No one questions grandmother’s wisdom. If we applied most of his teachings, the world would be a much better place. But it is true that from a health perspective, some lack scientific evidence. The famous and mythical cut of digestion is a good example of this. And of course also home remedies for colds.
There are all kinds of infusions, products and various techniques to combat cold viruses. Some seem to have an effect, but not at the beginning, but when Several days have passed. We’ll talk about this because there’s a pretty simple explanation for it. Others seem to act faster. And others, in reality, do not give much results. But with grandma’s love everything goes better. What does science say about this?
In this article, we’ll look at some home remedies for colds that don’t work and others that actually do work. effects proven by science. It is worth knowing them so as not to waste time using those that, although they will not bring us harm, will not bring us any benefit either.
Don’t waste time with the bow
One of the home remedies for colds that we all used as children (and not just as children) is: chopped onion on the nightstand or even under the pillow.
In fact, its use is based on scientific explanation. Onions contain substances that, when exposed to the environment They evaporate and mix with the air.. One of the most common is sulfur, which causes both an unpleasant odor and crying when we cut it.
In fact, most of the sulfur is found in sulfuric acid, a very irritating substance. This is what should make us doubt that onions can have any beneficial effect against colds. These vapors claim to help relieve coughs and relieve nasal congestion. There are those who claim that onions absorb viruses and bacteria. But there is no scientific evidence that this does not apply to either of the two questions. Vice versa.
If this is one of the most famous home remedies for colds, it is for two reasons. On the one hand, the myth arose with a very attractive story, according to which the family US Farmers In 1918, they avoided the dangerous Spanish flu thanks to the onions they grew. And on the other hand, it is true that people who sleep with a chopped onion in their room improve after a few days. Mainly because most colds go away on their own within the same period of time. The bow doesn’t really do anything.
Echinacea infusion won’t help you either.
echinacea infusions They are classics home remedies for colds. But there is also no scientific evidence of its effectiveness. To begin with, what is interesting is that they are supposedly beneficial for a specific reason. antibacterial effect. This has not been proven; but even if it were real, it would still not be effective for colds, since it caused by viruses.
The fame of echinacea, in addition to grandmother’s traditions, is reinforced by a study published about 30 years ago. However, the methodology of this study was not suitable, the sample of participants was very small, and today couldn’t repeat it.
There will be those who will like the infusion for its aroma, and that’s great. But taking it to treat a cold or even prevent one is of no use, since there is no scientific evidence that it actually helps strengthen the immune system. the immune system.
And all this applies not only to echinacea. There is also no evidence that home remedies for colds are effective. from ginseng, propolis or even vitamin C.
Home remedies for colds that actually work: honey
Interestingly, there are studies confirming the effectiveness of honey, especially in treating coughs. It’s true that it’s not a panacea, but it seems to have antiseptic and expectorant effectwhich helps calm coughs caused by excess mucus.
Plus it helps soften your throattherefore, it may also be useful in relieving sore throat and dry cough.
There are several scientific studies that support this. First, studies are conducted on children, for whom many of the active ingredients commonly found in cough syrups are not recommended. In these studies, honey was shown to produce cough relief comparable to that of syrups. much better safety profile.
Of course, it is important to remember that children under one year old should not drink honey, due to the risk botulism implying. For other children, as well as adults, we can benefit from an infusion or a glass of milk with honey. The grandmothers are very right here.
Grandma’s broth helps too
In 2000, a group of scientists from University of Nebraska studied the reasons why chicken broth restores health so much treat respiratory infections. They concluded that it has anti-inflammatory properties, making it the most scientifically proven home remedy for colds. However, this was a small study, so it was not given much importance. For many years, if broth continued to be consumed, it was more due to the criteria of mothers and grandmothers than because of scientific research itself.
However, over time, new studies have been published that provide much more condensed data on the benefits of broth in general and chicken broth in particular. Interestingly, they are based on umami. This is the most recently discovered scent. It is found in foods rich in an amino acid called glutamate, which in turn has properties such as significantly increasing appetite. This is important when we are sick. Chicken is very rich in glutamate, as well as proteins essential in any diet. restorative. However, vegetarians can also enjoy the restorative broth by replacing the chicken with other protein-rich foods, such as legumes, and umami flavors, such as mushrooms.
As for the cold, it is beneficial because of the vegetables it contains, which provide many essential nutrients, and also because of the vapors; which, sometimes combined with certain spices, help break up the mucus. Finally, the secret ingredient is usually the love of a grandmother or mother. The one for which, even knowing it was useless, we would probably continue to sleep with a smelly chopped onion next to the bed. How can we contradict someone who works so hard to make us feel better?
Source: Hiper Textual
