# Kill or cure - the cold remedy thread.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-or-cure-the-cold-remedy-thread/682901>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 5, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-or-cure-the-cold-remedy-thread/682901 "2014-03-05T03:15:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-or-cure-the-cold-remedy-thread/682901/1 "2014-03-05T03:15:21Z")

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I know it’s the wrong end of the season in the Northern Hemisphere but only a few days into autumn here in Australia and a cold has already gone through every member of my family over the last week.

About the only good thing about it is getting my make up my own home remedy:

[ul]  
[li]fresh lemon juice (1 large or 2 small lemons)[/li][li]1 tsp honey[/li][li]about 1 inch of cinnamon bark[/li][li]3 or 4 dried cloves[/li][li]water[/li][li]small shot of dark rum (optional) [/li][/ul]

[ol]  
[li]In a pan measure out about the amount of water it will take to 3/4 fill a normal size coffee mug. [/li][li]Add cinnamon bark and cloves - bring to boil and then let simmer for maybe 5 minutes[/li][li]put lemon juice, honey & rum into mug, when the water has simmered long enough pick out the cloves and cinnamon bark and pour into the mug[/li][li]stir[/li][li]drink[/li][li]wince when the hot lemon hits your sore throat :D[/li][/ol]

I started doing this as a kid (with only lemon juice, honey and boiling water) and it got me through many colds and bouts of tonsillitis.

So dopers, what are your cold killers or comfort drinks?

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**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-or-cure-the-cold-remedy-thread/682901/2 "2014-03-05T04:54:17Z")

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At least 64 oz of water. Your remedy tastes better, though.