Today is the first day in six (6) weeks that I haven’t had spasmodic coughing fits. I’ve been down with this winter’s nasty coughing virus. You may have heard of it – the one that starts with the gripping sore throat, maybe involves fever/congestion/body aches, and eventually settles into a long period of dry coughs. Some say it’s a resurgence of whooping cough. Children are suppose to get immunized.
All I know is that whenever there was a temperature change from warm to cold, I coughed as if my insides were about fly out of my mouth! It was hard to take in a full breath too, but I was basically functional.
By the time I went to my regular MD, she said I was pretty much fine but that I just had to wait for my body to recuperate. No antibiotics but she prescribed an inhaler, which helped a bit but not much. I used it for a few days but the coughing persisted.
My dad and friend Terrence suggested this home remedy: rubbing Vick’s VapoRub on the soles of your feet and wearing a pair of socks. My dad is 80 and Terrence is my contemporary. They both swore that the Vick’s-and-socks approach worked for them and would for me. It’s a remedy that’s been passed around the Internet for a couple of years. Some say it’s a hoax while others say it’s inconclusive. Nevertheless, it’s a topical thing so it’s not like you’re going to swallow it!
I figured that it was harmless to try because my cough seemed to linger. So every night for the past week and a half, I’ve been rubbing Vick’s on the soles of my feet, then slipping on a pair of socks. My friends – I slept like a baby and felt better in the morning. The coughing began to further subside.
I also went to my acupuncturist, Dr. Jasmine Berke. She poked and cupped me to boost my immune system. Then she sent me home with an herbal tonic called “Wise Judge” and a tea recipe called “Ginger Brew.” I was at the tail end of the virus but Jasmine assured me that the tea would help me get over it once and for all. I made a batch and drank it over the course of a week. I dosed myself with Wise Judge too.
The herbs helped but things shifted back to normalcy after I drank the tea and rubbed on the Vick’s. If you got this persistent coughing thing, talk to a medical professional but try the Vick’s and tea to alleviate matters. I am so happy to finally be cough free!
Ginger Brew
Helps with digestion, eliminates clear phlegm and mucous, and warms the interior. Remember to wash the ginger before using it as you won’t have to peel it. Posted with permission from Dr. Jasmine Berke of Acupuncture Today.
Makes about 3 ½ cups
½ pound of unpeeled fresh ginger, thinly sliced
8 cups water
1 cup honey
½ cup fresh lemon juice
In a saucepan, simmer the ginger and 4 cups of water, partially covered for 20 minutes. Strain the ginger into another saucepan. Add the honey, stirring to dissolve. Add the lemon juice and remaining 4 cups of water. Drink warm or at room temperature. Store in the refrigerator.
If you have a remedy to share for a winter cough, let us all know!
Veena says
Congratulations on getting over the cough! I'm so curious to try the vicks and socks cure. Had something similar a couple of years ago and was prescribed an inhaler which made the cough worse. At a recent visit to the doctor, she recommended that I take a tetanus booster (Tdap) as it is now includes the vaccine for whooping cough as well.
My ginger tea is about the same as the above recipe. Lately, I've started adding crushed garlic (when I know I'm not going to be meeting anyone!). Tastes great to me and garlic has powerful antibiotic properties as well.
Anh says
I am glad you are feeling better. I was also down with a nasty cold 3 weeks ago. I hardly ever get sick but once I get sick, it's full blown.
Anyway, I paid a visit to my doctor to rule out any bad bacteria or what have you. I also drank homemade ginger tea with slices of lemon and honey. Let me tell you, it works on my cough like a charm. Even my pharmacist friend recommends it. Apparently, ginger has anti-inflammatory property.
Isn't it nice to be able to take a deep breath without choking up in your cough?
johnt says
When I was young, years ago, my grandmother would put Vick's on my chest (or on a cloth around my neck) and I would sleep through the night...it was also used for muscle soreness...the active ingredients, camphor, menthol and eucalyptus can cross the skin to enter the bloodstream and work on your body. I would get a variation of the ginger tea as a cough medicine which also contained alcohol. Those were the remedies from my childhood. Thanks for sharing!
momgateway says
Funny about the Vicks and socks remedy, my aunt uses it a lot and it works for my son when he has a cough
Ivy Manning says
Poor A! Take care and keep up the regimen of Pappy Van Winkles.
Diane says
So glad you are feeling better!
I have never heard of that Vicks thing. Odd. But the tea is one of my standard winter teas. I just chop a few slices of ginger (unpeeled), throw into a pot with some water. Boil a while (maybe 1/2 hour), add honey and lemon to taste. I like it as a warming winter thing.
Andrea Nguyen says
Ivy reminded me that then I first got sick, I tried to cure myself with a steady supply of hot toddies made with Pappy Van Winkle bourbon. Or, I'd just sip Pappy to calm the cough. I got some psychedelic dreams one night, maybe due to too much Pappy and a light fever(?!).
My dad loves to use 100% eucalyptus oil for cold-like symptoms. I grew up with that cure but boy does it make unpopularly stinky!
PlumLeaf says
Never heard of the Vick's Feet thing!?!?!?
