Studies show that chicken soup actually does relieve congestion and other cold symptoms.

There’s a lot of folk wisdom floating around out there. Let’s separate fact from fiction.

False: Feed a cold and starve a fever. Not true, says Post dietitian Elise Lindstrom, R.D. Instead, the best remedy for both is plenty of nutrient-rich foods, water, de-caffeinated tea, and juices. Lindstrom’s menu of healing foods also includes oatmeal and whole wheat pasta for energy; yogurt to support the immune system; and apples, cranberries, and tomato sauce to fight inflammation.

True: Sip a delicious bowl of steaming chicken soup. In studies, chicken soup actually did relieve congestion and other cold symptoms.

False: Avoid dairy products. Counter to popular wisdom, dairy products don’t worsen runny noses after all, according to a review of studies.

False: Toss back a shot of whiskey. Turns out Grandpa’s favorite antidote didn’t hold up to clinical tests: alcohol only worsens a cold’s dehydrating effects.

What to Eat When You Have a Cold The Saturday Evening Post

Sidestep colds and dodge potential drug side effects with science-based therapies that don’t require a prescription.

• Daily doses of Echinacea (derived from the purple coneflower family) taken over four months reduced the incidence of colds and slashed duration of the illness by 26 percent, according to recent research published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
• Saltwater gargle (¼ to ½ teaspoon dissolved in 8 ounces of water) relieves sore throats, and OTC saline nasal drops and sprays combat congestion, say Mayo Clinic physicians.
• Meditate or exercise, take your pick: In a 2012 University of Wisconsin study, people participating in an eight-week training program for mindfulness meditation—or one for moderate intensity sustained exercise—came down with significantly fewer colds and missed less work than participants in the control group.
• Ginger root contains virus-fighting compounds, according to a Johns Hopkins University study. Steeping two teaspoons shredded ginger root in a cup of hot water or sparkling water soothes sore throat and provides extra fluids that are low in sugar.
• Eucalyptus oil inactivated viruses in a test tube by 96 percent, found a 2009 study by the University of Heidelberg in Germany. To relieve coughs and congestion: Add 4 drops of oil to a basin filled with boiling water, make a tent with a towel over your head, and inhale the steam for five minutes.

Natural Cold Remedies The Saturday Evening Post

My problem is that I cannot get the mucus up so that I can expel it. Several cough syrups, drops, expectorants, and mucus-relief tablets have not helped me. This problem lasts several hours and sometimes all day. Could it be connected to my sinus drainage that I have had all my life? Thanks for any help you may provide.

The Saturday Evening Post is my favorite publication and the first thing I read is Medical Mailbox.

Mary

As you suggest, coughs may be triggered by sinus drainage and postnasal drip. Mucus tends to get thicker (and more bothersome) as people age. Some find relief by running a humidifier by a favorite chair.

Sipping warm soup or tea may be an effective and delicious remedy, too. You might also want to consider whether an allergy to dairy products or other foods may be causing chronic sinus drainage and coughing spells.

Send your letters to Medical Mailbox, 1100 Waterway Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46202 or e-mail: medicalmailbox@satevepost.org.

Please include your mailing address. Medical Mailbox and From the Pharmacy supplements the advice of your health care provider, whom you should consult for personal medical problems.

Coughing Home Remedies The Saturday Evening Post