The old wives tale that hot drinks help to ease the symptoms of the common cold may well be true, new research suggests.
Professor Ron Eccles and Dr Ameeth Sanu, from Cardiff University in Britain, investigated the effects of drinking a hot apple and blackcurrant cordial drink on common cold/flu symptoms in 30 men and women suffering from the common cold or flu. Results showed that drinking the hot beverage gave participants immediate and long-lasting relief from runny nose, cough, sneezing, sore throat, chilliness, and tiredness. In comparison, the same drink served at room temperature only offered relief from runny nose, cough, and sneezing.
The authors conclude: “In conclusion the results support the folklore that a hot tasty drink is a beneficial treatment for relief of most symptoms of common cold and flu.”
Sanu A, Eccles R. The effects of a hot drink on nasal airflow and symptoms of common cold and flu. Rhinology. 2008;46:271-275.
