The chill is finally setting in, and we’re wracked by sore throats, coughs and colds. So hot drinks are in order, from ginger tea to chicken soup. These don’t only soothe a sore throat, but also help us breathe bette. When you have a cough and cold, the nose, sinuses, vocal chords and wind pipe get blocked and when you drink something hot, it helps decongest the system and provides a soothing effect to the throat.

Here are a few hot drinks to choose from:

Herbal tea: Try herbal teas or add lemon, ginger and honey to your tea. Lemon provides vitamin C which improves the body’s immune system and ginger is warming. Honey soothes a sore throat. Chamomile tea is known to have anti-bacterial properties.

Chicken or mutton soup: Hot chicken or mutton soup is high in minerals like zinc that resist infections and clear clogged airways, and the nourishing broth gives you energy. Add plenty of vegetables, including onion and garlic, for extra healing power.

Hot toddy: A hot toddy is a mix of brandy and honey, lemon and tea. The honey and lemon act on your cold and the brandy provides warmth, making you feel better instantly.

Hot water with ginger: Boil ginger till the water is reduced to a fourth of its original quantity. Add honey. For higher therapeutic value, add tulsi or mint.