A new trend on TikTok is recycling age-old folklore medical advice for handling the cold and flu season, which involves putting slices of raw potatoes in one's socks or their kids' socks, and it's fair to say they are in for a root awakening.
Okay, before you get too salty, let's be serious. I have found that if you are here on this planet long enough, everything cycles back around, from fashion to political climates and even trends in culture.
Under-the-weather TikTokers are slicing raw potatoes and placing them in their — and their children’s — socks before bed. The theory is that the potato draws out toxins.
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 16, 2025
However, experts warn against relying on folk remedies over medical care. https://t.co/ujpKaIxGNu
MORE: Vindication: White House Makes Major Website Update re: COVID Origins, Calls Out Fauci
So, it's not too surprising to see that this one, which originated back in the Middle Ages, has surfaced. The theory is that putting the slices of potato against the skin will somehow draw out toxins and lead to recovery. The idea that the potato turns black means that it has worked, and people claim to feel better.
However, there has been no real scientific proof that this works, and putting a potato in your sock will not cure the common cold. Experts relate the feeling better to more of a placebo effect.
"That would mean the virus or bacteria would need to be drawn out of the blood, through the skin and tissue, and into the potato. That's a long road for a disease or toxin to travel," Joanna Parga-Belinkie, a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics, told the Washington Post.
Rebecca Andrews, a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and chair of the board of regents for the American College of Physicians, said that the color change would happen regardless of whether those slices were put in the socks of an ill person because potatoes, which she said are "rich in iron and starch" darken and turn a different color when "exposed to oxygen."
Anyone who has ever attempted to make homemade French fries knows all too well, because by the time you get those spuds sliced up to look like French fries, they start to turn red and not look like something you want to eat. Pro-tip: Put them in water while you are slicing the rest.
But I digress. Parga-Belinkie said the real concern here is that people trying these trends will opt out of seeking real medical care that they might just need.
As an alternative to potatoes, some people advocate for putting cut onions in their socks instead. Since ancient Egypt and Greece, people have touted the onion as having medicinal or healing properties. In the early 1900s, some people believed that cut or whole onions could help stop the spread of the flu, for instance, by absorbing it from the air and stopping the spread, Parga-Belinkie said.
"Today, there are people who still believe some component of an onion can help stop the spread of disease by somehow taking it out of circulation. This does not happen. Though this remedy is rooted in a lot of history and so it has cultural significance for people, it distracts from things that really could help prevent the spread of the flu," she added.
Is it really any surprise to people that folklore remedies would become popular on TikTok, given the absolute insanity and lies we went through as a country during the COVID-19 pandemic? Honestly, if the medical field doesn't like this, it has no one to blame but itself.
The bottom line, as the WaPo piece pointed out, is that there are tons of home remedies that have been proven effective over the years.
Here are a few that you could keep your eyes peeled for:
Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water is important to prevent dehydration, particularly with vomiting and diarrhea. Also, make sure you are consuming enough electrolytes such as potassium and sodium, which are often added to pediatric beverages and sports drinks.
Up your vitamin intake. Your immune system needs vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc to work the best it can.
Consume warm foods and beverages. Chicken broth (or bone broth), soups and teas help with hydration and nutrients but also provide warmth, which can be comforting for people with fever and chills. The steam can help also open up congested airways. That said, "there are no magic foods to cure a cold or flu. The 'magic' comes from having a healthy immune system that can attack the virus or bacteria and clear it from the body," MacDonald said.
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