Is it okay to trust other moms' advice instead of a doctor?

Other mothers are one of the best sources of reassurance and lived experience, and there's real comfort in hearing that someone else has been there too. But shared advice isn't a substitute for medical advice. For anything that worries you, a fever that won't settle or a symptom you can't explain, a doctor comes first. The two work best side by side.

Does putting Tiger Balm on the feet help with a fever or a cold?

Rubbing Tiger Balm on the feet at night is a popular home remedy that many parents swear by. Like a lot of passed-down remedies, it lacks medical evidence that it treats a fever or a cold, and any benefit is most likely comfort rather than a cure. Worth knowing: Tiger Balm contains camphor and menthol, which can be unsafe for babies and young children, so it's best to check with your pediatrician before using it on little ones.

What are the home remedies moms tend to pass down?

Warm soup, an extra pillow, a frozen washcloth, a warm bath. Small comforts handed from mothers and grandmothers to friends. They lean more toward comfort than cure, and they're part of how mothers care for each other. For anything that genuinely worries you, a doctor comes first.

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Mom Advice, Shared Wisdom, and the Remedies We Swear By

On Tiger Balm on the feet, 2 a.m. fevers, and the kind of mom wisdom that gets passed from one mother to the next.

By May Haas·9 June 2026

A flat lay of natural home remedies on a wooden board: fresh ginger root, sliced lemon, a small jar of honey with a wooden dipper, and a cup of warm ginger tea — Ginger, lemon, honey. The kind of recipe one mom passes to the next.

One of the biggest reasons I started The Village is something I think every mother can relate to.

Sometimes, the best advice doesn’t come from a doctor.

Now before anyone comes for me, hear me out.

Doctors are incredible. We are lucky to have access to medical professionals who can diagnose, treat, and care for our children when they need it most. Because motherhood happens in all the moments between doctor’s appointments.

It’s lived at 2 a.m. when your child has a fever.

It’s lived during sleepless nights, endless sniffles, mysterious rashes, and those moments when you’re staring at your child wondering, “Is this something serious, or am I overthinking it?”

And often, before we decide whether it’s worth a trip to the hospital, we ask another mom.

We’re looking for reassurance.

We’re looking for someone to say, “Oh yes, that happened to us too.”

As mothers, we collect little pieces of wisdom from each other. Not necessarily things backed by studies or science, but those “try this, it works every time” tips passed down from mothers, grandmothers, friends, and women who have simply been there before. The kind of advice that makes you think, “Well, it can’t hurt to try.”

A friend, some Tiger Balm, and a pair of socks

A good friend of mine, a mother of two, once told me to rub Tiger Balm on my son’s feet and put socks on him overnight whenever he had a fever or a stuffy nose.

Did I think it sounded a little strange? Absolutely. Did I try it anyway? Also yes.

And somehow, whether it’s the Tiger Balm, the comfort, the universe, or pure motherhood magic, it’s become one of those things I still do to this day. Every mom seems to have a recipe like that.

The warm soup recipe.
That extra pillow.
The frozen washcloth.
The bath trick.
The home remedy that somehow gets passed from one mother to another and survives generations.

Of course, there are moments when we absolutely need medical advice. There are times when symptoms need to be checked, medications are necessary, and doctors know best.

But there are also countless moments in motherhood that fall into that grey area.

This isn’t about choosing between doctors and moms. We need both. It’s simply a reminder that sometimes, alongside professional advice, what mothers need most is another mother saying, “We’ve been there too.”

Questions moms ask

Is it okay to trust other moms' advice instead of a doctor?: Other mothers are one of the best sources of reassurance and lived experience, and there's real comfort in hearing that someone else has been there too. But shared advice isn't a substitute for medical advice. For anything that worries you, a fever that won't settle or a symptom you can't explain, a doctor comes first. The two work best side by side.
Does putting Tiger Balm on the feet help with a fever or a cold?: Rubbing Tiger Balm on the feet at night is a popular home remedy that many parents swear by. Like a lot of passed-down remedies, it lacks medical evidence that it treats a fever or a cold, and any benefit is most likely comfort rather than a cure. Worth knowing: Tiger Balm contains camphor and menthol, which can be unsafe for babies and young children, so it's best to check with your pediatrician before using it on little ones.
What are the home remedies moms tend to pass down?: Warm soup, an extra pillow, a frozen washcloth, a warm bath. Small comforts handed from mothers and grandmothers to friends. They lean more toward comfort than cure, and they're part of how mothers care for each other. For anything that genuinely worries you, a doctor comes first.