On tackling colds and flus
From a young age, my mother always emphasized the importance of our Mexican culture. Whenever we were sick, she always had a remedy she learned from her mother to help us feel better.
When we had a cold, she would have us sit down on a chair with a bucket of very hot water at our feet. She would spread vapor rub on the soles of our feet and have us dip them in the water.
While our feet were soaking, we had to drink a hot cinnamon tea. We would always feel better after this. I’m open to trying it again for my own children in the future.
— Amy, Chicago
Besides dousing me in vapor rub, [my mother] used to make me sleep sitting upright because it apparently alleviated the onset of a cough almost immediately.
I would just use it as an excuse to read past my bedtime.
— Caylee, Chicago
Growing up in a Nigerian home, I grew up with a holistic understanding of wellness. One common cold cure that my mother passed on to me is this: fill a basin with hot water (not warm, hot) and mix in a teaspoon of Vicks Vaporub, then grab a dish towel.
Wet the dish towel with the mixture and place it over the top of the basin. Put your face onto the cloth and breathe deeply for 5 to 10 minutes. This will clear your sinuses and undoubtedly have you breathing right again.
It has yet to be published in any health journals I’ve read, but I hold it as a sacred remedy.
When we were younger, whenever one of my sisters or I would start to feel sick, my mom would have us gargle salt water. If we had a sore throat, runny nose, or any flu-like symptom, we would sometimes wait to tell her because we knew the first thing she’d do is reach for the Morton Salt.
Her mother always had her do it, and she believed that salt killed the bacteria in the throat.
It did always seem to work, or at least help. I guess I’ll eventually make my children do it too since I don’t want the burden of ending this superstitious cycle.
— Charlotte, New York City
My mother lives by ginger. She’s always been a big advocate for starting from within to rectify an issue. I’ve never known a time when there wasn’t a freshly brewed pitcher of ginger beer in the fridge. It’s honestly her cure-all when cramping, congested, or groggy.
She grinds up the ginger with lime and keeps straining until smooth. She then adds cloves and drinks it daily. She claims it helps with strengthening her immune system. The stronger the batch, the better!
— Hadiatu, Chicago
My mom is Greek and swears by hot red wine for colds. Mind you, “hot red wine” does not mean mulled wine, but putting any red you bought at the grocery store in a mug and microwaving it for 30 seconds.
She believes the alcohol cures you, but I think it just makes it more bearable. I loved it because it meant I was able to drink when I was younger.
— Jamie, Chicago
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