How to consume wild onions and wild garlic to treat a cold
May 29, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, wild scallions and wild garlic, as food ingredients, cannot cure colds, but they can help alleviate symptoms. Common ways to consume them include hot soups, honey water, ginger tea, porridge, and stir-fried dishes. Cutting wild scallions and garlic into sections and boiling them with ginger and scallion whites produces a pungent, warm soup that induces sweating and relieves exterior symptoms. This is suitable for the early stages of a cold caused by wind-cold invasion to alleviate nasal congestion and chills. Covering up with extra clothing after consumption helps promote sweating; however, excessive intake should be avoided to prevent heatiness (excessive internal heat).
Under normal circumstances, wild scallions and wild garlic as food ingredients cannot cure colds, but they can help alleviate symptoms. Common ways to consume them include hot soup, honey water, ginger tea, porridge, and stir-fried dishes. If in doubt, it is recommended to seek medical advice in advance. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Hot Soup: Cut wild scallions and garlic into sections and cook with ginger and scallion whites to make a soup. This warm, spicy soup helps relieve chills and nasal congestion at the early stage of a cold caused by exposure to cold. Covering up with clothing after consumption helps induce sweating, but excessive intake should be avoided to prevent heatiness.
2. Honey Water: Crush wild scallions or garlic, soak in warm water, then add honey for flavor. This can help relieve sore throat and cough, as honey's moistening properties can reduce mucosal irritation. However, diabetic patients should moderate their intake.
3. Ginger Tea: Boil together with ginger and brown sugar to warm the body and dispel cold, improving headaches and body aches. The spiciness of ginger, combined with scallions and garlic, promotes blood circulation, but should be used cautiously by those with yin deficiency and internal heat.
4. Porridge: Cook with rice or millet and add a little salt to replenish energy while relieving nausea and loss of appetite associated with cold-induced stomach discomfort. The mild nature of porridge makes it suitable for those with weak constitutions.
5. Stir-fried Dishes: Cut wild scallions or garlic into sections and stir-fry with meat or vegetables. This method preserves the original flavor of the ingredients while increasing the nutritional value of the dish. It is recommended to pair with light dishes to maintain a balanced diet.
Selection of the appropriate method should depend on the type of cold. Those with wind-heat感冒 should avoid using these remedies alone. Pregnant women and individuals with bleeding disorders should use sweat-inducing methods cautiously. If symptoms persist for more than three days, medical attention should be sought to avoid delaying treatment for bacterial infections.
