# How does an egg remove a bruise? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 19, 2006, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177 "2006-02-19T05:27:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/21 "2015-02-14T17:51:08Z")
This is anecdotal. You’ll have to provide a reputable citation for this, showing the science behind it. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/22 "2015-02-14T18:31:50Z")
It could also be that the sulfur in eggs tarnish silver. No, that’s just crazy talk. I’m sure you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/23 "2015-02-14T18:39:40Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > This is anecdotal. You’ll have to provide a reputable citation for this, showing the science behind it. Yes. My understanding is that the color of a bruise is blood, from ruptured vessels. So how does an egg with silver inside draw the blood (or at least the dark coloring of the blood)–_through the skin_–and into the silver? ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/24 "2015-02-14T18:43:47Z")
This THREAD is from 2006 AND OP HAS EXACTLY ONE POST. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/25 "2015-02-14T18:47:04Z")
> [@Mak1981](#): > > Some members were saying this is a myth. I giggled to myself. It’s OK, you can giggle out loud and people will just assume you’re on a cellphone. > [@](#): > > DO NOT eat those eggs that have been used to treat bruises. You may not be poisoned but it is definitely not good for your body. What the hell do you think is in a bruise? Mercury? Plutonium? Fetal parts? > [@](#): > > Don’t say it’s common sense. Fair enough. It isn’t. > [@](#): > > Hoping this will help, if it’s not too late. It’s too late - I think those bruises faded away sometime late in 2006. I have this image of **Mak1981** and others who try this method going through endless steps trying to get Bruise Dye out of various things - silver objects, mixing bowls, aluminum foil, countertops… Eventually they’ll have to burn the house down to get rid of it. I knew someone this happened to, and they still had to dig up and cart off all the soil from the yard, since there was no way to get the stain out. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/26 "2015-02-14T18:59:53Z")
Damn it, I was just going to bump this thread to post that I’d finally procured some mouse eggs! ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/27 "2015-02-14T19:08:40Z")
> [@Mak1981](#): > > Hoping this will help, if it’s not too late. Nope, you’re just in time! Though having to wait nine years means that my body is now 93% bruise. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/28 "2015-02-14T19:14:23Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > In the interest of fighting ignorance, I decided to experiment. > > First, I had to bruise myself. Several times, so I could try the different (of which I will speak) and a control bruise. I used a 20 oz framing hammer and struck my forearms and upper thighs. (Thank goodness I’m ambidexterous!) I find this post interesting. He (or she) seemed pretty nonchalant about this. I can’t imagine possibly bruising myself multiple times voluntarily. I am a grown man and in order to obtain a bruise I pretty much need to be on the verge of tears. I have smashed various body parts many times that lead to violet outburst of yelling, but there were no bruises. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/29 "2015-02-14T19:15:02Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Damn it, I was just going to bump this thread to post that I’d finally procured some mouse eggs! Now you’ve done it. You’ve gone and bumped the thread and cause it to bruise. Now we have to start all over again. Let’s go boil some eggs. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/30 "2015-02-14T19:17:46Z")
If I rub an egg over my head, will I forget I read any of this? Will I get those brain cells back? If not, what would you recommend? A toad, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/31 "2015-02-14T19:42:03Z")
> [@Mesquite-oh](#): > > They also make a tasty omelet (the egg, not the sick child or evil spirits). It does if you’re W.C. Fields. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/32 "2015-02-14T19:55:53Z")
> [@Nic2004](#): > > No no. This is a well known cure. The bruise in question is a black eye. Black eyes came to be known as a mouse\* because it could be cured by rolling a mouse egg across the wound. > All you need do is round up a few mouse eggs and you’re all set! > anyone? > > \*mouse > O.E. mus “small rodent,” also “muscle,” from P.Gmc. \*mus (cf. O.N., O.Fris., M.Du. mus, Ger. Maus “mouse”), from PIE \*muHs- (cf. Skt. mus “mouse, rat,” O.Pers. mush “mouse,” O.C.S. mysu, L. mus, Lith. muse “mouse,” Gk. mys “mouse, muscle”). Plural form mice (O.E. mys) shows effects of i-mutation. Meaning “black eye” (or other discolored lump) is from 1842. [Online Etymology](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=mouse&searchmode=none) You don’t find many oviparous mice these days. Another victim of global warming? ETA: just saw **Susan** above. ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/33 "2015-02-14T20:22:25Z")
I have purposely used a hard-boiled egg to intentionally tarnish silver jewelry. Of course the silver jewelry is going to turn black when you stick it inside an egg, bruise or no bruise. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/34 "2015-02-14T20:26:51Z")
The egg cure works, you should try it yourself. First bruise yourself as described in action #17. Continue reading after you’ve done that. Okay, all bruised up now? Good, you’ll need just one egg. It can be a raw egg, hard boiled, soft boiled, scrambled, in the shell or out, it doesn’t matter. Take the egg and rub it on each bruise once in the morning and once at night. Repeat this for 7-10 days and the bruise will be gone. Sometimes it takes even longer for large bruises, just be patient. Follow these instructions carefully and you’ll see all your bruises fade away. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/35 "2015-02-14T20:47:18Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > The egg cure works, you should try it yourself. First bruise yourself as described in action #17. Continue reading after you’ve done that… I did try that. I bruised myself badly in 2006 and I rolled an egg on it today. Guess what? No bruise!! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/36 "2015-02-14T20:59:20Z")
I’ve heard that yelling “NO TIGER!” keeps the big cats away. Seems to work, although I get frowns from the librarian. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/37 "2015-02-14T21:59:15Z")
My neighbour was painting white lines on the road outside his house. when I asked, he told me that they were to keep lions away. Of course I said that there were no lions around here. He replied that the white lines obviously worked then. ---
**Author:** ![Mak1981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Mak1981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mak1981)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/38 "2015-02-14T23:25:06Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > This is anecdotal. You’ll have to provide a reputable citation for this, showing the science behind it. Hey Chefguy, thank you for pointing that out. Seriously and sincerely. I see that some are questioning “how” it works but unfortunately I don’t know how to explain it scientifically. If you know any acupuncturist, Chinese doctor/therapist, I’m sure that they can give you a good answer. I should have mentioned this: Remember those bruises you ever had? They first appear blue/purple, the color will turn yellow in few days and begin to spread out, then fade away in the next few days. If you let it heal naturally, it usually goes away in few days to a week, depending on how bad it is. By using this method it only speeds up the bruises’ healing time (yes, for both the pain and color). This is no David Copperfield. It won’t disappear in just a snap. But if you are doing it right (following those steps in my previous message), the bruise will turn from blue to yellow very quickly, while you are rowing the egg on it. Yes the solution might be too late for OP. But you won’t get only couple bruises in your life right? I’m sharing it here so others can also see this method. So sorry, everyone, that this might be inappropriate to be posted here without a scientific explanation. I just thought it could be useful for someone who wants their bruises heal quickly. If this could help just one person, it’s totally worth it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/39 "2015-02-14T23:51:57Z")
> [@Mak1981](#): > > If this could help just one person, it’s totally worth it 🙂 Exactly! I mean, except for the fact that it’s complete nonsense and does not in any meaningful way work. Other that that little hitch it’s a miracle cure! ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177/40 "2015-02-14T23:52:59Z")
So how do you know how long the bruise would’ve taken to heal without the egg? You don’t know because every bruise is different (I had one for 7 weeks when I broke my collarbone). Seeing as you don’t know how long it would’ve taken to heal, you have no way of knowing that it works. In other words, it’s pure rubbish! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-egg-remove-a-bruise/345177.md?page=3)