Ancient Cold Remedies

According to Mayo Clinic.com, there is no cure for the common cold. However, the cold has been around for centuries, as have the home remedies touted as antidotes. While there may be no cure, many remedies have stood the test of time and are still being used today.

Chicken Soup

• Mothers and grandmothers have been cooking up pots of chicken soup for their ill loved ones for centuries. According to the Mayo Clinic, scientists have put this centuries old cold and flu remedy to the test. Chicken soup has been proven to speed up recovery from the common cold in two ways. First, it acts as an anti-inflammatory, inhibiting immune system cells (neutrophils) that participate in the body's inflammatory response. Secondly, chicken soup temporarily speeds up the movement of mucus, which helps with congestion and also limits the time that viruses are in contact with the nose lining.

Garlic

• Garlic was used by the ancient Egyptians to stave off illness in their slaves during the building of the Great Pyramids. Garlic contains allicin, one of the plant kingdom's most potent antibiotics. Crush a clove of garlic into a cup of warm milk for relief of cold symptoms such as congestion. Make a soup from garlic and an onion, for relief from cold and flu symptoms. Slice a whole onion and bring to a boil with several cloves of garlic. Let simmer for about 15 minutes. Drink the broth three times a day or more for maximum results.

Common Sage

• The ancient Chinese valued sage tea for its medicinal properties. Sage tea was highly regarded for its use in relieving symptoms associated with the common cold, such as sore throat, aches and pains and lethargy. Prepare as a tea by boiling the dried leaves and gargling an infusion for sore throat, or take it in capsule form. Sage can be purchased at your local health food or vitamin store.