Most of us are used to hearing hundreds of home remedies for every conceivable problem under the sun. From acne and headaches to throat aches and stomach aches, there are different tried and tested, and possibly strange, remedies every household keeps under wraps. But considering how common getting a cold and cough is, it stands to reason that most of the old timey remedies are for them. These solutions may sound bizarre to outsiders and they may not even work for everyone, but people from all around the world have remedies indigenous to their part of the planet.

Here are a few unique cough and cold remedies from around the globe:

1. Gogol-Mogol

To build immunity in your body the special dessert called Gogol-Mogol (also Kogel Mogel) from various parts of Central and Eastern Europe has gotten a special place in a lot of hearts. Mix one egg yolk to half a cup of milk and add a teaspoon of honey before boiling this mixture over a low flame. Once it reaches the boiling level, keep stirring it while you add one tablespoon of unsalted butter. This mixture is known to remove throat infections and helps induce sleep. You can have it for breakfast or dinner with cereal or just the mixture as soup.

2. Brandy

Many of us have tried improving the state of a bad hangover with the very drink that led to the condition, and that may or may not have worked. But one liquor that is said to work on colds and sore throats every time is brandy. Have a shot of 60ml brandy and the heat of the liquor helps you ease a sore throat and gets you rid of cold and flu. This is another one of the old timey remedies for cold and flu.

3. Cocoa love

Originated in the UK, the power of cocoa has been a blessing to many. Studies suggest that the main ingredient in cocoa, theobromine, can help suppress cough and cold. A cup of cocoa with low-fat milk has antioxidant properties.

4. Lizard soup

Originated in Hong Kong, as the name suggests, this soup is made from lizards. Most meat-lovers love chicken soup with pepper or lemon. Hong Kong, on the other hand, chose to tweak the recipe a bit by changing the protein instead. The recipe is simple—sweet potato, lizards, and some palm tree dates mixed with water. Lizards should either be dehydrated or air-dried. It is not easy to get lizards in stores, making it better to either dehydrate them yourself or get them from stores specializing in exotic proteins. This soup helps remove mucus.

5. Tallow poultice

Practised in Africa and Europe, this tradition has been marked as a great old timey remedy for cold and flu. This is a great relief to congestion and also helps prevent pneumonia from worsening. This remedy is made from sheep or cattle tallow, which is wrapped in flannel. Herbs like oregano, peppermint, rosemary, thyme, and sage are added to this tallow. Mustard seeds are added if required for taste. This mixture is heated traditionally on hot sand or by keeping on boiling water. This is then kept on the chest.
This warm poultice is only for topical application and is not to be eaten. It helps prevent mucus buildup and removes any kind of congestion from the lungs, forehead, nose, etc.