh)Drinking lemon juice to cure a sore throat. (same as mustard and hurts like hell)

Answer 6

there are so many crazy rememdies that i have heard and even been wirness to by far the weirdest wives tale is this to cure an earache have some pee in your ear, well ,,have them put their pee in your ear,,

Answer 7

Hang garlic by the door to keep the vampires away.

Answer 8

My mother in law was told when she was pregnant that you should never go swimming You could drowned the baby!

Answer 9

I have never heard any as absurd as you have written.I have heard tie onions around your feet when u have a fever to bring it down.

Answer 10

My grandma used camphophenic for EVERYTHING.