Potatoes as a cure for arthritis

If you ever read the “Little House on the Prairie” book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, then you may recall that one of the ways pioneers kept warm in winter was by slipping hot potatoes under the covers with them. Understandably, the heat from the potato would quickly warm their extremities.

However, this tactic may have originated in the United Kingdom and for different reasons - as a cure for rheumatism, known today as arthritis. During Victorian times, people believed that keeping a potato in their pocket would help to cure joint pain. It’s not clear, though, if the potato had to be a hot potato or just a regular one.

Regardless, heat can help with arthritis symptoms. According to the Arthritis Foundation, research has shown that heat treatments can loosen stiff joints and relieve achy muscles. So maybe a hot potato as an arthritis treatment is still relevant in today’s world.