When faced with a cold, our ancestors turned to nature for its treatments. And throughout the world, parts of plants -- the roots, stems, leaves, fruits and flowers -- are used to ease a cold and its symptoms.
In the United States, chicken soup is often used, and the broth does appear to have therapeutic benefits. Here are some of the techniques used elsewhere:
Ginger Tea
In many regions of China, the popular remedy for a cold is ginger tea. It is consumed mostly during the beginning stages of a cold. The spicy-tasting tea is made by cutting small pieces of fresh, peeled ginger root into boiling water. This is steeped for five to 10 minutes and then strained.
Bitterroot
Bitterroot is known among American Indians as a treatment for a sore throat or a cold. Bitterroot goes by many other names, including singer's root (since the remedy is used for a hoarse voice). You take a little chunk of bitterroot or bite off a piece. The root is hard, but soon it softens up and becomes spongy, so you can suck on it for hours
Wormwood
Wormwood, also known as stinkweed, has been used for centuries as a cure-all for everything among the Inupiat Eskimo, a group found in the Northern coastal region of Alaska. The plant can either be used "green," meaning freshly picked, or dried. It's placed in a pot and boiled for 20 minutes. You remove it from the heat and allow the avocado green liquid to steep. The tea can be served hot or cold. But have food with the beverage, because it's very potent.
Uhaloa
This native Hawaiian plant is well-known for its medicinal use among traditional healers. It's the juice from the inner bark that's thought to be most beneficial for cold symptoms. The inner bark can be chewed to release the juice inside the plant. Swallowing this juice as it mixes with the saliva in your mouth can help soothe a sore throat. It can also be boiled into a reddish-colored tea that's drunk for sore throats, as well as for bronchial and bacterial infections.
Hot Blackcurrant Juice
In Finland, there is a common belief that hot blackcurrant juice is an effective remedy for a cold. The fruits are purple black in color and an excellent source of vitamin C. Both the fruit and its juice have a sweet and tart taste. You drink the juice warmed three to four times a day when your cold symptoms start to act up.
Hot Lemon Drink
In New Zealand, when people have a cold, they often make a lemon and honey drink. As would be expected, the hot beverage is made by combining boiling water, juice from a lemon and honey to taste. You can use manuka honey, a type that's native to New Zealand and thought to have additional germ-killing and healing properties, but it's not the only option.
Ginger Ale
Ginger repeatedly turns up in international remedies. In the case of South Africa, it comes in the form of ginger ale combined with honey and lemon. It's made by combining one or two teaspoons of honey and lemon juice with a few drops of eucalyptus oil. About one cup of ginger ale is added to this mixture, which is then heated, and sipped slowly like a tea.
Turnip Syrup
In the highlands of Bolivia and other parts of South America, people use turnips for healing. Turnips are high in vitamin C, an important nutrient that helps boost the immune system, which may leech into the syrup.