When home remedies ruled and logic took a backseat.
A few decades ago, most ailments were tackled not with prescriptions, but with bizarre concoctions, household staples, and a firm belief that grandma knew best. For boomers, these remedies weren’t just traditions—they were gospel. Sore throat? Gargle kerosene. Skin rash? Rub on some bacon fat. The pantry doubled as a pharmacy, and results were measured more in faith than science.
Today, millennials often meet these cures with raised eyebrows and a quick Google search. With information (and medical studies) more accessible than ever, many of those old-time treatments seem downright absurd. What once passed for good old-fashioned healing is now a source of disbelief—or hilarious TikToks. While some of these remedies were harmless and even comforting, others were just reckless. Still, there’s a strange charm to the wild confidence behind them, even if they’re no longer welcome in modern medicine cabinets.
1. Butter on burns was a go-to for first aid.
Applying butter to a burn actually traps heat and increases the risk of infection, as stated by the American Academy of Dermatology. Yet for years, it was one of the first things pulled from the fridge when someone touched a hot pan. The logic seemed simple: butter felt cool and soothing, so it must help, right?
Boomers swore by it, especially in kitchens across America. The problem? That greasy layer held the heat in and could turn a minor burn into something worse. Still, many remember being told to sit still while mom or grandma dabbed a pat of salted butter on red skin with total confidence. It wasn’t until medical professionals pushed back that the butter myth finally started to melt.
2. Vicks VapoRub was rubbed just about everywhere.
Vicks VapoRub isn’t recommended for internal use or application under the nose—especially for children, as reported by Cleveland Clinic. But for boomers, this menthol miracle was slathered on feet, chests, necks, and sometimes even eaten by the brave or misinformed. It was believed to cure everything from a stuffy nose to a nasty cough.
The smell alone could clear a room, and that was seen as a good sign. Its powerful vapors symbolized strength in healing. Unfortunately, misusing it could cause more problems than it solved. Today’s generation checks labels, consults pharmacists, and keeps Vicks far from anywhere it shouldn’t go. But the boomer loyalty to that little blue jar remains fierce.
3. Castor oil was considered a cure-all.
,Castor oil can act as a powerful laxative, but overuse can cause dehydration and stomach distress, as mentioned by the National Institutes of Health. Boomers didn’t just take it for constipation—they believed it could boost the immune system, heal wounds, and even induce labor. It was thick, awful-tasting, and usually delivered with no warning.
Kids dreaded it. Adults swore by it. Castor oil was almost a punishment disguised as a remedy, doled out with a spoon and a no-nonsense attitude. The taste alone created lifelong trauma for many. Today, it’s mostly relegated to cosmetic uses and old war stories about “cleansing the system” in the worst possible way.
4. Whiskey was used as a teething remedy.
It wasn’t uncommon for grandparents to rub a little whiskey on a baby’s gums to soothe teething pain. The idea was that the alcohol numbed the area and helped calm the child. This practice was rarely questioned, and the tiny splash was seen as harmless—if not downright traditional.
Current pediatricians would be horrified. Alcohol and infants are a dangerous combination, even in small doses. But in the 1950s and 60s, it wasn’t unusual for a sleepy baby to smell faintly of bourbon. The remedy may have worked in the moment, but the risk it carried is why it’s long gone from modern parenting playbooks.
5. Kerosene was used for lice and coughs.
Some boomers remember having kerosene rubbed into their scalps to kill lice, or even inhaling fumes to suppress a stubborn cough. It was believed to be a strong disinfectant, and anything strong was considered effective. Safety wasn’t a primary concern—results were.
This approach could lead to chemical burns, poisoning, or worse. Kerosene use wasn’t based on research, but on trial, error, and a lot of anecdotal testimony. Today’s lice treatments are far safer—and don’t involve flammable liquids. Still, some old-timers speak of the kerosene cure like it was a badge of honor.
6. Onion slices were taped to feet for fevers.
Boomers were often told to tape raw onion slices to their soles, put on socks, and sleep it off. By morning, the fever was supposed to be gone, as the onion would “draw out toxins” through the feet. The smell alone could kill a cold—or at least chase it out of the room.
There’s no scientific proof this works, but many families swore it did. Even if the body healed naturally overnight, the onion got the credit. To millennials, this method smells like nonsense—literally. But in the 1950s, no one questioned a home cure if it came from grandma’s kitchen.
