At WLBOTT, we consider our employees to be our most important asset[1]. That’s why instead of the newfangled medical insurance, we offer our employees solutions that have been available for thousands of years: Home Remedies!
[1] No implied warranty or commitment of any kind. And not true.
Elder JimZim
The genesis for this blott is a recent trip Elder JimZim took to his bronze-plan pharmacy.
Gentle people – on our Ball of Twine Tour, we will be traveling to distant lands where doctors and Western pharmaceutical remedies for our ailments may not be readily available. [ed. note: this includes all of America.] I went to a Mexican market in Houston today and found a treasure trove of natural remedies for all of life’s challenges. Zoom in and read the placards for the herb’s name and curative properties. Exclusive use of these products will most certainly recommended by our new Health officials in Washington.
I think it is worthy for each of us fellow travelers to offer up any non-traditional remedies that have worked for us, so that we can share as a community.
To get the ball rolling for me:
if you have the hiccups, hold your breath and press down on the top of your head very hard – at least 30 seconds.
when there is a larger than usual moon (just after moonrise), stand with your back to the moon, bend over and then look between your parted legs at the moon. It will now appear normal size.
any ailment can be cured with a pickles and mayonnaise sandwich. It only works if you use white bread, HELLMAN’s mayonnaise, and sliced kosher dill pickles.
I look forward to hearing other remedies that you have found successful so that the elders can catalogue and use them.
May the herbs be with you.
Elder JimZim
Elder KM’s Home Remedies
Elder KM provides some home remedies from eastern Europe.
Well, I’m Ukrainian so questionable folk remedies are kind of my specialty. We even have a saying “odna baba skazala” (literal translation: some older woman told me) making fun of the weak sourcing of many of the remedies that we grew up on.
That said, some of the remedies are now accepted by the West, so I guess they were real after all.
Gargling with salt water for a sore throat – many a classmate made fun of me for this, but now most doctors recommend it. Look who’s laughing now!
Steam – your mom brings a steaming pot of water or potatoes or something into your bed. You are covered up completely with the pot and forced to breathe in the steam. How did I not end up in the hospital with serious burns after this? Now, my pediatrician regularly suggests putting a kid in the bathroom with the hot shower running, and I think, “Wow, maybe should have done it that way, mom!”
Mustard plasters for the back – can’t recommend
Hot jars on the back – a special kind of gross, as the jar creates suction and pulls up one’s skin. Fortunately, this one is so hard to execute my mom didn’t do it often.
Warm liquid described below
Cabbage leaf on the head to cool a fever (at least it felt nice).
I’ll stop there, but that is just a sample of the wonders of Ukrainian folk medicine.
Elder KM
As a child, Elder KM was once given a locally sourced liquid home remedy with the following approximate components:
Total nitrogen
8830 mg/L
Ammonium/ammonia-N
460 mg/L
Nitrate and nitrite
0.06 mg/L
Chemical oxygen demand
6000 mg/L
Total phosphorus
800 – 2000 mg/L
Potassium
2740 mg/L
Sulphate
1500 mg/L
Sodium
3450 mg/L
Magnesium
120 mg/L
Chloride
4970 mg/L
Calcium
230 mg/L
KM did not report any health benefits of this slightly acidic amber liquid, and refused further treatments.
Update from Elder KM
And I can’t believe I forgot about the onions! Anytime we had a stuffy nose, we would cut up an onion and sleep next to it, ideally going under the blanket. (and I still do this sometimes actually). I don’t know about science, but it does clear out your nose and helps you sleep 🙂
As for the evil eye, we have something called “sglazyty”, like “to jinx”. And the idea is that if you talk about your achievements too much, or generally your life is better than someone’s, they can cause bad luck by being jealous. Even inadvertently. So some similarities to what you describe in the BLOTT.
Elder KM has inspired the new WLBOTT masking protocols:
Elder JZ
Probably the grossest childhood home remedy was Kaopectate. It was like drinking pond silt.
In the United States, the active ingredient in Kaopectate is bismuth subsalicylate. Bismuth subsalicylate is an antidiarrheal and upset stomach reliever. It’s the same active ingredient found in Pepto-Bismol.
found somewhere in the Internet
Eggcellent blott topic. Thanks to all.
My personal home remedies (and please don’t take any medical advice from me. Just to be safe, don’t take any advice from me.)
