Winter Cold And Cough: Simple Home Remedies Worth Remembering

As the weather turns cooler, common home remedies for colds and coughs are worth a refresher — simple kitchen staples that many households already reach for at the first sign of a sniffle.

A warm ginger tea made by boiling grated ginger in water, strained and mixed with a spoon of honey, is one of the most common go-tos, often recommended two to three times a day. Honey on its own, with or without lemon, can also help soothe a scratchy throat. A simple salt-water gargle — about half a teaspoon of salt in warm water, with an optional pinch of turmeric — is another well-known remedy for sore throats, typically done two to three times a day. Turmeric mixed into warm milk is also commonly used, thanks to its active compound curcumin.

These remedies can ease symptoms but aren’t a cure for the common cold — there isn’t one. Honey should never be given to infants under one year old, and anyone with a high fever, breathing difficulty, or symptoms that drag on should see a doctor rather than relying on home remedies alone.