Jazz, smelly socks, vomiting: weird and wonderful common cold cures
- Most doctors prescribe plenty of rest and fluids, but less mainstream remedies around the world are far more interesting
- Whatever you do, don’t take antibiotics
Cold season is upon us, but however hard we try to avoid catching the virus, we all catch an average of three or four colds every year.
The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract that affects the nose, throat, sinuses and larynx. Symptoms include a cough, sore throat, runny nose, sneezes, headache and fever. More than 200 virus strains, including rhinoviruses and coronaviruses, are implicated as causes of colds.
Most medical professionals prescribe plenty of rest and fluids, but what if you don’t think that is enough? Here are some weird and wonderful remedies from around the world, and a few historical treatments.
One of the following cures is a fake, can you guess which?
Listening to jazz
Put on a Charlie Harper or Miles Davis album for 30 minutes and give your immune system a welcome boost. Half an hour of jazz has been shown to increase your levels of immunoglobulin A, which is found in the mucosa that lines the nose, mouth and throat.
