My Mother (GG –Great Grandmother) taught my brother and me not to scratch an itch. We were taught we should circle around it and rub, but never scratch. She said to scratch an itch just made it worse. GG would have us wrap ice and apply the cold. That is just one of homemade remedies. Some use a fresh crushed basil leaf, aloe, organic apple cider, a paste of oatmeal. The key here was not to scratch the itch.
As I was watching the NBC Nightly News and scratching an itch on my ankle from no-serums bites I got walking in Miami (yes, there are such things as these tiny biting insects in Florida), Brian Williams announced a new research study that said it is not a good idea to scratch an itch. It seems that scratching an itch makes you itch more. He reported that researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine say the minor pain of scratching an itch produces serotonin, the “pleasure” hormone, which makes you want to scratch more.
After researching myself for modern remedies in lieu of scratching, I found that the old wives remedies are still around and recommended. If you want something modern and medical, then what seems to be highly rated on Consumer Reports and Amazon is Gold Bond Medicated Anti-Itch Cream. It is enriched with aloe and Vitamin E and listed as useful for minor skin irritations, cuts and burns, dry skin, poison ivy, oak, and sumac, insect bites, scrapes, and sunburn. It is steroid and hydro cortisone free, and in the reviews, says it is better than hydrocortisone cream, which has been prescribed by one of my doctors as a remedy.
As grandmas, we can always provide the history and tell stories of the “old times.” This is one example of a story we can tell our grandchildren. Sometimes modern researchers test old theories and find that the “old wives’ tales” provide the best answer. Old becomes new again. Homemade old time remedies like old time memories shared by grandmas are the best.
Joy,
Mema
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