The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Chest Cold Cure

The following is done to cure a chest cold: An 8 oz. glass is
used and the rim is warmed over a open flame (as on a gas or wood
burning stove). While the glass is still very warm, almost hot,
the glass is placed directly on the chest, starting at either the
right or left side and held in place until it cools. This
procedure is repeated until the entire chest has been covered. If
a more severe condition exists, as in bronchitis, first a small
incision is made with a sharp instrument (knife) to allow bleeding,
then the heated glass is placed over the portion of the chest where
the incision has been made. Again this procedure is repeated until
the entire chest area has been covered.

Submitter comment: This procedure for healing chest colds and bronchitis was
widely used in Poland. I questioned my mother as to whether or not
this actually worked and she maintains that it did. She did tell
me that this procedure left red rings on the chest and it was
actually quite painful since the glass had to be quite hot and the
incisions that were made occasionally left some scars.

James Callow comment: See Puckett, Ohio No. 8526: "For a bad cold in the chest, heat
the inside of a small whiskey glass and put the mouth of the glass
on the person's chest. The skin will puff slightly and the cold
will be cured."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK

James Callow Keyword(s): Cupping on the sternum.