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Kitchen Talk: Home Remedies

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Tasty Kitchen Blog: Kitchen Talk (Cold Remedies)

The change of seasons around these parts brings such a lovely burst of warm colors that it’s been hard not to wax poetic. Well, at least I’ve been aspiring to something faintly reminiscent of poetic. I can’t help it. There truly is nothing as awe-inspiring as when nature decides to show off a little.

As much as this time of the year fills me with sentiment and appreciation for the beauty all around me, there’s one thing I don’t welcome: the cold. I don’t mean the dropping ambient temperatures; I mean the cold, as in that annoying thing that makes you sneeze, sniffle, rub your eyes and ache all over.

They say there’s no real cure for the common cold, but I prefer to be more optimistic. I prefer to believe there are some ways to ward it off, or at least alleviate its symptoms. So before we get too deep into cold and flu season, let’s prepare as best we can! Tell us:

Do you have any home remedies to help fight off the common cold?

A popular remedy is chicken soup, and if you give me a bowl of chicken soup in the form of the Simple Wonton Soup above, I’ll love you forever. Nanci’s mom swears by gargling with saltwater, which is also great for relieving a sore (or itchy) throat. My husband likes to give me a dose of warm lemon juice (from half a lemon), honey, salt, and a shot of brandy. He gives it to me in a shotglass, and down the hatch it goes. He says all those ingredients are natural antiseptics, but between you and me, I think he does that because the brandy puts me to sleep. Not that I’m complaining.

Now let’s hear from you! Shout out your favorite homespun cold remedy below and save me from having to explain all the empty brandy bottles in my recycling bin.

 

24 Comments

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Sam on 10.27.2014

Scotch or Irish whiskey, heated with just a splash of water and good amount of lemon juice and honey always helps my sore throat and cough, and helps me sleep easier. I eat horseradish or something else spicy if head/sinus congestion is a problem, and rub some Vicks under my nose and on my lips, which helps with both head and chest congestion (and chapped lips). Room temperature Vernor’s pop is great for a queasy stomach. Eucalyptus oil (or even better, leaves, if you’re lucky enough to have a tree) boiled in water is good too. Breathing in the steam really helps, as Marilyn M. says.

Karen E on 10.25.2014

staying with my 8 yr. old grandson while his parents are on vacation out of the country

Melinda on 10.25.2014

I got to spend time with an old friend of mine reminiscing about our fun times when we were a lot younger.

Marilyn M on 10.24.2014

One thing that works for a cold in our family is a hot steam bath with eucalyptus oil. Whenever a cold is in your sinuses, or in your chest this is what we do. I simmer a small pot of water on the stove, adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil and then cover your head with a towel and hang your head over the pot for about 10 minutes. It is incredible how this moist steam loosens the mucus and helps healing. I also make homemade elderberry syrup for anyone who has flu symptoms. Hot water, lemon, a dab of apple cider vinegar and a bit of fresh ginger work well at the onset of a cold as well.

Marsha on 10.24.2014

EmergenC works great when I feel a cold coming on.

Jennifer on 10.24.2014

A lot of these remedies really do work. Mine tried and true remedy: At the first sign of a scratchy throat put about 1/2 capful of hydrogen peroxide (the regular drug store variety) in your ear and let it drain out when the bubbling stops after a few minutes. Do it in each ear. The ears, nose and throat are all connected and if you do this a couple of times a day it knocks out the cold. This with lots of vitamin C and garlic will get rid of the cold, do it at the first sign though.

Stephanie on 10.23.2014

I found a good remedy a couple years ago on the internet. Everybody kept getting this upper chest thing & we just kept passing around. You slice an onion into a jelly jar, cover with honey & put top on jar & let sit in fridge overnight. Remove the onion slices & throw away. Take & mix what’s left in the jar. To use you mix with a spoon before use & dip a spoonful up to take. Can pour a little lemon juice on spoon with mix to cut the taste. Tastes pretty nasty but works wonders! We call it YUCK in our family. You can mix up a batch & leave covered in the fridge for a month or two. Zinc also helps to boost your immune system, even after you’ve gotten sick it helps speed up the healing process.

Mary Ellen on 10.23.2014

Licorice tea is very soothing for sore, scratchy throats. Needs to brew a few minutes longer than regular tea, but verrrry sooooothing and naturally sweet. You don’t need to add sugar or sweetener.

Laura K on 10.23.2014

When i feel a cold coming on, I buy fresh ginger, dice some up and put it in a mug with boiling water for 5 minutes, then i add honey and half a lime. it’s really yummy and speeds up the healing process!

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Patricia @ ButterYum on 10.23.2014

In our house we like honey for a sore or itchy throat and homemade chicken noodle soup for just about any illness.

