Emergency room pediatrician debunks popular myths about home remedies for cold and flu season

An emergency room pediatrician has revealed the risks behind trying popular home healing remedies during cold and flu season – and it turns out most of them aren’t too effective.

The information was shared in a new video posted to TikTok this week by Florida-based Dr. Meghan Martin, who specializes in pediatric emergency medicine. 

She often takes to her social media platforms to share tips, warnings and other safety precautions to take around your little ones – and this time was no different, as she debunked the effectiveness of some at-home treatments. 

The first remedy Dr. Martin spoke about was putting slices of raw potato or onions in your socks overnight, which some claim can draw out ‘toxins’ from your body while you’re sick.

However, this isn’t exactly the best thing to be doing, she warned.

‘When you wake up, it’s a darker color and people say it’s drawing out toxins or virus or mucus,’ Dr. Martin explained.

‘It’s oxidized, that’s science,’ the expert continued of the phenomenon.

‘There is no mechanism in your body to pull out toxins or virus or mucus through your feet.’

The first remedy Dr. Martin spoke about was putting slices of raw potato or onions in your socks overnight, which some claim can draw out ‘toxins’ from your body while you’re sick (stock image)

Though, she did note that trying this out is ‘pretty low risk’ when it comes to your health.

‘It’s uncomfortable sleeping with something cold and wet against your foot, you might smell like onions, and there’s a low risk of some irritation to the skin,’ Dr. Martin shared.

She then moved on to another remedy, which also involved an onion.

‘There’s another onion one, where you peel an onion, cut it in half, and put the half of the onion underneath your bed when you’re sleeping,’ she explained.

Unfortunately, this trick could pose some harm to your household if you have pets.

‘Now, this is a problem if you have pets, because onions can actually be toxic to dogs and cats, so don’t do this if you have pets and there’s a risk that they could get to them,’ the doctor warned.

However, if you don’t have pets and are just trying this out on yourself, there’s a much lower risk.

‘Your room is gonna smell like onions, but the medical risks are low,’ she assured.

‘There is no mechanism in your body to pull out toxins or virus or mucus through your feet,’ she warned 

‘When you wake up, it’s a darker color and people say it’s drawing out toxins or virus or mucus,’ Dr. Martin explained (stock image)

And, last but not least was a popular one that Dr. Martin has seen a lot this year, which was when people put peeled garlic up their nose in an effort to help congestion. 

‘This is not one I would recommend, because that peeled garlic actually irritates the inner surface, the mucosa of the nose,’ she said.

This can create even further problems for your stuffed nose, creating ‘more mucus’ and inflammation.

‘Actually, that damage can bring viruses and bacteria into those tissues, so this one could actually be harmful, I would skip it,’ Dr. Martin suggested.

‘Groceries are really expensive right now, if you find yourself with some extra vegetables and you’re not feeling that great, consider making a soup, that nutrition is more likely to benefit you than potatoes on your feet,’ she concluded.

In the comments section of the video, many people seemed to agree with her takes, claiming that the home remedies didn’t work for them.

‘I put a cut onion on a saucer on the night stand. My husband woke me up at 2am saying he thought we might have a gas link… I started laughing so hard…’ one person wrote.

Another shared, ‘Yeahhhhh. I think a nice potato soup w onions and garlic would make me happier if not actually healthier.’

‘The potatoes cracks me up because anyone who has ever cooked with them knows they turn black when exposed to air,’ someone else typed. 

Others, however, claimed that their home remedies have worked.

‘All I can tell you is I had a horrible dry hacking cough every breath and put potato slices in socks and stopped immediately,’ a commenter claimed.

Another chimed in, ‘My husbands grandma did an onion pack for everything, she survived the Spanish influenza, the great depression and lived to be 101. I’m using the onion.’