How to prepare ginger soup to treat a cold

May 20, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Sun Lianqing

Introduction

Generally speaking, there is no specific saying regarding "how to prepare ginger soup to treat a cold." Ginger soup can be prepared using methods such as brown sugar ginger soup, cola ginger soup, scallion ginger soup, ginger powder soup, or red date ginger soup, which may help in treating colds. Place slices of ginger, chopped scallions, and water into a pot, bring to a boil over high heat, then add brown sugar and bring to a boil again before drinking.

Generally speaking, there is no fixed method for preparing ginger soup to treat a cold. However, ginger soup can be prepared using methods such as brown sugar ginger soup, cola ginger soup, scallion ginger soup, grated ginger soup, or red date ginger soup, which may help alleviate cold symptoms. The specific methods are as follows:

1. Brown Sugar Ginger Soup: Place slices of ginger, scallion whites, and water into a pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then add brown sugar and boil again before drinking. Brown sugar can help dispel cold and promote blood circulation, warm the stomach, and strengthen the spleen. When cooked with ginger and scallions, it enhances the effect of relieving cold symptoms.

2. Cola Ginger Soup: Pour cola into a pot, add slices of old ginger, and simmer over low heat until it boils. Continue cooking for about 10 minutes, then turn off the heat and drink. You may add a small piece of rock sugar according to personal taste. The sugar in cola combined with ginger helps induce sweating and relieve cold symptoms.

3. Scallion Ginger Soup: Cut green onions into sections and place them into a pot with ginger slices. Add a bowl of water and bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer until only a small amount of water remains. Strain the liquid, mix with brown sugar, and drink. Like ginger, scallions have a spicy flavor that helps dispel cold and relieve nausea. Combined with brown sugar, it enhances the effect of cold relief.

4. Grated Ginger Soup: Chop ginger slices into fine pieces, pour boiling water into a cup containing the ginger, cover the cup, and steep for five minutes before drinking while hot. This method allows for quick preparation and enables the pungent flavor of the ginger to be better released, helping to induce sweating.

5. Red Date Ginger Soup: Slice ginger and cook it together with red dates in water. Boil until the red dates become tender and the soup turns light yellow. Red dates have the effects of warming yang, invigorating qi, and nourishing blood. When cooked with ginger, it enhances immunity and alleviates cold symptoms.

Ginger soup is suitable for the early stages of a cold caused by wind-cold or for mild symptoms. If symptoms are severe or accompanied by fever, coughing, or other symptoms, timely medical attention and medication should be sought. Additionally, when preparing ginger soup, ingredients and quantities can be adjusted according to personal taste and physical condition.

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Can children drink ginger soup when they have a cold?

In general, whether children with a common cold can drink ginger soup depends on the type of cold. If it is a cold caused by wind-cold, drinking ginger soup is usually acceptable; however, if it is a cold due to wind-heat, ginger soup is not recommended. If a child has a wind-cold type cold, symptoms typically include chills, headache, clear nasal discharge, sneezing, a thin white tongue coating, and similar manifestations, in which case drinking an appropriate amount of ginger soup can be beneficial.