This
Sunday is Mother’s Day. I’m sure many of
you have plans of lavish family dinners.
I’m looking forward to a quiet weekend at our cottage watching the river
flow. I thought in tribute to our moms,
I would have some fun reviewing “old wives’ tales” associated with infection
prevention….well infection treatment to be exact. If you’ve watched the movies or read the Hunger Games trilogy, you’ll recall that each
year a female and male “tribute” were chosen or forced to participate in the
annual games that were played until only 1 tribute remained standing. I chose
to title the blog a “tribute” because as you’ll read below, if many of these were
practiced on us, we’d likely not be here…..
Sunday is Mother’s Day. I’m sure many of
you have plans of lavish family dinners.
I’m looking forward to a quiet weekend at our cottage watching the river
flow. I thought in tribute to our moms,
I would have some fun reviewing “old wives’ tales” associated with infection
prevention….well infection treatment to be exact. If you’ve watched the movies or read the Hunger Games trilogy, you’ll recall that each
year a female and male “tribute” were chosen or forced to participate in the
annual games that were played until only 1 tribute remained standing. I chose
to title the blog a “tribute” because as you’ll read below, if many of these were
practiced on us, we’d likely not be here…..
Wives’
Tale #1: If you go outside with wet hair, you'll catch a cold.
Tale #1: If you go outside with wet hair, you'll catch a cold.
Cold
weather, wet hair, and chills don't cause colds or the flu; viruses like
rhinovirus, influenza etc. do. These viruses are spread more easily indoors,
where there may be more contact with dry air and people with colds, which as we
know is why we consider late fall and winter prime cold and flu season. Dry air — indoors or out — can lower
resistance to infection. Having wet hair,
while it may freeze and get crunchy, will not cause you to catch a cold.
weather, wet hair, and chills don't cause colds or the flu; viruses like
rhinovirus, influenza etc. do. These viruses are spread more easily indoors,
where there may be more contact with dry air and people with colds, which as we
know is why we consider late fall and winter prime cold and flu season. Dry air — indoors or out — can lower
resistance to infection. Having wet hair,
while it may freeze and get crunchy, will not cause you to catch a cold.
Wives’
Tale #2: Cover your mouth with your hand when you cough to prevent spreading
colds.
It is true we should cover our mouth and nose when we cough
or sneeze, thereby trapping the viruses and preventing their spread. However, if you use your hand, your virus
laden hand becomes the perfect weapon for passing your cold on to someone else.
You’ll also leave viruses on doorknobs, phones, countertops, elevator buttons
and anything else you touch! To prevent
such icky transmissions, be sure to wash your hands frequently, and use a
tissue or, if one isn't handy, cough and sneeze into your elbow.
Tale #2: Cover your mouth with your hand when you cough to prevent spreading
colds.
It is true we should cover our mouth and nose when we cough
or sneeze, thereby trapping the viruses and preventing their spread. However, if you use your hand, your virus
laden hand becomes the perfect weapon for passing your cold on to someone else.
You’ll also leave viruses on doorknobs, phones, countertops, elevator buttons
and anything else you touch! To prevent
such icky transmissions, be sure to wash your hands frequently, and use a
tissue or, if one isn't handy, cough and sneeze into your elbow.
While the
next three tales may be considered more “folk magic” then wives’ tales, in
investigating preventions and cures, I came across an interesting site that definitely
had me thanking my lucky stars I was born when I was!
next three tales may be considered more “folk magic” then wives’ tales, in
investigating preventions and cures, I came across an interesting site that definitely
had me thanking my lucky stars I was born when I was!
Wives’
Tale #3: Sticking your hand in a bag will cure warts.
Tale #3: Sticking your hand in a bag will cure warts.
The
theory was that if you had warts on your hand, you should stick the infected hand
in a bag and tie it. The first person to untie the bag will get your
warts! It’s no wonder that early healers were called
witches and persecuted. What
kind of cure is one that infects someone else!
Although I suppose if the person who untied the bag was, say, an
ex-girlfriend/boyfriend, irritating older or younger sibling and/or the person
you despise the most, then if it worked you’d get to have the last chuckle!
theory was that if you had warts on your hand, you should stick the infected hand
in a bag and tie it. The first person to untie the bag will get your
warts! It’s no wonder that early healers were called
witches and persecuted. What
kind of cure is one that infects someone else!
