Following my recent column discussing weird and wonderful ‘remedies’ for coughs and colds, I have had some interesting messages from readers.
Liz Davidson from Darlington says: “An old neighbour of mine gave me a jar of goose grease to rub on my son’s chest when he was a baby for a persistent cough. I don’t think it did much good but at least I could have a good a fry up with it!”
Nick Whelan from Romanby recommends: “Warmed whisky (can be substituted with lemon juice or similar) and ginger with local honey. It’s best to use local honey as the pathogens have been collected and the astringents will then allow your body to absorb them more easily.” (I’m not sure what that means but it sounds like it should be effective!)
Caroline Newnham from York was not tempted to try the more extreme remedies I mentioned involving fish, mice and ferrets, but offers a similar suggestion to Nick: “I’m a great fan of a fresh ginger brew and paracetamol with a whisky hot toddy at bedtime. I’m not a whisky drinker any other time. I have read this week that fresh pineapple is very good for annoying coughs. Got to be better than a cold fish!”
It so happens that whisky and ginger is what my dad used to recommend whenever I was suffering with a cough or sore throat. I never tried it because I didn’t like whisky, but I can imagine that if it is warmed with a dollop of honey, some lemon and some ginger, it would be soothing to drink.
Clare Proctor says: “At my great age, and on the advice of my doctor, I only take paracetamol when I have a cold. After all, in any over the counter ‘cold remedies’ you buy, the only active ingredient is the paracetamol. All the rest is just window dressing – well that’s what she told me. She also said there was no cough medicine to get rid of a cold, they only soothe your throat, so I guzzle Benylin too. Nothing ‘old wife’ for me!”
And Judith Barber adds: “I never take Lemsip because I now react badly to all medication. Four years ago, my face became lumpy, the skin saggy, after using certain eye drops. My eyelids were so bad I had to have surgery to reduce them. The surgeon was wonderful, but it was a surreal situation, being conscious, him chatting away to me, maybe to distract me from what was happening! Talk turned to Covid, which I had not had – and still haven’t. I put it down to drinking lemon tea, with added honey, apple cider vinegar, and a piece of fresh ginger, once a day. The surgeon said I probably had a strong immune system, but another patient recommended drinking a whole bottle of red wine each day!”
Drinking a daily bottle of red would not be recommended by any medical professional I know, although a glass a day is supposed to bring some health benefits. Judith’s experience with the eye drops is horrific, but by a strange coincidence, I have recently listened to a true crime podcast where the killer had poisoned the victim by spiking her drink with eye drops. I don’t know which ingredient caused Judith’s adverse reaction, but some over-the-counter eye drops in the USA contain tetrahydrozoline which is poisonous if swallowed in sufficient quantities, which the killer obviously knew. I had a good scroll through all the brands of eye drops available in a UK-based online chemist, and to my relief could not find any that contain tetrahydrozoline.
I find it fascinating that some people have still never caught Covid. Are they naturally immune, or just lucky? Maybe Judith’s very own daily ‘special brew’ does boost her immune system and protects her from certain illnesses. Who knows? Having said that, the so-called ‘placebo’ effect can be as successful as medication in making one feel better thanks to the mind having such a powerful influence over how we feel physically. Placebo or not, when you’re under the weather, what matters is whatever works for you.
And finally, referring to my 400th column which appeared a couple of weeks ago, Lynne Wheatley sent me the following kind message: “Congratulations! Your dad would be so proud of you.”
Thank you, Lynne. I really hope he would.
Do you have opinions, memories or ideas to share with me? Get in touch with me via the ‘Contact’ tab at the top right of this page.
This column appeared in the Darlington & Stockton Times on Friday 14th Feb and the Ryedale Gazette and Herald on Wednesday 12th Feb 2025
The Countryman's Daughter 