As many of you have experienced some times in your life, world grandmothers are brimming with a wealth of health wisdom. 

During my childhood, my tonsils were prone to tonsillitis, and each bout of cold left them swollen and painful, bringing tears to my eyes. Without fail, my grandmother would remedy this by wrapping green onions around my neck and having me gargle with course tea (Bancha). Reflecting on those times, I realize that I often navigated childhood illnesses without the need for medication, thanks to my grandmother’s insightful practices.

Recalling specific instances, she employed green onion wraps for a sore throat, lotus root soup for coughs with sticky phlegm, and roasted plum tea at the onset of a cold. 

UMEBOSHI, pickled plums, cherished by the Japanese as a panacea for last 100 years at least, contain substances with robust antioxidant and antibacterial properties, including citric acid, vanillin, and syringaresinol. Recent research has even identified MK615, a potent anti-cancer substance in pickled plums, showing promise in cancer prevention and treatment.

Throughout this series, spanning five segments, I aim to illuminate the valuable wisdom of Japanese grandmothers that proves beneficial in the upcoming cold and influenza season, leveraging insights from existing scientific knowledge.

In a straightforward manner, I’ll introduce grandma’s effective cold prevention tips one by one in each episode. To prepare for the approaching influenza and cold season, consider subscribing below.

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I’ll be sharing exercise content on the blog on this YouTube version, along with easily digestible audio visual content. Your subscription would be greatly appreciated for more updates.