Joanne Cuny on 10.23.2014

Would you please post your husband’s Shotglass recipe? Sounds like a good one-sure would appreciate knowing how much of everything to use. Thanks!!!

Sandra Collins on 10.23.2014

Drinking pickle juice. Not a whole jar of it! A couple of spoonfuls. Good for cold or sore throat. My local BBQ restaurant says people like the liquid in their green beans for a cold. It IS good. They’ll even give you a cup of the liquid if you ask when going through the line to order. Hot and salty and tasty!

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Rosann @ 2BellaHealth on 10.23.2014

Hot Soup of course! Beside everyone’s longtime favorite, homemade chicken soup, I love Butternut Squash & Sausage Soup. For extra nourishment, I add Kale. Hot comfort food at it’s best!

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Donna H on 10.22.2014

Hot tea with lemon and honey.
When I was little mom use to give us hot tea, whiskey, lemon and honey.
Put Vick’s save on the chest and back and put on a clean white t-shirt under your pj’s.
Also put Vick’s save on the bottom of your feet and put socks on when you go to bed.
Gargle with warm salt water.
Saline rinse with the NetiPot and/or Saline nose spray.
Chicken Soup or Chicken Broth.

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1001tealcranes on 10.22.2014

My mom makes ginger, lemon and honey tea. To make it go faster.

Ashley C. on 10.22.2014

Something I discovered several years ago and which my family has given the name ‘Witches Brew’. I heat a cup of water then add 1Tbs of Bragg Apple Cider vinegar and 1-2 tsp of honey. Mix together and let it cool slightly. I drink it whenever I feel sinus stuff coming on.

AngAK on 10.22.2014

get a flu shot, wash hands often, change your pillowcases often, lots of fluids—any soup is comforting, ginger ale.

Sheila on 10.22.2014

Chicken noodle soup with turmeric, and garlic, onion, celery, all of these ingredients are proven to help with respiratory health in some way! Also chamomile tea with honey and lemon rind. ;)
My mom used to put whiskey, honey, and lemon in a cup with water and warm it up and make us drink it when we were wee ones!! hey it knocked us out cold that’s for sure!! LOL

lena on 10.22.2014

When we feel an illness coming on, I slice an onion in half and leave it on the night stand; anywhere near our heads. I change it out every few days and it lessens our symptoms and shortens the illness. I like to make a big pot of of chicken (or beef) soup with lots of onions and garlic. During allergy season, using a saline nasal rinse helps.

Kim on 10.22.2014

I think the only way to ward off a cold in the first place is a healthy body and clean hands. And not having children in school certainly helps. As for remedies once a cold catches you, I know it’s best to keep hydrated and just rest, but I’m all about what my mom always doled out: a bowl of salty poached eggs with toast for brunch, and for a stay-home-from-school lunch, Lipton chicken noodle soup (in the box, no cans!), saltine crackers and, best of all, Tom Tucker Mint Ginger Ale. I still crave those things when I’m sick.

KrissyC EsMommy on 10.22.2014

When I was a kid my mom sore by tea and toast. It was something her mother did and her mother before so went back generations. My go-to is tea with lemon and honey and lots of it. My daughter prefers apple juice warmed up when she’s not feeling well. My husband goes for orange juice. lol quite a mixed family we have.
Tho when we are all sick I also cook up a huge pot of veggie beef soup. Lots of tomato, onion, carrot, celery, potato and beefy chunks in a warm tomatoey broth.

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C. L. ( Cheryl ) "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser on 10.22.2014

Trying to alleviate symptoms because a common cold will run its course (7-10 days) of pure misery. The old adage “Chicken soup”, Hot Tea with Honey, A Hot “Toddy”. Sleeping without some type of OTC cold formula is hard. You want rest, need rest, want to eat, do not eat, so keep hydrated! As Michelle says her Dad washes his hands frequently I really do the same thing. Especially when weekly grocery shopping. Although they say many colds are airborne and that is how we catch the germs?! Thankfully, we are a fairly healthy family and have been blessed so far with no big head and chest issues and/or the Flu. Fruit Y’All eat some fruit! Have a great Day! Cheryl.

Margaret on 10.22.2014

My Grandmother always gargled with Listerine, morning & night and she never caught a cold. She used the original flavor in the lovely brown color.
I have following this regime every day of every season and I have managed to ward off cold, flu, etc.

Michelle on 10.22.2014

I swear by using saline nasal spray. My dad , however, washes his hands in alcohol several times a day and he never gets sick. If you do get the darn cold, I would recommend a Breathe Right strip so you can breathe while you sleep. They work wonders. :)