Flu cases are rising — the latest national data shows cases tripling in just a fortnight — and now we've ticked over to winter, it's likely we'll see a spike in cases of the common cold too.
When faced with cold or flu symptoms, many of us have go-to home remedies we insist make a difference to the trajectory of our sickness.
But while they may make us feel better, experts are quick to point out that these so-called treatments don't address what's actually making us sick.
Looking back at home remedies from last century
If you flip through the archives of Australian newspapers and magazines, you'll find a host of weird and wacky suggestions for cold treatments:
Those clippings may be aged and yellowed, yet their content isn't all that different from the comments in online discussions about non-medical "cures" for colds and the flu.
And Royal Australian College of GPs president Karen Price says we're right to be sceptical of them.
'Comfort, not a cure'
"Alternative therapies and treatments for coughs and colds need to be considered with caution because there is often no scientific evidence base to support them," Dr Price said.
While some things might feel good, they don't actually do anything.
"Home remedies provide comfort, not a cure," Dr Price says.
"While some people may benefit from the placebo effect ... the key message is these treatments do not cure, and people shouldn’t rely on them."
And Dr Price's sage advice is also reflected in a piece penned by "Le Medecin" in a 1926 edition of the Australian Woman's Mirror:
Here are a few home remedies and why they won't actually cure your cold.
Vapor rub on feet
Many people swear by smearing vapour rub on their feet and then sealing it in with socks.
In a post for the Mayo Clinic, general paediatrician Jay Hoecker writes that these topical ointments are all about the smell.
One of the most common vapour rubs has three active ingredients, each with very a strong odour:
- camphor
- eucalyptus oil
- menthol
Dr Hoecker says that menthol smell "may trick your brain, so you feel like you're breathing through an unclogged nose".
Manufacturers of Vicks VapoRub only advise applying it to the chest and throat — but say nothing about the feet.
The throat and chest are very close to the nose, but as your feet are further away, you're less likely to get the benefits from inhaling it.
"Please don’t slather your feet with any treatment not designed to go there, because you’re just wasting your money," Dr Price said.
Gargling with salt water
Dr Price says it won't actually cure the infection, but it can relieve a common cold symptom.
"If you have a sore throat, your GP may well advise you to gargle with salt water, as this is known to help ease the discomfort," she said.
Eating certain foods
Garlic
The Cochrane Library, a leading independent body that reviews scientific research, has looked into garlic and the common cold.
It said there was "insufficient" clinical trial evidence into the effects of garlic on treating or preventing the common cold.
The review, which was last updated in 2014, pointed to one trial which suggested it may help prevent the common cold, but it said more studies were needed to validate the finding.
And it's important to note that the keyword there was "prevent" — there's no mention of the word "cure".
Lemon
The idea here is that boosting your vitamin c levels by eating things like lemon and oranges will help with a cold, but Dr Price is sceptical.
"The evidence for vitamin C is also weak," she said.
"Certainly there seems little benefit in taking it once you have a cold."
Honey
Dr Price says honey may help but, like salt water, it doesn't cure the underlying infection.
"Honey can help soothe a cough, but it is important to remember coughing helps clear mucus from lungs," she said
"And coughs should disappear with no treatment as the infection clears."
You already know what to do
First off, if you've got cold and flu symptoms, you should get tested for COVID-19.
Dr Price's advice about what to do if it's just a cold is something most of us have heard a million times, but it bears repeating.
"Stay hydrated, rest, and stay warm if you’re feeling cold," she said.
She also suggests taking as taking paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the discomfort of a cough or cold.
"The best non-pharmacological interventions for general preventative health are good rest and a good diet, with regular exercise," Dr Price said.
"When it comes to infectious diseases, such as colds and influenza, I encourage people to consider an influenza vaccination and practice good hand hygiene.
"And if someone is sick in your household, compassionate isolation of infected persons for the duration of their illness can help to stop the spread."
