More Old Wives Tales... Well It Can't Hurt!

Stop busting bad on those old wives! This could save your life.

I received this e-mail from a friend:

"Flu

In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu. Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it and many died.

The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.

Now, I heard this story from my hairdresser in AZ. She said that several years ago many of her employees were coming down with the flu and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick. It must work.. (And no, she is not in the onion business.)

The moral of the story is, buy some onions and place them in bowls around your home. If you work at a desk, place one or two in your office or under your desk or even on top somewhere. Make sure you throw the onion away when done – Don’t eat it! Try it and see what happens. We did it last year and we never got the flu.

If this helps you and your loved ones from getting sick, all the better. If you do get the flu, it just might be a mild case..

Whatever, what have you to lose? Just a few bucks on onions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


So naturally, I called my mom (who knows almost everything) and told her about this nutty e-mail I received – what did she think? I was really interested because my daughter, who rarely gets ill, wasn’t feeling well that night and had flu like symptoms. I was further motivated because just three weeks ago one of the little 12 year old girls in our volleyball conference wasn’t feeling well after practice on Wednesday night. We were shocked and saddened to learn that she died Friday morning of the Swine Flu. My heart breaks for her mother.

Last night I put in a call to Mom and she told me, that “Miss Hannah” our 87 year old ever-smiling, chipper and healthy as a horse friend swears by this. In any conversation with Hannah if mom ever mentions that anyone is under the weather “Miss Hannah” advises that they cut an onion in half and put it in a bowl on the night stand in the “sick-room”.

Last night I took my last onion and cut it in half and put it by Regan’s bedside. This morning she woke up feeling much better. Coincidence? Maybe. But I think it is time to go to the grocery store.

Oh Hail! Take Your Vitamines!

Two days ago it was 80°. This morning it is hailing!

Can dramatic fluctuations in weather make you more susceptible to illness?

Despite generations of mothers insisting that we bundle up, and fill up on chicken soup and hot tea, scientists are running outside barefoot without their coats on.

Once again Scientists are back-talking the Old Wives Club and bucking generations of conventional wisdom. Science reports: “Colds and flu are caused by viruses and when bad weather arrives, people merely stay inside and are more likely to spread germs to one another”. Well, this Old Wife has never observed work or school dismissing for good weather so we can disperse and not sneeze on one another.

They also say, "Viruses spread more easily through dry air. When it is cold outside, the air is drier both outdoors and inside (where people have their heaters on) which may make it easier for germs to pass from one person to another.” Yadah, Yadah, Yadah! The old wives club’s imperial data suggests just the opposite – dramatic shifts in weather as well as damp cold weather makes us more susceptible to sickness.

So until Mr. Smarty Pants is going to make you homemade chicken soup, wipe your nose, and tuck you in, mom says put on your scarf, keep warm and dry and take an extra vitamin C!