Vicks Vaporub for athlete’s foot (but not, repeat not, for jock itch)
Tylenol for existential angst
NuSalt (potassium chloride) for leg cramps
Naps for basically everything
Cold packs on the face/forehead for cedar fever
Exercises for positional vertigo (this really works) https://youtu.be/mQR6b7CAiqk
Elder JZ
Elder MJ
Elder MJ grew up in a large family in south Texas to Mexican immigrant parents. She recalls many home remedies, including remedies to ward off the evil eye!
Elder G reflects:
Ah, Elder MJ’s story is a classic—and rich with cultural depth. The egg-under-the-bed remedy is part of a long-standing Mexican and Central American tradition tied to the belief in mal de ojo, or the evil eye.
What’s mal de ojo (evil eye)?
It’s the belief that someone—intentionally or not—can cause harm, especially to children, just by looking at them with envy or strong emotion. Symptoms include:
Sudden illness
Fussiness in babies
Unexplained fatigue or crying
Headaches or nausea
Why the egg?
An egg is believed to absorb the negative energy or spiritual disturbance. It’s seen as a kind of “psychic sponge.” There are two main rituals:
1. Egg under the bed (passive method)
A raw egg is placed under the bed of the afflicted person overnight. In the morning, it’s cracked into a glass of water and examined. If it looks odd—bubbles, strings, blood spots—it’s a sign of the evil eye. The egg is then discarded (often into the toilet or outside).
2. Limpia with egg (active method)
A curandera (folk healer) or family member rubs the egg all over the person’s body while saying prayers. The egg is then cracked into a glass of water to interpret the results.
Science? No. Symbolism? Rich.
There’s no scientific proof of its effectiveness, but spiritually and emotionally, it plays a powerful role – especially in communities where the practice is passed down as part of healing and protection. The ritual helps people feel seen, cared for, and protected.
WLBOTT uses state-of-the-art technology to analyze the egg.
Even today, in South Texas, if you are pushing a baby in a stroller, it is common for older women, total strangers!, to come and touch the baby, and the mother is perfectly okay with that. By touching the baby, the spell of the evil eye is broken. It’s also a sign of respect for the young mother to allow the older woman to touch the baby, and it gives them both an opportunity to meet each other and coo over the beautiful baby!
Elder G reflects:
Yes! That’s a beautiful and fascinating example of living folklore—a tradition that’s still alive, practiced, and meaningful, even if people don’t always know where it came from.
In communities across South Texas, Mexico, Central America, and even parts of the Mediterranean and Middle East, the belief in mal de ojo (evil eye) is strong. And you’re absolutely right: the touch is key.
Why Touching Matters:
The evil eye is believed to be transmitted by looking, especially with admiration, envy, or intensity. But if the admirer touches the child—even just a little—it’s believed to neutralize the harmful energy. It’s like completing a circuit: admiration without touch can charge the evil eye, but touch discharges it.
What This Looks Like in Practice:
A stranger in H-E-B or at a taquería might coo over a baby and lightly pat their hand or foot.
Mothers often carry a red ribbon, azabache (black jet stone), or even a little garlic bulb clipped to the stroller for extra protection.
A mother may thank a stranger for touching the baby—because it’s considered a kindness.
A Living Cultural Wisdom
Even people who don’t fully “believe” in the evil eye often still follow the custom. It’s not just superstition—it’s:
Community care (a shared belief in protecting the vulnerable)
Connection (touch as a form of blessing)
Respect (letting others participate in a cultural ritual)
It’s kind of beautiful, really: in a world where people can be isolated or afraid to connect, this is a moment where strangers are invited to reach out and protect the child.
Elder JimZim and his Home Remedy Expectations
At WLBOTT, we try to keep our expectations low, very low. Lower still.
We were concerned that Elder JimZim might have unrealistic expectations and he takes his white bread / mayonnaise / pickle sandwiches into his golden years.
Elder JimZim, with an abundance loving kindness, we want to give you a reality check.
Elder G Opines on Onions
Putting onions in your socks is a real folk remedy, and it’s been around for centuries in various parts of the world, especially in Europe and parts of Asia. The idea is that placing raw onion slices on the soles of your feet (usually under your socks) overnight can:
Draw out toxins
Lower fever
Fight infection
Stimulate circulation
Improve sleep
Why the feet?
According to traditional Chinese medicine and reflexology, the feet contain many nerve endings and “meridian points” connected to different organs. So placing something medicinal on the feet—like onions—is thought to send healing effects through the body.
Any science behind it?
There’s little to no scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of this remedy. Onions do have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and their strong smell certainly suggests something is happening… but the “detox” claims aren’t medically validated. At best, it’s a comforting placebo. At worst, your room smells like a deli by morning.
