Researchers at Cardiff University's Common Cold Centre have found that a hot mug of fruit cordial could help ease the coughs and runny noses of a cold or flu.
The effect of an apple and blackcurrant drink served at room temperature or hot was monitored on 30 volunteers - 21 women and nine men, aged 18 to 36.
Centre director Professor Ron Eccles said:
"It is surprising that this is the first scientific research on the benefit of a hot drink for treating cold and flu symptoms. With temperatures falling and Christmas just round the corner, cold viruses love this time of year. Having a bottle of fruit cordial in the cupboard and making a hot drink could help fight off the symptoms of festive cold and flu."
Scientists used a popular brand of diluted apple and blackcurrant, at temperatures of 70C and 20C. They found immediate effects on cough, sore throat, chilliness and tiredness, and relief after 15 minutes from running nose and sneezing. Even just having a fruit drink at room temperature helped the runny nose, cough and sneezing. It is thought that the taste, smell and temperature of the drink may also have a psychological effect.
The drink involved was low sugar and low calorie but sweeter, more traditional cold remedies may have an even greater effect. Professor Eccles said the big advantage of this type of treatment was that it was cheap as well as safe and effective.
The research found a hot drink provided "immediate and sustained relief" from symptoms of a runny nose, cough, sneezing, sore throat, chilliness and tiredness.
"In conclusion, the results support the folklore that a hot tasty drink is a beneficial treatment for relief of most symptoms of common cold and flu," said the study.
The Common Cold Centre, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is the world's only centre dedicated to researching and testing new medicines for treatment of the symptoms of flu and the common cold. The centre has led the world in answering some of the most commonly asked questions about the common cold. These include whether being cold can make you catch a cold and why one nostril gets blocked when we have a cold.
But as yet, a cure remains elusive because the common cold is not just one virus. "In fact it is caused by over 200 different viruses that change and mutate constantly, making it almost impossible to find a "catch-all" cure," said Prof Eccles.
December 2008
The research was published in the latest edition of clinical journal 'Rhinology'. | 
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