Although I suppose if the person who untied the bag was, say, an
ex-girlfriend/boyfriend, irritating older or younger sibling and/or the person
you despise the most, then if it worked you’d get to have the last chuckle!
Wives’
Tale #4: Cow dung cures all.
Tale #4: Cow dung cures all.
Okay, it
doesn’t cure all, but according to the wives’ tale list I found on a self-care
and home remedies site, stepping in warm cow dung cures athlete’s foot. Growing up on a farm I can say I’ve stepped in
my fair share of cow paddies – and yes one or two times I may have been bare
foot, but I can say with all honesty it was not to try and cure an itchy foot! While gross, there could be some merit as cow
dung does have a pretty high ammonia content and ammonia is known to have
antiseptic properties. If I ever get
athlete’s foot maybe I’ll give it a try!
doesn’t cure all, but according to the wives’ tale list I found on a self-care
and home remedies site, stepping in warm cow dung cures athlete’s foot. Growing up on a farm I can say I’ve stepped in
my fair share of cow paddies – and yes one or two times I may have been bare
foot, but I can say with all honesty it was not to try and cure an itchy foot! While gross, there could be some merit as cow
dung does have a pretty high ammonia content and ammonia is known to have
antiseptic properties. If I ever get
athlete’s foot maybe I’ll give it a try!
Wives’
Tale #5: Cure a sore throat with a dirty sock.
According to this this tale, you need to take a sock that
you've worn until it stinks and then tie it around your neck and keep it there until
your throat heals. This one is
laughable, but if anyone would like to try, I would be happy to send one of my
8-year old son’s socks after he’s worn them for a day and played some
hockey! My guess on this one is that you’re
so focused on trying not to wretch or vomit from the smell that you forget
about the sore throat….
Tale #5: Cure a sore throat with a dirty sock.
According to this this tale, you need to take a sock that
you've worn until it stinks and then tie it around your neck and keep it there until
your throat heals. This one is
laughable, but if anyone would like to try, I would be happy to send one of my
8-year old son’s socks after he’s worn them for a day and played some
hockey! My guess on this one is that you’re
so focused on trying not to wretch or vomit from the smell that you forget
about the sore throat….
This last
one is one that I can get behind. It was
one that my mom used on us and I still use to this day!
one is one that I can get behind. It was
one that my mom used on us and I still use to this day!
Wives’
Tale #6: Honey will sooth and treat a cough.
Tale #6: Honey will sooth and treat a cough.
If you’ve
never tried it, then the thought of using honey to treat a cough may sound like
a hare-brained idea that came about one late night when you ran out of cough
syrup and all the drug stores were closed.
Why not? Honey has the same consistency as cough
syrup, and hopefully the placebo effect will be strong enough to let everyone
get back to sleep! Whoever started this
old wives’ tale was on to something, as studies have been conducted proving
that honey is better than the drugs used in cough syrup at relieving cold and
cough symptoms. Researchers think that the stickiness and viscosity of honey is
what helps it alleviate coughs, while the natural antioxidants can help in the
healing process.
never tried it, then the thought of using honey to treat a cough may sound like
a hare-brained idea that came about one late night when you ran out of cough
syrup and all the drug stores were closed.
Why not? Honey has the same consistency as cough
syrup, and hopefully the placebo effect will be strong enough to let everyone
get back to sleep! Whoever started this
old wives’ tale was on to something, as studies have been conducted proving
that honey is better than the drugs used in cough syrup at relieving cold and
cough symptoms. Researchers think that the stickiness and viscosity of honey is
what helps it alleviate coughs, while the natural antioxidants can help in the
healing process.
Next week I promise to get back to
topic more relevant to cleaning and disinfection but sometimes you need to
depart from your scheduled program. Besides, perhaps you’ll feel inclined to
create a Mother’s Day gift basket using some of the wives’ tales cures! Wishing all of the mothers out there a very
Happy Mother’s Day!
topic more relevant to cleaning and disinfection but sometimes you need to
depart from your scheduled program. Besides, perhaps you’ll feel inclined to
create a Mother’s Day gift basket using some of the wives’ tales cures! Wishing all of the mothers out there a very
Happy Mother’s Day!
Bugging Off!
Nicole
PS – I would love to hear some of the
wives’ tales you were told growing up!
wives’ tales you were told growing up!
