American Doctors Recommend Cold Remedies
When the weather warms up, many people think they’ve finally escaped colds.
ABC’s “Good Morning America” recently reminded viewers that seasonal transitions remain peak periods for flu, and invited doctors to introduce various dietary remedies from around the world.
Korean Therapy: Influenced deeply by Traditional Chinese Medicine, Koreans use similar remedies to Chinese, including ginger, jujube, cinnamon, green onion, honey, and ginseng. Ginger dispels wind-cold; ginseng nourishes and boosts resistance to viruses; cinnamon has antibacterial properties; honey contains multiple bioactive substances that stimulate immune function. Daily intake of honey twice a day effectively treats and prevents colds.
Persian Therapy: People in West Asia prefer yogurt, chickpeas, turmeric, cilantro, celery, and onions as cold remedies. Onions have anti-inflammatory effects and have long been used locally to prevent colds. Turmeric, native to South Asia, also has strong anti-inflammatory properties. Recent research found drinking one cup of yogurt daily effectively prevents colds.
Mexican Therapy: Mexicans use corn porridge, garlic cloves, green onions, cilantro, red chili sauce, and tripe to treat colds. Green onions and garlic, like onions, have anti-inflammatory effects. Capsaicin in chili peppers triples the body’s antibody response against cold viruses.
American Therapy: Home remedies for colds in the U.S. include honey and lemon water. Lemon is rich in vitamin C, enhancing immunity; honey has expectorant effects. Saltwater gargles are effective mouth rinses that kill cold-causing bacteria. Chicken soup significantly alleviates nasal congestion, sore throat, and boosts immunity. It also suppresses inflammation and prevents excessive mucus production during colds.