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If you're battling aches, sneezing, congestion, or nausea from a cold, you may want to try out some of these odd but natural cold remedies—though keep in mind, they aren't necessarily endorsed by medical professionals.
Let's take a look at ten of the most peculiar cold remedies.
10. Wet Socks
This remedy requires you to wear wet socks, which might not sound too appealing when you're already feeling cold and under the weather.
Here’s how to do it: Take a pair of cotton or wool socks (avoid synthetic ones). Soak them in ice-cold water and wring out the excess. Then, put them on your bare feet. Expect some shivers!
Next, slip a dry pair of socks over the wet ones. Climb into bed and keep your feet warm and cozy under the covers. When you wake up, the wet socks should be completely dry. This wet sock-dry sock method is said to boost your body's immunity, improve blood flow to the feet, and relieve head congestion. It’s also believed to help your body get rid of waste.
9. Homemade Cough Lozenges
These homemade lozenges are a natural remedy that can soothe both your sore throat and your spirit. Coughing and a raw throat can be unbearable, but these homemade lozenges should provide the relief you need.
To make them, take a saucepan and place it on the stove. Add 1 cup of white sugar and 1/2 cup of water. Stir in 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice for vitamin C, 1 tablespoon of honey (an antibacterial that soothes the throat and acts as a natural cough suppressant), 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground ginger (helps with inflammation, supports immunity, and aids pain relief and nausea), and 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves (reduces phlegm, offers antiseptic benefits, and is packed with antioxidants).
Heat the burner and combine all the ingredients well, ensuring they are mixed thoroughly. Allow the mixture to simmer gently on low heat for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Once the simmering is complete, take the pan off the burner and let the mixture cool. As it cools, the consistency should thicken into a syrup.
Next, scoop teaspoons of the syrup onto the parchment, shaping each portion to about the size of a quarter for each lozenge. Space them apart to prevent them from merging. Allow the lozenges to set fully. Once they are firm, sprinkle powdered sugar over them and toss them gently to ensure they are entirely coated. This sugar coating keeps the lozenges from sticking together.
8. Listening to Music
We all know that music nourishes the soul, but did you know it can also benefit you when you’re sick? A study by German scientists found that listening to jazz music, in particular, helps reduce stress, which boosts the production of immunoglobulins in the body.
Immunoglobulin is a vital protein that aids the body’s defense against illness. By enjoying jazz music—or alternatively, dance music, the second-best choice—you can elevate your antibody levels while reducing cortisol, a hormone associated with stress. A body in a calm state is far more capable of recovering from a cold compared to a stressed one.
So relax, plug in your earbuds, and let the music carry you away. Your cold-afflicted body will surely thank you for it.
7. Cupping and Scraping
Cupping, an ancient Chinese healing technique, may initially seem like an unusual remedy for colds. However, if you’re dealing with congestion from a cold, cupping could be a helpful method for relief. It works by stimulating your body's energy to restore balance and promote healing.
During a session with a practitioner, cups are placed on the skin. These cups are either heated or manually pumped to create suction and are then left on the skin for several minutes.
There are various types of cups that may be used. Your practitioner might choose edge cups, electric suction cups, Zen clear cups, or oval glass cups. Regardless of the type, all serve the same purpose: they deeply massage the skin, which enhances blood circulation. The increased blood flow helps detoxify the area where the cup has been applied.
Be aware that cupping treatment can sometimes lead to side effects such as headaches, nausea, fatigue, or even burns if the cups are overheated before being applied to the skin. However, generally, cupping is a painless procedure.
Another approach is scraping, also known as gua sha. This treatment involves using a scraping tool to glide across muscle fibers, myofascial lines, lymphatic tracks, and the body's meridians. When dealing with a cold, this technique helps open the pores of the skin and reduces inflammation throughout the body.
When you're feeling under the weather and desperate for some relief, any effective treatment like this one is definitely worth trying.
6. Make a Poultice
Creating and applying a tallow poultice to your chest to ease congestion is more than just an old folk remedy. This unique treatment blends traditional African and European healing methods.
