The Legend of the Cold Stone

Is there any truth to what the older generation is always preaching? You know, that whole "don't sit on cold stones" thing. Is that actually a real trigger for stuff like the flu or other illnesses, or is it just old wives' tales?

It’s awfully quiet in this thread. Honestly, why isn't anyone chiming in? I am genuinely curious to hear what everyone thinks about this.

Look, if you ask me, it’s pretty obvious that isn't the case; there's simply no logical connection there, so how on earth is a cold stone supposed to trigger some kind of massive, debilitating illness?
I mean, I’ve never been able to wrap my head around that logic myself, either.

Flu is caused by viruses... not by touching cold stones... there's absolutely no connection whatsoever...

It’s an established fact that pathogenic microorganisms are the direct culprits behind various respiratory inflammations, but science hasn't definitively proven whether a drop in body temperature actually triggers the onset of inflammation. That said, plenty of studies have pointed toward a correlation, even if we haven't nailed down the exact mechanism yet. My take? It’s most likely that losing heat puts the body into a sort of shock state. The system pours all its resources into trying to compensate for that lost warmth, which simultaneously leaves the immune system vulnerable. This creates the perfect window for infections—pathogens that were already lurking in your system—to finally strike when the guard is down. I can't say for certain how much sitting on a cold stone bench contributes to this, but it's a safe bet that the body loses heat proportionally to the contact. I just want to point out that this common-sense wisdom shouldn't be dismissed as primitive nonsense.

I heard that sitting on cold stone is a one-way ticket to getting hemorrhoids.🤷

fadedmarlin402 said:It’s an undeniable fact that pathogens are the direct cause of various respiratory inflammations, but science hasn't definitively proven that being chilled doesn't trigger that inflammation. In fact, plenty of studies show a link exists, even if we haven't nailed down the exact mechanism yet. Most likely, losing body heat puts the system into a sort of shock state; the body pours all its energy into trying to get warm again, which simultaneously weakens the immune response. That creates a window for infections—pathogens that were already sitting there waiting for a chance—to take hold. I'm not sure how much sitting on a cold stone bench actually matters, but it’s certain that the body loses heat at the same rate it's being stolen. I just want to point out that this common sense shouldn't be dismissed as primitive.

I watched a documentary once that explained exactly what you're saying. It said that blood vessels constrict, especially in the nose (and we all know colds start in the nose and mouth), so the blood delivers fewer leukocytes and other stuff needed to fight off viruses and bacteria.

I don't really have a solid argument here, honestly. Growing up, everyone around me was always lecturing me about not sitting on cold surfaces—you know, like concrete or stone—because they were convinced I’d end up with some kind of pelvic inflammation or kidney issues. They even used to say the same thing about walking around barefoot too.
And then there was the whole thing about having bare skin exposed, like when you're wearing a shirt that doesn't quite cover everything.
To be fair, I've never actually dealt with any of those health problems🤷 though, I suppose, I still make sure to avoid sitting on anything freezing just in case.
But I really love this whole idea regarding "heat theft." It’s actually a concept that makes sense to me for once.

From what I can recall—and I’ve certainly been around the block enough to know my own patterns—the constant lecture I received growing up was "never sit on a stone" (especially if it's cold), otherwise you'll end up with some sort of inflammation in your ovaries or bladder; plus, there is everything else > mentioned. Back when I was a kid, I used to just roll my eyes and think, "Yeah, right," which usually prompted some sort of lecture along the lines of: "Maybe you won't feel it now, but just wait until you're older and try sitting down like that—then you'll see."
I have actually heard from some more knowledgeable folks that there might be some logic to it—and not just specifically regarding cold stones—since it acts as a sort of physiological shock, in this case to the ovaries. Even looking at my own circle of friends (myself included), I know we would all deal with some sort of ovarian discomfort for a few days after sitting on something cold, particularly during the summer. It is entirely possible that this is exactly what happens; women just seem to be more sensitive to these things in general 😁

I once experienced a physical reaction akin to those ridiculous old commercials—you know the ones, where they claim you can wander through a blizzard without even an undershirt because some miracle ointment will magically fix everything.🙄

And let me tell you, if there’s a draft blowing and I haven't layered up with enough clothing to cover every vital organ from my kidneys to my reproductive system, or if I dare to walk on ice or sit on a cold surface, my reward is guaranteed: debilitating aches the next day and a menstrual cycle that is significantly more painful and lasts much longer than it should.

