If you’ve ever heard that eating bread crusts makes your hair curly, or that you should starve a fever and feed a cold, you’ve encountered an old wives’ tale. This term refers to traditional folk wisdom passed down through generations, often with a hint of skepticism. The phrase “old wives” likely stems from a time when housewives and wise women were the primary keepers of knowledge about minor ailments, pregnancy, and childbirth. While many of these tales have been debunked, some are proving to be true upon closer examination.
It’s not entirely unexpected. For centuries, “herbals” or plant catalogs detailing medicinal uses have been in circulation in Europe, often incorporating local knowledge about plant-based remedies. The professionalization of medicine is relatively recent; until the 19th century, barbers were also surgeons. Much knowledge originated from these old wives, such as the development of aspirin, which was inspired by the folk remedy of using willow bark for pain relief.
The well-known belief that chicken soup helps with colds is just the beginning. While chocolate doesn’t cause pimples and going out with wet hair won’t make you sneeze, there is a wealth of traditional knowledge grounded in scientific fact.
1. Longer Labor Might Indicate a Boy
Many myths about pregnancy and childbirth are unfounded. You can’t determine a baby’s gender based on breast shape or baby’s position. However, one tale has some truth: a difficult and prolonged labor is more likely with a boy. A study at Dublin’s Maternity Hospital found a correlation between gender and labor length, possibly because boys often have larger heads, making delivery more challenging.
2. Hot Baths Can Harm Sperm
Heat and sperm are a bad combination. This was humorously proven when my mother delayed delivering my father’s sperm sample in 100-degree heat, resulting in the doctors finding dead sperm. A 2007 University of California study found men who spent over 30 minutes weekly in hot water had significantly reduced fertility. Once they stopped, sperm production increased by 461% in three to six months.
3. Carrots Aid Vision
Carrots contribute to good eyesight through beta-carotene, which helps produce vitamin A, essential for eye health and night vision. This tale, however, wasn’t from old wives but was popularized during WWII by the UK Ministry of Food to explain the success of British pilots’ night missions, which were actually due to new technology.
4. Oily Fish as Brain Food
The connection between omega-3s and oily fish is now well-known, although it was once dismissed as an old wives’ tale. Omega-3s improve brain cell conductivity, boosting brain performance. A 2014 study showed regular fish consumption increased brain volume, acting as a neuron enhancer.
5. Cheese and Strange Dreams
The belief that cheese before bed causes weird dreams is often dismissed as myth. Yet, a study by the British Cheese Board found that different cheeses led to peculiar dreams among 200 volunteers. More research is needed to substantiate these findings.
6. Heartburn and Hairy Babies
A curious link exists between heartburn during pregnancy and giving birth to a hairy baby. A study at Johns Hopkins Hospital set out to disprove this but found it to be true. Researchers suspect pregnancy hormones might cause both increased hair growth and relaxed esophagus muscles, leading to heartburn.
7. Honey as a Cough Suppressant
Adding honey to tea for a sore throat is not just an old remedy; it’s scientifically supported. A study showed children with respiratory infections improved more with honey than with standard cough medicine. Honey acts as a demulcent, soothing irritation by forming a protective layer, and its antibacterial properties have been recognized since ancient times.
