Japanese Cold Remedies

Japanese cold remedies are much different from those in America. While Americans might enjoy a cup of hot chicken soup when they are afflicted with a cold, remedies in Japan incorporate onions, ginger and even Japanese sake. Colds are very common in Japan, particularly during the winter, so many remedies to fight the symptoms have been in common use for thousands of years. The general idea when fighting a cold with Japanese remedies is to keep the body warm and full of nutrients so its immune system can easily get rid of the virus.

Tamagozake

• Tamagozake is an egg and Japanese sake mixture that is commonly used as a cold remedy, helping the sick beat the chills that often accompany a cold. The sake is intended to warm the body, while the high protein in the eggs helps strengthen the immune system and body. Tamagozake is always served warm; the sake is sometimes boiled to burn off the alcohol content if the sick person does not want the effects of alcohol or if the drink is being served to a child.

Shoga-Yu

• Shoga-Yu is a hot ginger drink that often serves as a natural Japanese cold remedy. A tea is made from grated ginger root and hot water; the tea often has sugar or honey added to it for flavor. Shoga-Yu warms the body and induces sweating, which helps fight fever and clear up a runny nose.

Okayu

• Okayu is a rice porridge, often called "Sick Food" because it is easy to digest and served to those suffering from colds and the flu. Okayu is often served with green onion when treating a cold patient because the onion warms the body and helps fight infection. The porridge is made much like common rice, with a slightly stickier texture because of added water