Onion compress, essential oils or tea? I’ve tried every cold remedy there is
20/1/2025
Translation: Elicia Payne
I’ve tested pretty much everything that’s supposed to help cure or prevent colds and sore throats. And only a few of them have really worked. Here are my experiences with common household remedies.
Some people tend to suffer from stomach flu, for me my upper airways are the problem – thanks to the sensitive mucous membranes in my throat and nose. As soon as someone with a cold comes close, I get the impression I catch it after. Since I was little, I’ve battled with several colds a year, which isn’t exactly tragic but very annoying.
On my journey to finding the perfect symptom relief, I’ve tried a lot of things that are supposed to help with a blocked nose or a painful throat. I’ll show you which methods have helped me particularly well and which I’m not so keen on. Generally speaking, you have to ride the cold out but you can alleviate the symptoms.
Freeing the nostrils
Onion compresses: a stinky no-go
Almost worse than the sore throat was the hell my dear mother put me through with her onion compress. She’d strap a warm, onion-filled scarf around my neck before I went to bed and assure me that this repulsive procedure would help. The alliin contained in pungent onion juice is said to have a decongestant effect (page in German) and therefore clear your nose of mucus.
This didn’t stop me from hating the smell of onions. In fact, these compresses would reduce me to tears – not just because of their contents, but because I hated everything about this disgusting remedy. The worst thing about it was, once the cold was finally over, the room stank terribly for days. To summarise: it helped, my nose was clear. But the warm disgusting cloth and smell certainly won’t come into my room ever again.
Source: Shutterstock
Decongestant nasal sprays: for quick, short relief
They seem like a simple solution initially. They contain xylometazoline which constricts the blood vessels in the nasal mucosa and reduces congestion by increasing mucus production.
Initially, the nasal spray worked quite well, but over time I found that the longer I used it, the shorter its effect lasted. After a few hours though, I’d reach for the spray again. A classic tolerance development which hurt my nose and left it either blocked or dry for a long time after the cold. So that’s when I stopped using them and have kept away from them ever since.
Commercially available decongestant sprays can be helpful for a short time, but you should never use them for longer than the doctor’s recommendation or the package leaflet prescribes.
Nasal rinses: check the salt dosage
A nasal rinse was my faithful companion for a long time. As soon as I felt a cold coming on, I’d let the salty stream of water flow through my nostrils. It always ended with a small puddle in the bathroom, but it helped. Sometimes even for a few hours.
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The theory’s that the saline solution flushes pathogens out of the nose. However, there’s not enough scientific evidence to prove this yet (pages in German).
Over time, this method also burned my nose more than it did any good. This could have been down to the wrong salt concentration which can damage the nasal mucosa. I also experienced the same effect with ready-to-use nasal rinses. Maybe my nose is just too sensitive for them.
Essential oils: fragrant but problematic
Distilled plant oils are said to promote the secretion of mucus in the blocked nose and thus promote healing. So I used the vaporiser next to my bed to spray them into the air. I was left with nothing more than a wonderfully fragrant room. In fact, the concentrated vegetable oils burned my throat. They’re also difficult to dose. And there’s a lack of studies that prove essential oils combat cold pathogens and provide faster healing (page in German).
Now I only use the oils to make my room smell nice. So far, the only «scent» that hasn’t harmed my nose and lets me breathe throughout the night is Vicks VapoRub. In my opinion, the eucalyptus oil and the other ingredients in the cream are relatively mild and well tolerated.
Wondering where all that mucus in your nose comes from? You can find out here:
Goodbye sore throat and cough
Lozenges: numb the pain, but can also have a laxative effect
Lozenges are suitable for the quick relief of acute sore throats. They work in different ways but have one thing in common – they create a protective film on the painful, irritated or dry mucous membrane of the throat. Some slightly numb the pain, while others have a high sugar content to stimulate saliva production.
Unfortunately, the soothing effect doesn’t last very long for me. If I then have more lozenges, my tummy soon knows about it because the sweets can have a laxative effect. But for a short time or when you’re out and about, these little treats can be quite helpful and pleasant.
Teas: well-being in a cup
If I have the time, I prefer to make myself a cup of lemon and ginger tea with a spoonful of honey than have a lozenge. The warmth relieves the pain and I’m hydrating at the same time, which is very important when you have a cold. I doubt whether the plant substances in the tea have any effect on the common cold. When I researched whether, for example, thyme helps with coughs, I only found a few meaningful studies (page in German). And I’m okay with that because I’m looking after myself and the placebo effect can also help.
Steam inhalation: my game changer
My personal favourite when it comes to combating symptoms is steam. Since I introduced a humidifier in my bedroom this winter, I feel I don’t suffer from dry and irritated mucous membranes as much. In turn, this may have positively influenced my chances of infection. I can’t prove it, but it’s certainly more pleasant. If the cold’s acute, I put a chamomile tea bag in an inhalation device and breathe in the fragrant steam several times a day. For a moment, my nose feels less irritated and the steam soothes the pain. A steam bath for the home, so to speak.
Source: Shutterstock
Martin Jungfer has taken a closer look at humidifier maintenance in one of his articles.
The lowdown: less is more
All my past colds have taught me that I just have to get through the infection. For specific and severe complaints such as sore throats and headaches, I take the appropriate medication. Experts advise against combination preparations. The «Quarks Science-Cops» from the German TV channel WDR talked about this in one of their German podcast episodes. Combination drugs often contain a large number of ingredients that, in most cases, aren’t necessary and can even be harmful. In other words, if you only have a fever, there’s no need to take cough suppressants and painkillers too.
To relieve mild symptoms, I resort to gentle remedies such as steam, tea or a vapour rub. But the best medicine is still bed rest, plenty of water and patience. My colleague Anna Sandner explains why this is the case in her article below:
Header image: Shutterstock
Painting the walls just before handing over the flat? Making your own kimchi? Soldering a broken raclette oven? There's nothing you can't do yourself. Well, perhaps sometimes, but I'll definitely give it a try.