Have you ever wondered whether your grandmother’s health advice actually had some merit to it? Many old wives’ tales have been passed down through the generations, leading some to believe that chicken soup can cure a cold, that consuming an apple a day will keep you healthy or that it’s best to starve a cold and feed a fever. While some of these tales may be outdated or unhelpful at best, others might have a grain of truth to them. Whether you still stick to Grandma’s old fashion advice or whether you’ve modernized your medicine cabinet with over-the-counter medications and homeopathic treatments such as Wellements Elderberry Syrup, you may be curious to learn more about which old pieces of advice could be worth keeping around.
Wives Tales: Fact Or Fiction?
When it comes to old wives’ tales, it can sometimes be difficult to determine what’s fact and what’s fiction. For example, your grandmother may have advised you to supplement Wellements baby tooth oil with some old-fashioned teething devices. In broad strokes, it’s important to remember that:
- Some old wives’ tales hearken back to days before certain modern medicines were available, and may no longer be the best remedy for any given condition
- Other old wives’ tales were either ineffective or even harmful from the beginning
- A handful of old wives’ tales have a grain of truth, since some remedies may incorporate natural versions of ingredients that can make useful health treatments
Tride & True Natural Remedies & What We Use Today
If you’ve been scrolling through a kids’ teething guide trying to determine which traditional foods could help keep your child healthy as he or she grows up, you may want to know which natural remedies actually work. Interestingly, some old wives’ tales still prove effective today! For instance, you may wish to keep the following old-fashioned remedies around:
- Chicken soup: Consuming chicken soup when you’re sick could help you feel better due to the high protein and antioxidant content of the soup, as well as helping to keep you hydrated
- Cranberry juice: Cranberries really are rich in antioxidants that could help prevent urinary tract infections and may help improve your overall urinary health
- Hot tea with honey: Mixing honey into your tea can help soothe your throat and may provide some anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties that could be helpful when you’re feeling sick
- An apple a day: Consuming adequate amounts of fresh fruits and veggies, including apples, helps provide essential vitamins and minerals and plays a key role in keeping you healthy
- Fish as brain food: Many types of fish really are chock-full of healthy omega-3 fatty acids and can help the brain function properly, in addition to helping to lower your cholesterol levels
- Staying hydrated: Drinking enough water really can help lift your energy levels, settle your stomach, soothe your cravings and help regulate your digestion
Whether you choose to stick to modern-day over-the-counter medicines or whether you’re a fan of following old-fashioned remedies, some of Grandma’s advice may actually be worth keeping around. From consuming fish for its fatty acid benefits to slurping chicken soup when you’re sick to feel better, some old wives’ tales may just hold water.