7. Mustard plasters were used to “draw out” chest congestion.
A paste made of dry mustard and flour was spread on a cloth and pressed onto the chest to relieve coughing. The heat and pungency were believed to break up mucus and ease breathing. However, mustard plasters could cause severe skin irritation or even burns if left on too long.
They weren’t exactly comfortable. The burning sensation was taken as a sign that it was “working.” Boomers remember it vividly—an itchy, smelly, often painful process that adults insisted would cure the worst winter colds. Today, lozenges and humidifiers are preferred over mustard-scented torture.
8. Raw potato slices were used to treat warts.
It was said that rubbing a raw potato on a wart and then burying the potato would make the wart disappear. There wasn’t much explanation beyond that—it was simply passed down as a tried-and-true method. It felt more like folklore than medicine.
Yet countless people swore they saw results. Placebo or coincidence, it stuck around for decades. Modern medicine offers cryotherapy or salicylic acid—solutions with actual data behind them. But boomers leaned on nature and superstition in equal measure, especially when it came to little ailments like warts.
9. Soap under the sheets was said to cure leg cramps.
Slipping a bar of soap under the fitted sheet, near the legs, was believed to stop nighttime cramps. The type of soap mattered, too—Ivory was often named as the miracle brand. No rubbing or ingesting required—just good old proximity.
To this day, some swear it works, though no scientific evidence supports the theory. Placebo effect? Possibly. Boomer ingenuity? Definitely. It’s the kind of remedy that makes millennials scratch their heads—and boomers smile knowingly.
10. Cough syrup was homemade with honey, vinegar, and pepper.
Before cold medicine was mass-produced, many families mixed up their own remedies. One common combo was honey, apple cider vinegar, and black pepper. It tasted awful but was believed to clear mucus and soothe sore throats fast.
While honey does have proven antimicrobial properties, the vinegar and pepper might just be there to scare the germs away—or at least scare off the cougher. Millennials might reach for a pharmaceutical bottle, but boomers toughed it out with a teaspoon of spicy swamp in a mason jar.
11. Mayonnaise was used as a hair conditioner.
Before deep-conditioning treatments and salon-grade products, mayonnaise was slathered onto dry hair to restore shine. It made sense—oil, eggs, and vinegar sounded like they could help repair damage. The smell, however, was less than glamorous.
Many swear it worked. But millennials, armed with argan oil and sulfate-free formulas, would rather not smell like a sandwich. While mayo might have had some hydrating benefits, the cleanup process made it a one-and-done experiment for most.
12. Bacon fat was applied to insect bites.
That jar of bacon grease next to the stove wasn’t just for cooking—it doubled as a salve. Dabbed on mosquito bites, it was said to reduce itching and swelling. The grease sealed the skin and supposedly sped up healing.
Of course, it also invited dirt, bacteria, and maybe more bugs. But bacon fat was a cure-all in some households. Today, people are more likely to reach for hydrocortisone cream, though the greasy method still has a nostalgic following in some corners.
13. Baby oil was used as sunscreen.
Boomers often lay out in the sun covered in baby oil to maximize their tans. The goal was bronze skin, not protection. A sunburn was just part of the process. SPF wasn’t widely used, and the link between UV exposure and cancer wasn’t well-known.
This practice led to generations of leathery skin and, unfortunately, a lot of melanoma cases. Millennials are more sunscreen-savvy, with broad-spectrum lotions and reapplication timers. Baby oil now stays firmly in the skincare aisle—not on the beach towel.
14. Bread and milk poultices were used on infections.
A soggy mash of white bread soaked in warm milk was applied to boils or infections to “draw out the pus.” The soft, steamy lump was placed over the skin and covered, then removed hours later in hopes of relief.
It might have helped soften the area, but infection control? Not really. Antibacterial creams and sterile techniques are the modern answer. The bread-and-milk approach belongs in the archives, next to handwritten recipes for dubious tonics.
15. Vinegar-soaked brown paper was used for headaches.
This remedy involved soaking brown grocery paper in vinegar and pressing it to the forehead to ease headaches. The smell was believed to relax tension, and the coolness offered some temporary relief. Whether it worked or not, it was a staple in many boomer homes.
Aspirin wasn’t always on hand, and this method was quick and free. Millennials with migraines might prefer actual medication, but the vinegar paper technique lingers in family stories—and occasionally in stubborn attempts to keep tradition alive.