Post Punk Kitchen Forum

It's that time of year! I woke up yesterday with a sore throat. I think it may be post nasal drip. Anyway, what are your go-to at home remedies for stuffy noses, sore throats etc? Let's help each other through the season!

I do hot tea in a mug over 1/4 lemon, 1 tsp fresh ginger (grated), a pinch of cayenne, a smashed garlic clove, and as much agave nectar as needed to make that drinkable!

Other than whining and sleeping as much as I can?

I try and drink lots of water and tea and soup.

I make pretty much the same as above, but at night I add a little whiskey to numb my throat and make me sleepy. I don''t have a netti pot, but I gargle with and snort salt water to try to clean out those nasal passages and stuff.

I like the Breathe Easy tea by Traditional Medicinals. There's also a Throat Coat one for sore throat which is really good. I also use lots of saline spray to help clear out my nose.

i do this, or if am feeling lazy just sliced ginger and hot water.

My mom used to make me gargle with salt water when I had a sore throat. I still do it, but I don't even know why. For all I know that makes it worse or is just senseless torture.

Blend the following in a blender or magic bullet
Juice of one lemon
Large clove of garlic
Large chunk of Ginger
Cayenne pepper
Turmeric
Agave or maple syrup if you must

This is gauranteed to blast away any cold/flu

i drink lots of green tea and keep my body warm with blankets and sweaters.

now i wanna try the lemon/garlic/ginger tea!

I drink lots of tea when I'm sick and try to get a lot of rest (plenty of naps!) I second the Throat Coat suggestion; it really helps soothe sore throats.

NY Times says it helps
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/healt ... ref=health

That said, it just makes me gag, which I don't find particularly helpful.

Gargling with salt water totally works, if you can force yourself to do it. And you don't, you know, gag.

the salt water gargle does work for me also, because the salt kills the bacteria, but it makes me gag sometimes. so i don't do it anymore.

Stay in bed and make someone come over to make you tea and cookies.

Not very original, but tea, tea, and more tea.

And Trinity Root Soup!

3 lbs. onions, peeled and diced
5 (or more) cloves of garlic, minced or pressed
1-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp chili powder
4 cups water

In a stock pot, saute all ingredients in 1 cup water until onions are translucent. Add remaining water and simmer 30 minutes.

I sleep and sleep and sleep. I like the saltwater gargle, too.

Beer with tomato juice and lots of lime and chili. It's kind of like what everyone is posting, just with booze instead of water.

Gets rid of the headaches, eases you into a nice deep sleep, shot of vitamin C. Just have to make sure to follow it with lots of water.

This, though if I don't have to work I add whisky and leave out the garlic (it doesn't seem to go with the whisky!)

NyQuil.

Zinc lozenges and Ricola.

I do a variation of this with 1 or 1 1/2 oz whisky, juice of 1/2 a lemon, 1 tbsp maple syrup and top it up with warm water. After a couple of these, you will feel better.
I also love bothy soups when i'm sick.

When I'm sick, I always like to make Jane's Winter Sicky Soup from How It All Vegan. It's not a remedy, but it's nourishing and warming, and it makes me feel better temporarily, at least.

I found this modified version online for people who don't have the book:

4 servings about 2 3/4 c. each

preparation and cooking about 90 minutes

8 c. vegetable broth or water
1 lg. onion, chopped
8 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
4″ fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 burdock root, peeled and sliced
1 sm. butternut squash, peeled and cubed
4 medium carrots, sliced
1/4 t. or more cayenne
1 t. curry powder
2 t. dry or 2 T. fresh rosemary
1 lemon, sliced, seeded, and then each slice quartered
1 bunch collards, stems removed and leaves chopped
2 T. miso
2 scallions, sliced

Put the water in a large pot and add onion, garlic, ginger, burdock, squash, carrots, cayenned, curry powder, and rosemary. Heat to boiling and then turn the fire to low. Cook 30-45 minutes until veggies are tender. Add lemon and collards and cook about 5 minutes until collards are just cooked. Stir in 1 1/2 t. miso to each bowl of soup about 5 minutes before serving. Top with scallions.

Adapted from Jane’s Winter Sicky Soup in How It All Vegan by Sarah Kramer

that soup sounds yummy, but no way in hell would I want to be arsing about with a butternut squash whilst ill- I can't even manage it at normal 'sickly vegan' levels!

sore throat here too! i'm going to read this thread and pay attention to everything you geniuses say. then i'm going to bed early.

forking nyquil wakes me up every hour on the hour all night long.