If a cold gets you down this season, you don't have spend premium bucks on syrups, urgent care visits, and over the counter remedies - some of the old-school remedies your parents or grandparents recommend for cold relief aren't just old wives tales! Kristina Guerrero talked to Dr. Anthony Balduzzito give you 3 doctor-approved folk remedies for the common cold that actually work!
1. The Wet Sock Treatment
You might think putting wet socks on your feet wouldn't do much at all for your cold, but what wearing them actually does is constrict your blood vessels and pumps more blood through your body, helping to naturally boost your immune system and flush out congestion.
So, if you have a cold, before you go to bed - take a pair of wool socks and put them in a bowl of ice water. When they're nice and cold, put them on your feet - then put on another set of wool socks and put them on, over your cold ones. The second pair of socks will heat up your feet, so you still get the immune system boost, without being uncomfortable. Leave them on all night, and you might find yourself feeling better than the day before, thanks to all the blood you got pumping for your benefit.
2. Grandma's Country Cough Syrup
You don't have to head to the pharmacy to pay top dollar for a cough remedy. Dr. Balduzzi says that the country combination of honey, onions, and garlic can help soothe a sore throat and settle a cough. The doctor-approved secret to this remedy is that honey, onions, and garlic are all scientifically proven to be anti-microbial on both viruses and bacteria.
To make this syrup at home, dice up half an onion, and mince some garlic, and put them into a small container - a mason jar would work just fine. Then pour your honey over the garlic and onion until they're covered. Shake up your mix, then stick it in the fridge and let it steep overnight. In the morning, take a couple tablespoons of the mix for an easy, DIY cough syrup remedy that'll help you feel better, faster.
3. Green Ginger Tea with Sage
We all know that makes us feel good when we're feeling sick, but the right ingredients can turn your tea from a tool of comfort to a cure for a cold! Dr. Balduzzi says that the benefit of drinking green tea when you have a cold is that it helps kill viruses and bacteria.
But don't feel like you've got to get the fancy stuff. Dr. Balduzzi says that even a storebought green ginger tea combo can help get you on the mend. But you can boost its positive benefits by adding sage leaves to your cup. The herb will help you feel even better, thanks to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti viral properties.
What's your tried and true way to remedy a bad cold? Share your tips with us on our Facebook page, @TheListShowTV.
