During the Great Plague of London in 1665, numerous individuals embarked on a fervent quest to shield themselves and their families from contracting the epidemic.
A prevalent practice involved combining two small garlic cloves within a pint of fresh milk. The prevailing belief was that consuming this concoction in the morning, on an empty stomach, would serve as a prophylactic against the dreaded disease.
Much like those who endured the devastating plague of London, many people sought remedies to ward off COVID-19. This surge in demand for alternative solutions fueled the proliferation of unsubstantiated claims on social media, asserting garlic’s ability to cure or protect against the virus. Such widespread assertions prompted an exasperated World Health Organization to issue explicit cautionary messages via tweets.
Regrettably, despite laboratory investigations that confirm garlic possesses compounds exhibiting antimicrobial properties, the notion of ingesting garlic to prevent infection from any bacteria or virus is largely considered rooted in folklore.
While folk remedies might appear harmless, they can inadvertently cause harm. For instance, a 72-year-old woman sustained a chemical burn on her tongue from her daily consumption of raw garlic, undertaken with the intention of safeguarding herself against the coronavirus.
The Realm of Medical Folk Wisdom
The concept of garlic serving as a universal cure is deeply embedded within medical folk wisdom, an overarching descriptor for unverified, widely disseminated beliefs pertaining to health and illness.
Folk wisdom often possesses a compelling and intuitive appeal, typically stemming from cultural traditions and long-standing customs.
This body of wisdom can encompass herbal treatments, dietary recommendations, and advice on adopting specific behaviors. It is frequently transmitted through oral tradition across generations, potentially explaining the persistence of myths surrounding disease causation and remedies, even in the face of advanced medical science.
Consider the unyielding conviction held by many that swimming immediately after eating poses a significant risk, a belief devoid of scientific substantiation. Despite its seemingly logical foundation, the notion that consuming food prior to swimming leads to drowning has been effectively discredited by researchers.
The complexity of folk wisdom lies in its dual nature: while it broadly falls under the umbrella of misinformation, it does not neatly align with typical categories such as fake news or deceptive advertising. An individual who advocates for folk wisdom is not necessarily indicative of anti-science sentiments.
For instance, those who subscribe to the belief of “starving a fever” might simultaneously be supportive of vaccinations. Similarly, it is not uncommon for individuals who adhere to official health guidelines to also employ folk wisdom as an supplementary protective measure, perhaps against coronavirus exposure.
The Underrated Impact of Folk Wisdom
Perhaps due to the perception of folk wisdom as predominantly harmless, experts often accord it less scholarly attention.
For example, the belief that warm milk promotes sleep, while potentially unfounded, is unlikely to inflict any detriment (even if its efficacy is questionable). However, other folk beliefs can be perilous, such as the notion that specific foods can enhance immunity, potentially leading individuals to forgo crucial vaccinations against influenza or COVID-19.
Folk wisdom, much like other scientifically unsupported forms of misinformation, frequently circulates widely across social media platforms, thereby posing a significant threat to public health.
A striking illustration occurred in 2020 when the UK entered lockdown, prompting a thirtyfold surge in scald injuries from steam inhalation treated at the Burns Centre of Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
This alarming increase was attributed to a prevalent piece of folk wisdom disseminated on social media, which erroneously advised parents that inhaling steam could prevent or treat respiratory tract symptoms. This discovery was particularly distressing, given that studies published internationally since 1969 have consistently highlighted the inherent dangers associated with steam inhalation.
Folk wisdom is unlikely to dissipate in the foreseeable future. Consequently, it is imperative to comprehend the factors that foster belief in it and the extent to which it challenges established scientific understanding.
A nuanced relationship appears to exist between adherence to folk wisdom and an individual’s actual health practices. Illuminating this intricate connection may prove vital in mitigating its adverse consequences. The implications for public well-being could be profound.
