So you woke up this morning with a sore throat, the sniffles and the worst headache. Yes, 'tis the season for sneezin'. Despite your best hypochondriacal efforts, the bitter February chill caught you a whopper of a cold and you just can't bear the thought of another bowl of chicken soup or the smell of Vicks VapoRub.

Help is at hand! We've rounded up some wacky ways to knock a cold flat. Now, we haven't tried any of them (and you'll soon see why!), but the comedic value is obvious and don't they say that laughter is the best medicine?

1. Wet Socks for Sniffles

To clear congestion when you have a cold, first warm your feet in hot water, then soak a thin pair of socks in cold water, squeeze the water out out and put them on. Put a pair of thick, dry socks over the wet ones and go to bed. The wet socks help draw blood to your feet, boosting the circulation, which helps clear congestion.

2. Bottoms up!

Your throat is sore, your nose is running and the only thing that can make you better is a... hot toddy? The name might throw you but Scots swear by this strong alcoholic drink that promises to zing you up. A hot toddy is sipped very slowly to sooth the throat, clear the nose and relax aching muscles. Looking to try something adventurous, then why not drink your cold away this winter!

Hmmm... that didn't come out quite right. Please drink responsibly!

Hot Toddy

1½ oz Whiskey
2 oz Hot Water
½ oz Honey
½ oz fresh lemon juice

Squeeze fresh lemon juice into hot water and let steep for 3 minutes. Then, add Whiskey and pour it all into a mug. Add honey to your liking and serve it with a slice of lemon. Slàinte!

3. The Onion Necklace Effect

A sore throat shouldn’t prevent from making a fashion statement (or not!). The cure you can wear is the onion necklace! A common Indian treatment for warding off cold, simply slice fresh onion bulbs and wear them around your neck. The vapors from the onion are effective in clearing up congested airways caused by a bad cold.

(Yes, we believe that! However....)

4. Ancient Chinese Remedy with a Twist

Warm cola, anyone? An ancient Chinese remedy with a modern twist directs you to heat a can of Coke in a saucepan along with half a lemon and one inch of ginger. Simmer the mixture over medium heat for 10 minutes. Strain the lemon and ginger bits and drink up!

5. Would you like some mustard with that?

Another zany idea to relieve congestion is a mustard spread for the chest. Grind up three tablespoons of mustard seeds, add water to make a paste, and then slather it on your chest. The pungent aroma helps to unclog stuffy sinuses, while the heat improves blood circulation and eases congestion. CAUTION: Don’t leave the plaster on for more than 15 minutes or your skin may burn! It’s a good idea to smear some Vaseline before applying the plaster to protect the skin.

6. Blow-dry your cold out

As wacky as it sounds, inhaling heated air may help kill a cold faster than you realize. Set your hair dryer on high, hold it at least 40 cm (16 inches) from your face, and breathe in the air through your nose for at least five minutes. Feeling a little risky? Try holding it for 20 minutes!

Have you tried any of these? How did it work for you?

by Sumaya Khan