Getty Image
Feeling the onset of a bothersome cold? Nobody relishes the idea of falling ill, but unfortunately it’s an inevitable part of life particularly when the UK weather takes a chilly turn. Colds are all too common and their symptoms are easily recognisable.
You might be dealing with a congested, runny nose or an irritating sore throat, not to mention bouts of sneezing, as well as aching muscles and bones. Thankfully, there’s a wealth of medicine available to combat a cold, along with various natural remedies. Recently, a pharmacist from California, US, revealed a trick to “cure a cold in 24 hours” which she swears by. In a video, Ariana Medizade stated: “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.”
The expert, who has amassed 106,000 followers on Instagram, continued: “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.”, reports Surrey Live. “Garlic contains allicin which is a potent compound that signals your immune cells to start combating any bacteria or viruses that have invaded your body.
The reason why this works so effectively, I’m telling you overnight, is because allicin is a compound that rapidly absorbs into your bloodstream, thereby giving your immune system a significant boost to help ward off 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.” Alongside garlic’s potential to combat these early symptoms, she also suggests reaching for another pungent kitchen staple onion.
She elaborated: “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.”
However, the NHS points out that there is scant evidence to back the idea that garlic, vitamin C, echinacea, or other supplements can prevent colds or speed up recovery. Yet, some research indicates garlic might offer several health advantages:
Immune system
Aged garlic extract could boost immune cell function, potentially lessening the severity of colds.
Antiviral properties
Garlic might possess antiviral effects that help stop viruses from entering cells or multiplying.
Antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties
Studies have shown that garlic exhibits significant antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties. Meanwhile, there are claims that consuming garlic cloves and honey could alleviate sinus problems and soothe sore throats. However, Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials has indicated that fermented garlic honey doesn’t possess any extraordinary healing or preventative qualities.
