7 Old Wives Tales About Cold And Flu Season You Shouldn’t Believe

4. Echinacea or zinc can shorten or prevent a cold

Neither has shown to be helpful in preventing or shortening colds according to many studies. If either has any benefits, zinc would be more helpful. However, don’t bother. Those that feel these work might just be experiencing placebo effects.

5. You can sweat out a cold by covering yourself in blankets

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An old wive’s tale is that you can sweat out a cold by covering yourself in blankets or putting on a bunch of clothes so you sweat. Unfortunately, that doesn’t work. Only time will actually make your cold go away, but taking medicine, drinking warm liquids and staying warm can help you feel better in the meantime.

6. Have you ever heard “feed a cold and starve a fever” or vice versa?

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Either way, you’ve heard it, neither works. It is pretty common to lose your appetite when you’re sick. You don’t need to force feed yourself. However, you do need to make sure you are staying hydrated. If you also eat very healthily, it can help you to get better faster. Chicken soup has actually been proven to be helpful for people who are sick. Hot tea with honey can also help make you feel better.

7. You aren’t able to reduce the duration of your illness

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If you get to the doctor quick enough, you can actually reduce the duration of your cold or flu. They might prescribe an antiviral that can help you kick it faster. A young child or elderly person should always see a doctor right away, as the flu can be more serious for them than a healthy adult.

Did you previously believe any of these popular myths about the cold and flu? What do you think is the best remedy when you or someone in your family gets sick?

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