12 Old Wives' Tales

An investigation: twelve home truths, or just tall tales?

Many old wives’ tales have a kernel of truth in them, but they tend to get exaggerated over time. Others persist because of anecdotal experiences or placebo effects. Either way, always look at the science behind a claim before accepting it as fact. Sometimes, traditional wisdom aligns with modern knowledge—but at other times, it’s just a cute story! So here are twelve tales, some with a little grounding in fact, others utter bunkum.

1. Keeping a Window Open at Night is Good for You

The Tale: Sleeping with the window open allows fresh air to circulate, preventing illness and promoting better health.

The Truth: There’s some validity to this! Fresh air can help regulate temperature and improve sleep quality. However, if you live in a polluted area, near a busy road, or it’s very cold, sleeping with the window open might do more harm than good. However, indoor air quality can often be worse than outdoor air (because allergens, toxins, dust , dander and more get trapped inside), so ventilation is generally beneficial—just be mindful of noise, and pollution.

2. Going to Bed with Wet Hair Will Make You Sick

The Tale: Sleeping with wet hair can give you a cold or even pneumonia.

The Truth: A cold is caused by viruses, not by being cold or having wet hair. However, sleeping with wet hair can lower your body temperature slightly, making you more susceptible if you’ve already been exposed to a virus. It can also lead to scalp issues like dandruff or fungal growth, if your pillow stays damp. Likewise, going outside with wet hair will not by and of itself give you a cold, but by the same rationale, it might make you more susceptible if you’ve already been exposed to a virus.

3. Drinking Warm Milk Helps You Sleep

The Tale: A glass of warm milk before bed helps you drift off faster.

The Truth: There’s some truth to this! Milk contains tryptophan, an amino acid that helps produce serotonin and melatonin, both linked to sleep. However, the amount in milk is relatively small, so the effect might be more psychological (a comforting bedtime routine) than biochemical. Plus, too much liquid right before bed might have you waking to use the loo.

4. Cracking Your Knuckles Causes Arthritis

The Tale: If you crack your knuckles too often, you’ll develop arthritis.

The Truth: While personally I hate the noise and do find myself saying this to my son to make him stop, studies have found no link between knuckle cracking and arthritis. Instead, the popping sound comes from gas bubbles in the joint fluid, not from damaging bones or cartilage. However, there have been some studies that suggest it could worsen your grip strength over time.