Sick of doctor’s appointments, prescriptions and medicines? Of course there are some times when you need your trusted GP, but if you’re only suffering from a light cold, you might like to try these old favourite remedies…
If you’ve got a sore throat, a husky voice and a grating cough, try these old-school cold remedies to nip the problem in the bud before it gets worse. Don’t thank us, thank your nanna!
Slurp on chicken soup
Thought chicken soup was just an old wives’ tale? Well, a good serving of hot soup actually helps relieve congestion, body aches and fatigue. Delicious and healthy? We’ll take it!
Boost your vitamin C levels
Boost your body’s vitamin C levels by chowing down on red capsicum and oranges. These will help give your immune system a much-needed boost and should shorten the length of your cold.
Pour a cup of tea
A hot cuppa will not only force you to sit down and take a break, but it will also do wonders for your mind and body. You’re not short on recipes either — the nannas must have battled it out with this one! Take your pick of these three recipes:
1. Mix some honey into a cup of chamomile tea to help soothe a sore throat. Drink a cup just before you head to bed in the evening. The chamomile should soothe your stomach and help you sleep while the honey will coat the throat to keep your cough at bay, at least for a few hours.
2. Combine lemon, honey, ginger and garlic in hot water, then pour into a mug. This combination should ease the symptoms of your cold.
3. Your third option is to mix ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper with ½ teaspoon of ginger and 1 tablespoon of honey in the bottom of a tea cup. Stir well, then add hot water and stir again. Enjoy!
Gargle salt
Dissolve a few pinches of salt into a cup of warm water and gargle several times. We know it doesn’t taste the best, but it’ll help that itchy throat.
Get your garlic
Raw garlic is a fantastic cold fighter, as it’s an antioxidant and also contains allicin, which is said to help cut a cold short. Mix a crushed clove with one cup of warm milk and drink as much as you can. (You may need some sort of chaser after this concoction!)
Get steamy
Steam helps loosen mucus and clear your airways, so hop into a steamy bath with the bathroom door closed or switch on the humidifier or vaporiser while you’re cooking dinner or doing the ironing.
Drink it off
If you’re over the age of 18, you might like to whip up a delicious little alcoholic concoction, which is believed to help relieve muscle aches and have an anti-inflammatory effect on mucus membranes. Pour half a shot of whisky into a glass, add a teaspoon each of honey and lemon juice, then fill up with hot water and mix. It may not taste as nice as your usual wine, but it will help your cold a lot more than any Sauv Blanc will!
More health tips
Best ways to prevent a cold
6 foods to boost your immune system
How to stave off the winter flu
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