Many of the remedies have been around for centuries and date back to medieval times. Doctors add that regardless of whether the remedies work they are all safe to use and do not pose a risk to health — unless someone has an allergy. ‘Garlic in honey, I have to say that in Germany pharmacies will prescribe certain teas for respiratory conditions — many of which have garlic or honey for people to drink. But very few studies have looked into its ability to fight off the cold. ‘For example, I was actually talking about this to one of our pharmacists the other day whose parents are healthcare workers in Switzerland and have science degrees.

Jeremy Toffle, MD, a pediatrician at the Children’s Physicians in Nebraska, told Verywell that there is also no evidence that shows you even can draw out a toxin from the skin by placing something on it. Meanwhile, another mom also swore the hack worked on adults as well as children. Despite the TikTok connection, this is not a new remedy but an old wives’ tale stemming back to the middle ages when many people believed it could help protect you from bubonic plague. Some historians say it may also date back to ancient Chinese medicine.

The only way to help prevent the flu is to get the flu vaccine. Babies, children and adults should be up to date on all vaccines to help prevent serious illness. Potatoes in your socks can’t cure a cold or other ailments, like coughs, runny noses, or sinus infections.

Lastly, blindly trying out viral hacks may cause skin allergies. “Putting raw potato on the skin can also irritate the skin. Some people may get a skin irritation called eczema by touching a potato. Potato peels can also cause a reaction,” Healthline warned. Sickly TikTok users are sleeping with slices dr oz herpes cure of potatoes in their socks in a desperate bid to beat the flu. Some people are claiming that a bizarre new hack involving a potato can relieve the symptoms of cold and flu. And now, adding to this rich history, social media is chock-full of present-day anecdotes to support the onion/potato remedy.

One TikToker said in a video that her child and mother, who both slept with potato slices in their socks during a bout of cold and fever, woke up feeling much better. TikTok has been a hub for many unique and questionable health-related trends—from taping your mouth shut at night to sleep better to eating raw meat for more energy and better digestion. The latest health hack involves putting potato slices in your socks while you sleep. Perhaps not surprisingly, the medical evidence that potatoes in your socks can cure the flu is pretty much nonexistent. The so-called “natural cure” likely has origins as a folk remedy dating back to the Middle Ages, when people didn’t have full understanding of how viruses and bacteria worked, according to Healthline. But medical experts are warning TikTokers not to place promise in potatoes, instead saying there are better, proven methods to alleviate flu symptoms.

Therefore, we tried to help ourselves through diet, sport, natural remedies and little gestures made out of love.More …. Most bacterial infections can be effectively treated with antibiotics. Your doctor’s choice of antibiotic will depend on the bacteria that is causing the infection. People sometimes use cucumbers alongside face masks or during baths.