More old wives tales - causes of illness

Take your curlers out during a thunderstorm! Must only have applied to those metal spring type curlers my mum had

When I was 3 months old I somehow got pyaemia, (pus in the bloodstream). This was before antibiotics and the doctor prescribed M & B tablets, whatever they were, but told my mother that I was probably going to die. When her MIL visited she told my mam that I wouldn't get better as long as she had birds in the house. She was referring to two chalk plaques with birds on that were hanging on the wall. My mam pulled them down and put them into the dustbin. Next day my fever had broken, and I'm still here and nearly 80.

Apparently, it turns out that covering your nose and face up against colds has some scientific 'traction' as a cold is a rhinovirus and develops in the back of the nose, especially when chilled. Who knew?

A few times when I'd had a nose bleed, my mother would tell me it was instead of a period that month. ???????

Griselda I assume poor nutrition and hygiene played a part in the development of styes. My mother always rubbed them with her wedding ring and squeezed Golden Eye Ointment on them. I don't think you can get that now. I'm sure I remember her using a couple of matchsticks to squeeze pus out of the stye too. Probably why I had a cyst develop on the inside of my eyelid, which had to be surgically removed. The cyst, not the eyelid

Beammeup, I was told that by a family Planning doctor! Guess what, I became pregnant!!!
I used to be told if I ate green fruit I'd get the collywobbles. It sounded very interesting, but being an obedient child I never tested the theory! BTW I always tell the GCs that, they think it is hilarious.

The worst one was you won't get pregnant when you are breastfeeding.
Incidentally, Collis Browne is available to some chemists; very good for upset stomachs.

My mother would say never wash your hair when you had a period but the funny thing was when I gave birth to my eldest the midwives said not to wash my hair and then you were in hospital for 10 days. Got.a good wash when I went home

Another one of my mums sayings was always air of you clothes, otherwise you will get TB

I'm another who thinks that a gold ring rubbed on a stye works. The thing is though no-one gets styes any more. I wonder why not ?
We were told that sitting with your back to the fire would 'melt your marrow'.

Gangstagran and DanniRae - yes I was told it would make me feel sick if I sat with my back to the fire and if I tried to warm up cold toes in front of the fire I would apparently get chilblains

Yes DanniRae sitting with your back to the fire was said to make you feel sick.

Reading in bed would make you need glasses was another of my Mum's.

Reading gives you a headache?

Sitting on a cold wall,step or ground you will get piles.

Gangstagran - I think sitting with your back to the fire would make you feel sick?? Not sure, but I know I was told not to do it.

Everything had to be 'aired' before it could be worn - especially vests.

Something would cause chilblains but I can't remember what - or indeed what they were?

Even now if I go out with damp hair I feel that my mum is watching me and tutting and sadly she's not even around anymore!

Don't sit with your back to the fire,never did know why?

Remember Dr Collis Browne's mixture great favourite of mums, goodness knows what was in it. Vests a definite must nowadays glad they are so pretty now, what about liberty bodices?

Don't sit with your back to the fire ,never did know why?

Don't diet or you will get a headache. This from my slim parents who produced a large daughter!
Don't wash your hair during your period but use dry shampoo instead - which was like talcum powder so turned your hair white.

I wear lace trimmed vests with long sleeves...........as instructed by my gran, however, I rarely wear anything on top of them, why waste the loveliness of lace. I ask my kids to wear vests as it seems like good sense to me to stay warm and if I am cold (not often) they have to put a jumper on.

I am never sure about the rules for cutting nails, is it Fridays or Sundays to be avoided?

I call my vests camisoles or base layers if they are long sleeved thermals. It makes me feel less old lady.
Any aches, illnesses or pains in my house were put down to sitting in a draught.

Same as Bellanonna, plus, I wasn't allowed a bath either. Had to have one when Mother was out!

My mother never told us not to wash our hair when we had a period. I've just remembered another one, though - if your foot itched, you had eaten too much sugar.

And if you hurt yourself and it looked worse than it was, she always said "No sense, no feeling". She said that a lot!

If one of your ears burns after coming in from the cold -
Left for love, Right for spite.

My mother in law always says "Always have a pair of clean pijams available in case you need to go to hospital" - my husband has never worn pijams!