When I'd just fallen pregnant last winter I had a winter cold that went after a week to be followed by a cough. It too was persistent & I went through three bottles of cough mix. After one finished I tried a different one as the one I'd finished made no difference. A month later, I was still coughing but then found I was expecting! That ruled out any cough mix for me and came up with my own. (Similar to yours in fact.) 4 thin slices of ginger (skin on or off up to you) in a mug, pour in a little hot water and microwave for about 30-60 secs. The water does rise so don't add too much water and watch carefully! Add in 1 teaspoon of honey and 3-4 slices of lemon, top up with hot water. Worked for me when no other cough mix could touch it!
Illinois health insurance says
thank you very much,everyone has this problem, hope this will work for my kids,i am always hear them coughing,
Linh-Dang says
Glad you're feeling better.
My family recipe for the ginger brew includes lightly charring the outside of the lemon first before slicing and squeezing the juice out, then dropping the lemon slice, charred peel and all into the brew.
Chewing kumquats is another home remedy for coughs and ... don't know the English word for khậm khặc.
Tricia says
I have been doing the Vick's Sock thing for years. I read it somewhere on the internet. For me (my son) this worked well.
As for drinks, I swear by Citron Tea and Honey Lime Tea. Both teas with lots of Vitamin C helps with the cough.
But years ago, a friend of mine told me the best remedy for coughs is to take 2-3 shots of Tequila. I found that it worked very well. So I called my friend and thanked him for this remedy. He laughed so hard that I thought he was having a heart attack! When he finally stopped laughing he told me, "Of course it worked! After 2-3 shots you would be so drunk you wouldn't know what hit you!!!"
Thuy says
I was immunized for pertussis and I still have a cough.
homeremedies says
You over come to cough and cold by good ways .I used ginger brew during cold time and its really a effective way to sort out problem of cough.The other natural ways of rubbing vicks and wearing socks appears to be good remedy.I will implement it.I like you experience and the post.
Shuku says
You know, I hadn't heard of this cure before but I'm going to keep it in mind (and that lemon ginger tea sounds fantastic. I need it a lot these days, given how much I teach small children.)
And how funny that the first thing I saw was the Banh Mi post, given that I made gluten-free banh mi tonight in a fit of craving! The bread needs tweaking, and I didn't have the pickled daikon and carrots, but I used mayonnaise (out of a jar though!), homemade kimchi, beef and an omelette. It was still sooo, soo satisfying and good. I will make another one soon since I still have bread!
Cecile Thu Truong says
Andrea,
Have been enjoying your blog and cookbooks very much. I would like to make a comment about whooping cough (pertussis). There is a vaccine for older children and adults that has been licensed by FDA since 2005 which is called Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, & acellular pertussis vaccine). It is recommended that we all get it to prevent us from getting pertussis and infecting others who are at high risk for serious complications from it. Adults can be susceptible to pertussis too as the immunity we developed in childhood from vaccination wanes off by the early adolescent period. If anyone would like more information, please go to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)'s web site, http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/vaccines.html
Looking forward to learning more about cooking from you,
Cecile Thu
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You share so nice article with us it is really very useful for us.Winter needs extra care.Home remedies are beneficial and helps in preventing a many diseases.
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Home remedies are the best medicine for our body because it does not have any harmful effect.You share so many herbal things which very healthy for us.You share such useful information.
Manga says
Home remedies are very cheapest way to come out from the diseases.It does not have any dangerous effects.Herbal things are always best for the health.You share really nice tips for the us.
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The Recipe which you have given here is very healthy for the body.Because the Honey,Ginger and Lemon these all things are the supplements for the strong immune power.I Like your Recipe.
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Now a days most of all people have to face cough and fever during winter. Home remedies are really helpful and beneficial for our health. Moreover it does not creates side effect also.
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Hey its very healthy Recipe.And its one of the Natural and the Herbal Recipe i can say that.These all things which yo have added are very beneficial for the immune systems and in common cough and cold.
Lynne says
Back in the Philippines, we call ginger tea 'salabat' which is prepared pretty much the same way but usually using brown sugar. It is sold in the form of powder ready to mix which is convenient but nothing beats freshly prepared.
Vick's brings back childhood memories. Mom applies it to our chest whenever we have colds/stuffy nose. I now use the same remedy for my son.
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Clod and cough is very common illness in winter season. You give such nice tips for ginger brew. Its pure because its home made as well as its don't have any side effects.
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Home remedies are the best for the any normal diseases.It does not contains any chemical that may cause any effects.You suggest really nice remedies for it.
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Thank you for this great post. I'm always blown away by the courage and determination of parents to give their kids a better life, especially if it means completely uprooting and starting over in a new home.
Zeynep Cakirlar says
im gonna try the ginger honey and lemon hope it helps as i have had the cough for 3 weeks now:(
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Pay somebody back in his own coin.
marlon says
The Recipe which you have given here is very healthy for the body.
marlon says
Home remedies are the best medicine for our body because it does not have any harmful effect.
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Hey, Great healthy focus on home remedies to get relief from winter cough.Thank you.