By the way, is there an existing thread here regarding the actual scientific validity of all that "old wives' tale" health advice? I know there's a discussion about it over on Reddit, but I couldn't find anything on this forum... and while the original prompt might have been intended as mere trolling, I believe this deserves a more serious, expanded conversation.

I caught this segment on TV recently (think ABC or something) where they were doing one of those "debunking health myths" shows.
They interviewed some doctor who spent the whole time explaining to us mere mortals that being cold doesn't actually cause a cold—it's viruses, duh.
Wow, groundbreaking stuff. Truly revolutionary.

The thing is, it's called a "cold" precisely because people associate it with the temperature, even if the etymology isn't strictly scientific.
Sure, at the end of the day, microbes are the culprits, but they need the right environment to take hold. Like someone else mentioned earlier, you weaken your immune system first—through exhaustion, stress, or exposure to the cold—and then the bugs move in.

stormymaker24 said:um, is there actually a thread about whether those old wives' tales regarding health are legitimate? I know there's stuff on Reddit, but I couldn't find anything here... I mean, the original prompt might have been started just to troll, but it could actually turn into something interesting...

Honestly, a topic like that would be great. 👍 You've actually reminded me of something that happened to me last summer (how could I have forgotten 🙄). I was at a friend's wedding—it was roughly a hundred degrees outside, and while the venue had AC, which is fine, I guess—but I was foolish enough not to bring any dance shoes. So, halfway through the night, I ended up taking my shoes off and dancing barefoot on these freezing cold tiles until sunrise. Now, I don't usually deal with much ovarian discomfort, but because of that, I spent the entire next day shivering in pain. It was this horrible sensation—almost as if my ovaries were reacting to some foreign object or something, just incredibly uncomfortable. 😢
I'm fairly certain there's some truth to these old stories; after all, so many people have had similar experiences, so I suppose there must be some logic to it.

My Grandma Jelica always used to tell me, "Son, don't you ever sit on a cold stone, or you'll freeze your kidneys and end up with a hundred different health problems." And honestly? I can tell you from experience—ever since I started avoiding sitting on cold surfaces, my health hasn't been nearly as problematic. PS: SERIOUSLY, DON'T SIT ON COLD STONE; the older generation actually knows what they're talking about.

I honestly believe there’s some actual logic behind this. I mean, go ahead—walk around barefoot all day (except maybe during the peak of summer, though even then it happens more often than you'd think)—and what’s going to happen? You’ll inevitably catch a cold or something similar, especially my wife 😍
. The old-timers always used to say, "everything starts in the feet." There’s definitely a connection to the cold. Personally, I’m always falling ill once winter hits; my poor sinuses just can't handle it when those harsh North winds start blowing through—they just can't take the chill. So, I suppose this works along the same lines. 🤷 I remember reading somewhere that it might have something to do with the specific materials involved or something like that—I don't really know the science behind it, and I’m sure the experts in bioenergy, magnetism, and all that will have a better explanation (to me, that stuff is all Greek 😁), but perhaps it acts as a sort of shock to the system.

Try walking around barefoot for 365 days straight, and you'll find yourself becoming so resilient that you won't ever catch a cold again.

steelmarlin15 said:Try walking barefoot 365 days a year—you'll build up some serious immunity and maybe never get sick again.

It’s actually true, I suppose—it builds up the body's defenses.🙂

Grandma Jelica spent fifteen years leaning her elbow against that cold marble countertop, and you'll never guess how it ended. She passed away at ninety-three after getting hit by a car.

steelmarlin15 said:Grandma Jelica spent fifteen years leaning her elbow against cold marble countertops—and you know what happened? She passed away at ninety-three when she was hit by a car.

Come on, Gitak, you’re getting old and boring.

That’s just some nonsense, but the stuff about the cold stone? That isn't a joke. What the old-timers say... there's usually some truth buried in there somewhere.

stormyheron4 said:I heard sitting on cold stone can give you hemorrhoids🤷

True enough 😉...if that's what you believe