Seriously?

Temperatures have dropped and we’re feeling the chills. We’re well on our way into winter and as those seasonal sniffles creep up on us, we’re already wishing our way into summer.

The seasonal sniffles are the perfect opportunity to hibernate in bed with a barely legible sick note from your doctor and all twelve seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

While it’s one heck of a gross inconvenience, the common cold unites us across geographical borders and time.

We’ve compiled a list of home remedies from around the world. They may not cure you of that darned cold, but they may well put a smile on your face.

Put stuff in your socks.

This was something I’d never, ever heard of before researching this article. But news to me, putting stuff in your socks is an actual thing people do when they’re sick. So, I asked a friend at work for her go-to, sworn by home remedy when she’s feeling rotten.

“I put Vicks on my chest, my back and on the bottom of my feet under socks… I smell great when I’m sick”.

Vicks smells really good so I can get behind that but wow, socks really are a global go-to on the home remedy scene.

Many swear by the onion in sock cure, which has been circulating since the 1500s. Put a slice in your sock before you go to bed to ease your cold. Many will substitute an onion for a slice of raw potato while some go so far as to crush garlic cloves in olive oil and rub it all over their feet.

The practice has links to Chinese reflexology and while onions, potatoes and garlic are known to be rich in vitamins, minerals and sulphuric compounds… that’s pretty much as far as the science goes.

While we’re on the topic of onions, a classic Japanese home remedy involves ditching the goggles and chopping a bag of onions to cure a cold. Onion scent can bring anyone to tears, so it makes sense that it would work some way to clear your sinuses when congested.

Garlic, garlic and more garlic.

Garlic is a member of the allium family, meaning its health-giving properties are closely related to that of our friend, the onion (see above).

People all over the world proclaim the benefits of this breathy root. Scientists know its health benefits come from the sulphur compounds which are formed when the clove is chopped, crushed or chewed. This is in part due to its omnipresence on farmyards across the world as well as its well documented use within many major civilisations, including the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans and Chinese.

Moroccans will combine protein rich eggs with shaved garlic in a delicious omelette. In Spain, known to brew a pungent garlic, honey and lemon tea. Russians leave a plate of chopped garlic out when someone is sick or put cloves in their children’s pockets. My dad (Irish) spreads his garlic on toast.

Seriously though, if you’re really not feeling so fab, call your local Blooms The Chemist.

The expert pharmacists and team are there to help with all your health and pharmacy needs. This includes prescriptions, general medicines and cough, cold and flu products to ramp up your winter defence.

To help keep the community safe, Blooms The Chemist offers a free local home delivery service (T&Cs apply). This may be the best thing to do if you are feeling well or do not feel comfortable leaving the house.

Just phone up, chat to one of the team members and they’ll organise for your pharmacy needs to be dropped at your door.

Written By Rebecca O’Malley