Take rendered tallow from cattle or sheep, also known as fat, and gently heat it until it softens. Then, mix in some herbs. For example, mint helps clear up congestion, while mustard provides a warming effect to the poultice. Feel free to experiment with any herbs you may have in your garden.
Once the tallow and herbs are thoroughly blended, wrap the mixture in a piece of soft cotton flannel cloth and apply it to your chest.
Another poultice you could try consists of mustard, flour, and water. Simply combine four tablespoons of flour with two tablespoons of dry mustard. Add enough lukewarm water to create a paste. Take a smooth tea towel (avoid terry cloth) and spread the paste on one half of the towel. Fold the other half over and apply it to your chest. Leave it on for about twenty minutes.
After twenty minutes, remove the poultice and gently wipe off any residue with a clean, damp cloth. This mustard poultice should be applied every six hours.
5. Lizard Soup
In North America, there's a tradition of offering warm chicken soup to those suffering from a cold. However, in China, lizard soup is the go-to remedy instead.
To prepare this soup, add a dehydrated lizard to simmering water, along with yams and dates. Cook until the yams become tender. It's said that this soup helps reduce coughing and alleviates other common cold symptoms. Most importantly, the broth rehydrates the body, replacing fluids lost from frequent nose blowing and sweating, and also helps break up mucus buildup.
4. Gogol-Mogol
When thinking about Gogol-Mogol, the phrase 'gag me with a spoon' might come to mind. This medicinal hot drink is a common remedy for cold sufferers in Ukraine and Russia.
Gogol-Mogol is made by whisking one beaten egg yolk with a teaspoon of sweetener—either sugar or honey. This mixture is then added to half a cup of hot milk. Finally, one tablespoon of unsalted butter is dissolved into the warm drink.
To make this drink more enjoyable, you might consider adding a bit of cognac or rum, but only if you're an adult. It's believed that the egg yolk helps soothe the throat, while the L-tryptophan in the warm milk promotes a more restful sleep when you're battling a cold.
3. Turnips
Who would have thought that the humble turnip could serve as an expectorant?
An expectorant helps calm a cough and can loosen mucus in the body during illness. Turnips are packed with vitamins A, B, and C. In Iran, it's a common remedy for cold sufferers to cook turnips, mash them, and eat them to alleviate their symptoms.
Alternatively, you could prepare a turnip mixture to soothe your sore throat or relieve that persistent, painful cough!
Simply peel and chop a turnip into small pieces. Take 150 grams of these pieces and simmer them in a pot with a liter of milk for about forty minutes. Strain the liquid and allow it to cool slightly before drinking. If you'd like, add some honey to improve the taste. This mixture helps reduce coughing due to a naturally occurring sulfur compound that helps loosen phlegm and disinfect the respiratory system.
If mashed turnips or milk infused with turnips aren't appealing to you, you might prefer a turnip syrup. To make it, peel the turnip and cut it into thin slices. In a bowl or plastic container, layer the turnip slices with brown sugar in between each layer. Cover the container and let the turnip and sugar sit for twelve hours. Afterward, drain the syrup and store it in a bottle. Sip as needed.
2. Oysters, Anyone?
Oysters are a rich source of zinc. So, if you're starting to feel a cold coming on or simply want to boost your zinc levels before cold season hits, oysters are a great option.
Interestingly, fried and breaded oysters actually contain more zinc than raw oysters, which is good news for those who can't find fresh oysters. Zinc is essential in fighting off cold symptoms because it plays a key role in supporting the function of white blood cells, which are responsible for combating viral and bacterial infections in the body.
Legumes are another great source of zinc, so why not prepare a delicious pot of lentil soup? Additionally, foods like dairy products, spinach, and meat are rich in this essential mineral.
1. Onions and Lard
If you’re dealing with a sore throat from a cold, try slicing a raw onion and stuffing it inside your socks! Onions contain allicin, a compound that helps reduce inflammation and acts as an antioxidant.
Here’s a traditional English remedy involving socks. First, grease your neck with chicken fat or lard, then wrap a pair of worn socks around your neck. This is believed to promote sweating. And, speaking of socks, try applying Vicks VapoRub to the soles of your feet before putting on a fresh pair.
Those who swear by this unusual cold remedy claim it can help alleviate congestion and coughing.
