PARIS — The runny noses and coughing fits that are accompanying the northern hemisphere into 2024 feel strangely normal — a big step down from the panic and lockdowns of the COVID pandemic. That means conversations about masks and PCR tests have thankfully been replaced by familiar discussions about what the best cold cure is.
Although you may be good with your grandma's chicken soup, Worldcrunch knows there are as a wide a variety of cold remedies around the world as there are grandmas. While these may not actually cure what ails you, they should at least keep you entertained — though you just may have to hold your nose (or cover your eyes) for some of them.
Teas and other hot drinks
Garlic tea — Spain & Latin America
Next time you make a cup of comforting lemon and honey tea, add a little garlic to make this Hispanic cold remedy. In Spain and Latin America, the combination is thought to strengthen and revitalize the body. Buenos Aires-based Clarín reports that garlic is a source of vitamin A, B1, B2 and C, which help reduce the incidence and duration of colds. We recommend adding extra honey to save your taste buds — and breath.
Turmeric milk — India
Also called "Golden milk" (Haldi Doodh in Indian), this drink, made by mixing turmeric into warmed milk, is a well known anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. Just a teaspoon of turmeric is enough to naturally boost your immune system. Additionally, this magic spice is said to clear your skin, and improve your mood.
Bovril tea — England
Bovril, a beef extract paste, is diluted in water to prepare what the English call “beef tea." It can also be made with milk, depending on how you like your tea. Bovril contains yeast extract and protein, which keep your energy levels high. Its effects, as well as its taste, resemble those of a broth, which is why we are not 100% sure which category this British drink falls into. Although it was advertised as a reliable cold remedy in the early 20th century, this beverage is full of sodium, so you may want to check your blood pressure before drinking a cup.
Viscous cures
Snake or lizard soup — China
Snakes and lizards alike are a source of high protein, used to create the most nourishing soups in China. The reptiles, skinned alive, are then steamed and mixed with Chinese herbs. An AP report in Hong Kong found that locals believe lizard soup can also relieve stress, act as an aphrodisiaque and boost the immune system.
Palm oil — Nigeria
A warm drink made by melting sugar in hot palm oil replaces cough syrup in Nigeria and other tropical nations. Palm oil is rich in antioxidants and always at hand in Nigerian households, where it is also used to treat rashes and cuts. Indigenous communities consider it an antidote for poison, a belief the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria has dismissed.
Gogol mogol (or Kogel mogel) — Central Europe
This 17th-century dessert from Central Europe, which resembles eggnog or zabaione, contains raw egg yolks and sugar and is a homemade replacement for cough syrup. In Jewish tradition, raw eggs and syrup were used soothe one's voice on Shabbat, which inspired the recipe. Today, Central Europeans serve it in drinking glasses and sip it to cure colds and seasonal depression. It can also be a topping for fruits and cakes. For a more grown-up variation, try adding a dash of rum or cognac.
Alcohol-based potions (drink responsibly)
Overproof rum and lime — Jamaica
Jamaicans sweat the cold out by drinking overproof rum (more than 50% alcohol by volume) with lime. Other ingredients like ginger and honey can be added to the mix to maximize the healing effects. The cocktail should make you warm and sweaty, eliminating the cold, with lime juice boosting your immune system. Careful with the dose or you might get sick from something other than the freezing weather.
Hot toddy — Scotland
Made of whisky or bourbon mixed with water, honey and lemon, this cocktail is heated and consumed warm. This easy Scottish recipe reduces inflammation and is a decongestant. The delicacy is celebrated with its own national day, on January 11. As it's still the anniversary month, you still have a reason to try it even if you’re not sick.
Hot wine — Italy
Italian mulled wine or vin brulé (borrowed from French) is warmed red wine with cinnamon and other spices. Italian nonnas regard this recipe as a miraculous remedy for colds and for settling the stomach. La Stampa notes the effect of mulled wine on the heart and the spirit, reporting that doctors recommend drinking red wine on a daily basis for good health.Random remedies
Chewing bitterroot — U.S.
Native American communities in the U.S. chew bitterroot to soothe sore throats. If you’re not a fan of masticating and being left with a bitter taste in your mouth, you can infuse the root or boil it and eat it with meat or berries to relieve pain and calm inflammation. Bitterroot is also ingested to purify the blood, improve skin condition, manage diabetes symptoms and soothe upset stomachs.
Herbal steam — Zambia
Herbal steam therapy in Zambia uses mayani, an herb with a mint-like fragrance renowned for its expectorant properties. Sit under a blanket with a pot of boiled mayani leaves and allow the steam to envelop your face and chest.
Sniffing an onion —Japan
The website Japan Today shares several remedies from “little old ladies”, including one particularly odd solution to get rid of a stuffy nose: sniffing an onion. Although temporary, a cut onion can help clear sinuses. We hope you won’t end up in tears. If your eyes are a little sensitive, other folk remedies suggest placing onion slices in your socks before going to bed.