Photo: Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash.
It’s amazing how many cultures use lemon and ginger tea to treat colds.
I have volunteered as an English as a Second Language (ESL) assistant for about eight years. Recently Teacher Allissa’s assignment for her students was to write about the home remedies their families use. These are adult students from countries as diverse as Turkey, the Dominican Republic, Afghanistan, Peru, China, Haiti, Cambodia, Guatemala …
Note the cold remedy mentioned most.
“When my children have a fever, I put them in the bathtub with warm water, salt and vinegar. It’s so good to lower the fever.”
“When someone is sick, I boil chamomile tea for them. I also make lentil soup or chicken soup.”
“In my country, when a person is sick, l give them some tea, some vegetable oil, soup and cinnamon tea.”
“I treated the children’s colds with tea with raspberry and lemon, and also tea with ginger, honey and lemon. For colds and viruses, the best noodle soup in chicken broth is served with a garlic yogurt mixture. Tasty and healthy for cough. In my country, Azerbaijan, many herbs grow in the mountains for various diseases.”
“Lemon tea is good for cough.”
“In China, we always think ginger tea can help people keep away colds.”
“Lemon tea is helpful to keep your immune system strong. Lemon contains vitamin C. Make sure to wear a hat, gloves, and a scarf if you’re going outside to stay comfortable.”
“I remember when I was in Haiti and had a sore throat, my mother used to boil ginger and lemon tea. Then when it was ready, she put honey in it. Then she gave me the tea to drink, and after a while I felt better.”
“Lemon is good for the people who are sick. For example, if they have a sore throat or are losing their voice. I make a lemon syrup with hot water and salt and keep it for one year. If you keep it more then a year, it’s no good. When you are sick, boil it with the water and drink it. The next day you will feel better.”
“When I have a cold, I prefer to drink lemon tea with honey. It is very useful for sore throat and runny nose. I also take anise tea for any stomach disorders.”
“I remember when I was a little girl and my mother would put limes with salt on my wrists and feet to help lower down my body temperature when I was sick. I’m really grateful that she taught me this because I now use this method to help cure my kids when they’re sick.”
“Lemon tea is very good for your body, especially when you have a fever and sore throat. When I have a fever, I drink it and it helps me. I advise you always to drink lemon tea.”
“Mint is a relaxing plant. When I have a stomach ache, I make mint with lemon tea. Oregano is the best herb with a roast chicken. Lavender is a miracle plant for me. It’s for detoxing, good sleep and headaches.”
“We treat colds with hot tea with ginger, lemon and honey. Prepare hot chicken broth soup with noodles and add garlic.”
“In Peru when we are sick with cough and fever, we drink hot water, a fresh eucalyptus leaf and also chamomile and a small piece of ginger, and we sweeten it with honey. We also rub our chest and back with Vicks VapoRub, and at night before sleeping, we place a slice of onion under the soles of our feet and put on our socks. The next day we take out the slice of onion, and the onion is all black and it is thrown in the trash, because it has already absorbed part of the cold. The onion strengthens our immune system. You can also place half an onion on top of the nightstand. The smell of the onion absorbs the flu viruses that are in our bedroom; it also serves to relieve asthma and helps the respiratory tract.”
I shared the onion idea with my 12-year-old granddaughter when she had flu last week. She didn’t try it.
Please share your own home remedies.
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