Grandma Swore By It! Do These Old-School Remedies Still Work?

Did your mother or grandmother have a remedy for EVERYTHING?

A little Vicks on your chest. Honey in your tea. Garlic for whatever ailed you. Olive oil for your skin. Castor oil…whether you wanted it or not. 😂

In this episode of LIFEcast: Living in Full Expression, Randy and Grace take a funny and nostalgic look back at the old remedies, foods, sayings, and bits of family wisdom that were passed down from generation to generation.

But this time, they’re asking a question:

Do any of these things still make sense today?

Randy and Grace remember and discuss:

• Vicks VapoRub

• Castor oil

• Olive oil

• Raw honey

• Bee pollen

• Garlic, onions, and tomatoes

• Figs and old-fashioned poultices

• Whiskey and other remedies from years gone by

• Foods and ingredients people once considered “good for what ails you”

• And plenty of family advice that somehow survived for generations

Then the conversation turns to the sayings almost everybody heard growing up:

“Money doesn’t grow on trees.”

“A watched pot never boils.”

“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

“Don’t do that with your eyes or they’ll stay that way!”

And, of course:

“You’re going to poke your eye out!”

Some of those sayings contained real wisdom.

Others…maybe not so much. 😄

Grace also shares the classic story of a family that cut both ends off the pot roast for generations — only to eventually discover Grandma did it simply because the roast wouldn’t fit in her pan.

It’s a perfect reminder that sometimes we keep doing things simply because “that’s the way our family always did it.”

Randy and Grace also talk about something from the old days that probably deserves a comeback:

Getting outside.

Sunshine, movement, fresh air, playing outdoors, and spending less time sitting in front of screens may be some of the simplest pieces of wisdom previous generations gave us.

This episode is part nostalgia, part laughter, part family history — and part asking whether Grandma might have actually known a thing or two.

So tell us in the comments:

What remedy, saying, or piece of advice did YOUR parents or grandparents swear by?

And is there one you still use today?

We’d love to hear it!

NOTE: This episode is a nostalgic conversation about family traditions and personal experiences. It is not medical advice. Always talk with a qualified healthcare professional before trying a remedy for a health condition.