As Britain’s weather shifts, colds become increasingly prevalent. The illness can include blocked noses, irritated throats, sneezing, and aching bodies that leave us all feeling dreadful. However, there’s an number of medications and natural treatments available to tackle the sniffles.
Now a chemist from California, US, has gone viral due to her claim you can “cure a cold in 24 hours” using a straightforward household ingredient. Ariana Medizade, who boasts an remarkable following of 220,000 on Instagram, revealed her preferred trick.
She said: “I’m going to tell you exactly how to cure a cold in 24 hours or less with something that you already have at home.
“As soon as you feel sick, grab two garlic cloves and cut them into small pieces, small enough so that you can swallow them and literally take them like a supplement.”
She explained: “Garlic contains allicin which is a powerful compound that tells your immune cells to start fighting any bacteria or viruses that have entered your body.”
“The reason why this works so well, I’m telling you overnight is because allicin is a compound that quickly absorbs into your bloodstream so it gives your immune system a really nice boost to help fight against any viruses or bacteria.
“The best time to use this is right when you feel those first signs of a cold, a tickle in your throat, a slight headache, fatigue.”
Garlic is an inexpensive ingredient, costing just 55p a bulb at Waitrose.
Beyond garlic helping in battling those symptoms, the specialist also champions another sharp-smelling kitchen essential – onions.
She continued: “The next thing that people are going to think I’m so weird for is the onion hack, and basically you need to chop up the onions and leave it out in your room.
“Onions contain sulphur compounds that purify the air and absorb airborne germs. I know it sounds weird, it’s more of a traditional immune remedy, it doesn’t have a lot of scientific basis but I swear it works, my mum has been doing it ever since I was like four.”
Despite these claims, the NHS highlights that evidence backing garlic and other supplements such as vitamin C or echinacea in warding off colds or speeing up recovery is limited.
If you are concerned about your health, it is important to seek the advice of a medical professional.
The NHS also recommends taking the following steps…
- get plenty of rest
- drink lots of fluid, such as water, to avoid dehydration
- eat healthy food (it’s common for small children to lose their appetite for a few days)
- gargle salt water to soothe a sore throat (not suitable for children)
- drink a hot lemon and honey drink to soothe a sore throat
- breathe in steam to ease a blocked nose – try sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running
Plus, you should consider the following guidance…
- do not let children breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water because of the risk of scalding
- do not give aspirin to children under the age of 16
- do not smoke as it can make your symptoms worse