Common cold is a frequent problem in practically all parts of the world. There are no good medicines for common cold, which can in part be attributed to a wide range of viruses that causes it. We mostly just treat the symptoms. And due to frequency and many causes, there are a myriad of natural remedies. Naturally I cannot list them all. Therefore I will list only the most inspiring and unusual ones. And try to scientifically assess and comment on their effectiveness. If you have more suggestions, please drop me a line.
Black radish and honey
First one is black radish and honey. It is an unusual combination to start with. But the method of preparation is even stranger. First, a black radish is hollowed out and a tiniest of holes is made on the bottom. It is even better if the hole is not opened, but it has a tiny membrane on the end. Next, honey is poured into hollowed out radis. Finally, the radish is placed on an empty glass. The honey gets diluted with radis juices and slowly drips through the tiny hole in the bottom. The liquid is collected in the glass below. It has an interesting taste – a mix of sweet honey with a bite of radish. Definitely a taste of a good medicine. And even from a medical standpoint this medicine could work. Honey is a well known natural remedy. It has proven antibiotic activity, although its efficiency for treating cough is not scientifically proven. Nevertheless, it is widely used in natural medicines and therefore it has at least a psychological effect. Black radish is not so well known. It has been traditionally used for promoting bile function and has been recently studied for their beneficial effects on the liver. I could not find anything on its effects on cold symptoms, therefore we can draw no definite conclusions.
Spruce shoots syrup
Spruce shoots syrup is also one of the favorite cold remedies for children. The main attribute is its sweet, smooth taste. If alcohol is added, we get an excellent cold remedy for adults. Naturally adults can also use the alcohol free option, but the alcohol one is generally more desired. The most fascinating thing is the amount of ingredients: only two. The syrup is simply prepared by mixing spruce shots with sugar and leaving the mixture in a closed jar in the sun. Nothing else, not even water is added. Over several days moisture from the spruce shots dissolves the sugar and the syrup is formed. Spruce shots are removed with the help of a dense sieve. Sugar as such has no medicinal indications. So spruce shots are practically the only ingredient with potential anti-cold activity. Spruce shots are well known for their high vitamin C content and spruce essence is used as inhalation to open up airways. Finally, spruce extract has some potential anti-inflammatory activity, so the use of this syrup for treating cold makes sense also from medical perspective.
