{"id":315,"date":"2014-03-04T22:45:10","date_gmt":"2014-03-05T03:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pimsleurspeaks.pimsleur.com\/?p=315"},"modified":"2025-10-13T16:53:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T20:53:02","slug":"learn-russian-culture-cold-flu-cures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pimsleur.com\/blog\/learn-russian-culture-cold-flu-cures\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn Russian Culture: Cold & Flu Cures"},"content":{"rendered":"

Russian Folk Remedies & Cures<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Wintertime is the season of sickness when colds and the flu run rampant through the population (the perfect time to learn Russian tucked under the covers!).\u00a0 With their bitterly cold, endless winters, the Russians know this better than anyone and have perfected an assortment of effective treatments to ward off sneezing, coughing, fevers, and sore throats without resorting to a doctor or pharmacy visit.\u00a0 If you are going to learn Russian<\/a>, knowing some classic home remedies will surely impress any native speaker.<\/p>\n

Vodka for Colds and Flu<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The first thing that everyone thinks of when “home remedies” and “Russians” are mentioned in the same sentence is, of course, vodka\u2014and there is some truth to that.\u00a0 If you are feeling the beginning of a cold, a shot of vodka with pepper or garlic will help kill the germs. Garlic, with its powerful antibacterial and immune system-boosting effects, is widely used for homeopathic purposes in Russia, helping with everything from colds to toothaches to open wounds.<\/p>\n

If the thought of straight vodka and raw garlic doesn\u2019t appeal to you, the vodka can also be taken in hot tea with honey before bed. Before you fall asleep, for extra warmth, make sure to wrap yourself in a few extra blankets, sprinkle some mustard powder in your socks, and learn this Russian saying:\u00a0 derzhi golovu v holode, zhivot v golode, a nogi- v teple.<\/em>\u00a0 (Keep your head cool, your stomach empty, and your feet warm.)<\/p>\n

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Mustard Plasters<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you wake up the next morning feeling crummy despite these preventative measures, it\u2019s time to break out the big guns.\u00a0 Congested?\u00a0 Hacking cough?\u00a0 Get ready for the most tried and true of Russian decongestants: mustard plasters.\u00a0 Made of a mixture of dry mustard, flour, and water, then spread on a cloth and applied over the chest or back, these help draw out all the gunk in your system, and reinvigorate your circulation.\u00a0 They do tend to get uncomfortably hot after a while (think blistering), so don\u2019t plan to leave them for more than half an hour.<\/p>\n

Potato Steam<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Fortunately, half an hour is just enough time for you to boil a big pot of potatoes.\u00a0 Remove them from the heat, throw a towel over your head, and breathe the steam for a while.\u00a0 Potato steam is better than plain boiled water steam because it gets and stays hotter, plus you have potatoes to eat later on (if you can avoid coughing on them).\u00a0 After your steam and plaster treatment, be sure to continue to consume vast quantities of tea with honey and lemon.\u00a0 To mix it up, you can also try hot orange juice- never cold!<\/p>\n

With any luck, the cold will have vanished\u2014or at least been scared into submission by these most uncompromising home remedies.\u00a0 So next time you feel the sniffles coming on, reach for the potatoes and garlic instead of the Dayquil and heal yourself the old Russian way.<\/p>\n

Blog Readers Discount<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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