Hot milk with honey: when should you be careful with this home remedy

“Cold infections usually last about six days,” says Peter Walger of the Professional Association of German Internists. They are usually harmless – but anything but pleasant.

However, the symptoms should not be ‘softened’ with medication, as Hans-Michael Mühlenfeld of the German Association of General Practitioners puts it. Many people swear by home remedies: onion bags on the ear, steam baths, gargling and chicken soup. However, they cannot cure a viral infection. “I still advise my patients to use such remedies because they support the body and relieve symptoms,” explains Mühlenfeld. And some complaints were easier to tolerate this way.

Whether it’s a cold bath, tea, or inhalation, many people add essential oils or herbal extracts to relieve coughs or clear stuffy noses. “Sage supports the mucosal surface in restoring the natural environment and removing viruses,” explains Mühlenfeld.

However, the doctor advises not to pour additives into the hot water. What is appropriate depends on the symptoms. As a tea infusion, thyme is said to improve coughs. Chamomile has a drying effect, which would be counterproductive if you have a dry cough, Mühlenfeld explains. Instead, add some sage or table salt. For phlegm cough, ivy extracts are a good choice.

In addition to inhaling, gargling is also useful for sore throat and coughing. The decoction you used for inhalation is also suitable for this once it has cooled. In this way, the throat is moistened and the essential oils reach directly the surface of the mucous membrane.

In general, an onion also helps with coughing, says Katrin Tempel, author of the book ‘Proven Home Remedies Rediscovered’. For this you need an onion and two tablespoons of liquid honey. Peel the onion and then cut it into small cubes. The cubes are then placed in a glass and the honey is poured over them. Let everything sit and steep overnight. The next day you can strain the liquid and drink it with a spoon throughout the day.

A common myth when you have a cold is to drink warm milk with honey. The drink initially has a soothing effect. However, it is very viscous and slimy. This is especially difficult when coughing and can therefore worsen the health condition.

People with colds should put menthol supplements such as peppermint oil on a tissue and hold it in front of their nose. “Essential oils such as camphor and menthol should not be used on the faces of babies and small children,” Waltering warns. “This can lead to allergic reactions such as cramps and breathing problems.” Instead, prepare your child a cold tea made from maven flowers, sage, lime blossoms, raspberry leaves and honey, Tempel advises.

The increased blood flow to the mucous membranes due to heat and moisture also causes more secretions to flow from the bronchi or nose. “The separation protects,” Walger explains. “Additionally, the organism removes diseased, infected cells with the increased secretion.”

Some studies claim to have proven that chicken broth works: it is said that it blocks certain white blood cells in the organism that are responsible for inflammatory processes and are released during a cold. The protein cysteine ​​in the soup also has an anti-inflammatory and decongestant effect on the mucous membranes.

Experts from the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare (IQWiG) are quite skeptical, because even without soup, people with a cold usually feel better after a few days. However, chicken soup can still be useful. If prepared properly, it contains minerals. It also replenishes the moisture balance lost due to sweating, for example due to an increased temperature. Ultimately, this also applies to beef stock or vegetable stock.

Many home remedies have one thing in common: they replace the exuded fluid. They also moisten the mucous membranes so that they can protect themselves against invaders, and their warmth stimulates blood circulation. This also applies to tea. Lime blossom tea in particular is said to stimulate sweating. The heat makes it easier for the body to increase its temperature, which helps fight viruses.

According to Mühlenfeld, tablets with the active ingredient ibuprofen or paracetamol help with severe sore throat or headache. Usually after the fourth day you can recover from the cold with home remedies. However, home remedies reach their limit if a high fever occurs after a few days or the affected person feels significantly worse, then it is time to go to the doctor, Walger advises.