Spicy Chicken Soup is a Fantastic Natural Cold & Flu Remedy

Chicken soup has anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties and has been by physicians for the common cold and the flu all over the world, going as far back as ancient Egypt.

People with upper respiratory viruses, asthma and bronchitis usually produce excess mucus, which eventually gets into the lungs. This buildup often leads to a bronchospasm,, which is the constriction of muscles in the walls of the airways.

These spasms can contribute to difficulty in breathing and sleepless nights. You don’t hear much about bronchospasms, but our constant exposure to airborne toxins and particles make them a real health challenge.

Mucus is a Blessing and a Curse for Your Lungs:

The lungs produce mucus as a protective agent. It traps bacteria, antigens, dust and other irritants that enter the respiratory passages during breathing. In this way, mucus is a blessing.

However, the overproduction of mucus is a symptom of many common illnesses, including colds, flu, asthma, allergies and chronic bronchitis.
Coughing is the body’s way to get rid of the excess mucus, but this effort can be challenging because of the thick and sticky nature of mucus.

Don’t Ignore the Overproduction of Mucus:

Irwin Ziment, M.D. is a retired pulmonologist and professor of medicine at UCLA. More than three decades ago, he discovered that ancient healers used natural substances such as garlic and hot peppers, as well as chicken soup to address the problem. In fact, he routinely prescribed chicken soup with garlic and hot peppers as a complement to modern drug treatments.

Treating the bronchospasms without treating the mucus is backward. As he explains it, “Bronchospasm is always accompanied by mucus, but the mucus is largely ignored by doctors; only the bronchospasm gets treated.” It’s actually the mucus that’s helping to drive the bronchospasms.

Chicken Soup to the Rescue:

Chicken soup contains a natural amino acid called cysteine. A form of this amino acid, called N-acetyl cysteine, is a powerful antioxidant that strengthens immunity.

But it’s not enough to just plain chicken soup. You need to spike it with garlic, hot peppers, hot curry, and/or Tabasco sauce. That’s because these the garlic and hot peppers provide the knockout punch against mucus.

According to Dr. Ziment, when properly prepared the soup should bring tears to the eyes and cause a runny nose as it loosens the mucus. The prudent approach is to initially start with a mild mix and work up to a level that you can handle. This will then guide you for your future chicken soup preparation.

A Strong Physical Reaction to the Soup Means It’s Working:

A strong physical reaction to the soup is a sure sign that it’s having the desired effect. A runny nose and watery eyes mean the body has been stimulated to loosen mucus, which will make it easier to cough out the congestion and feel better. There may be no drug that can more effectively break up mucus in your lungs, nor any inhaler that works as deeply.

In our pharmaceutically controlled medical system, spiced up chicken soup will ever get the recognition that it deserves. After all, pharmaceutical companies derive no profit from it and it can’t be patented! However, it certainly should be something that doctors recommend. It’s natural, safe, and effective. It’s no wonder that it’s been such a longstanding traditional remedy.

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