This article looks at a TikTok trend repackaging ancient folk remedies for cold and flu, explains why the potato-in-sock trick is scientifically unsupported, reports expert reactions, and offers practical home-care measures that actually help when you or your kids get sick.
A new trend on TikTok has users putting slices of raw potato in their socks, sometimes on their kids, claiming it draws out illness. The idea is that the potato darkens as it pulls toxins from the body, and people report feeling better afterward. This piece traces the folk origins of the practice and contrasts the claim with medical opinion.
The notion is not new; versions of this belief go back centuries and crop up whenever viral seasons begin. Potatoes and onions have long held cultural reputations for absorbing bad humors and preventing spread of disease. Those stories make for catchy short-form videos, but catchy does not equal credible.
Medical experts emphasize that there is no evidence a potato in a sock will cure a cold or flu, and that feeling better is more likely a placebo effect. One practical problem is that relying on folklore can delay seeking proper care when symptoms need attention. That delay, not the potato, can cause harm.
“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.
Another expert notes the potato darkens when exposed to air because of its iron and starch content, not because it has trapped pathogens. Rebecca Andrews, a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, explained that the color change happens regardless of placement. The visible darkening is a natural chemical reaction, not a diagnostic sign of recovery.
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.
Folklore remedies persist because they are simple, affordable, and culturally familiar, but they can also be distracting. The risk is not the trend itself so much as when it replaces effective measures like getting medical advice when warranted. Public health messages can lose traction if people substitute viral era distrust for common-sense care.
There are, however, home-based actions that do offer real benefit and are worth following during a cold or flu. Staying hydrated supports recovery and prevents dehydration, especially if vomiting or diarrhea is present. Make sure to replace electrolytes when needed, particularly in children and older adults.
Boosting intake of vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc supports immune function and is a reasonable part of general prevention, though none are magic bullets. Warm, hydrating foods and beverages such as broths and teas soothe sore throats and can ease congestion through steam. Beyond comfort, these measures help maintain calorie and fluid intake while the immune system does its work.
Putting a potato in a sock is harmless in most cases, but it is not treatment and should not replace clinical care when symptoms worsen. If fever persists, breathing becomes difficult, or vulnerable people like infants and the elderly get sick, professional guidance is necessary. Use common sense: folk remedies can be part of cultural practice, but they are not substitutes for medicine.
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