Adults get an average of two to three colds a year, while children can have even more (Image: Viktoriya Skorikova via Getty Images)
It’s that time of year when runny noses, scratchy throats and persistent coughs make their way through workplaces and households. But one medical expert thinks the solution might already be in your kitchen cupboard – and it costs under £2.
Dr Simon Mills shared his go-to home remedy while appearing on The Diary of a CEO podcast with Steve Bartlett. « If you’ve got a cold, flu, virus, particularly the airways, antibiotics will have no use at all, » he said, emphasising that colds are viral infections and won’t respond to antibiotics.
According to the NHS, adults generally catch two to three colds each year, while youngsters can fall ill even more often. Signs typically include a streaming or congested nose, painful throat, cough and slight temperature, with most clearing up within one to two weeks.
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Instead of medication, Dr Mills champions a simple hot beverage prepared with fresh ginger and cinnamon. Holding up a thumb-sized chunk of ginger, he said: « That’s about a good dose, » suggesting people grate it into a mug before adding approximately a teaspoon of cinnamon, followed by boiling water.
« What’s happening there is that when you take a hot thing like ginger, it’s stimulating the pain fibres, » he explained. This prompts a reflex reaction that dilates blood vessels – referred to as hyperaemia – assisting in breaking down mucus and clearing the respiratory passages.
Research published in the journal Nutrients backs this up, detailing how the household spice contains bioactive compounds such as gingerol that possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help the body in fighting off infection.
Cinnamon also has well-documented health advantages. A study in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies reveals that cinnamon displays antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects in laboratory conditions, though additional human trials are needed to verify clinical effectiveness.
Dr Mills emphasises the warming effect as essential. « The mucus cells producing mucus will loosen up, and you get more runny mucus, which is helping to flush through the grot, » he explained, noting that the body’s natural « escalator » mechanism in the lungs is activated.
« I need this cure, » remarked one viewer, while a second confessed: « I eat ginger root every day and I’m never sick. »
A third observed: « He’s not saying it’ll cure it straight away, but if you’re getting rid of the gunk faster and feeling satisfied, it’ll be easier to put up with. »
While there’s no ‘cure’ for the common cold, the British Lung Foundation advises that warm fluids can help alleviate symptoms and relieve congestion. For many, this traditional spice combination may not substitute rest and fluids – but it could make those sniffly days somewhat more tolerable.
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