In the United States, hot chicken soup is called "liquid penicillin" and people often drink it when they have a cold. Researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in the United States found through experiments that chicken soup is relatively light, high in calories, easy to absorb, has anti-inflammatory and sore throat effects, and helps to prevent the accelerated movement of cold virus, enhance the movement of white blood cells, and inhibit the production of mucus in the nose, thus alleviating cold symptoms. Onions and peppers are essential in American chicken soup. In their view, onions have a strong bactericidal effect, and peppers can make people sneeze and make their noses and throats unobstructed.

North American Indians used to eat a little bitter root when their throats were uncomfortable. They also praised this purslane plant as the "singer's root" and used it to treat hoarseness.

English people drink ginger tea when they have a cold. When cooking tea, add fresh ginger and sugar and cook for more than ten minutes. Ginger beer is also the first of its kind in Britain. Strictly speaking, ginger beer is not wine, but a soft drink made by adding ginger to soda juice. Many British people also make their own wine. The most common way is to take a piece of fresh ginger and cook it, then add lemon, honey or brown sugar, and add a proper amount of water. This is similar to our "ginger cola" in China. Can fight colds and improve immunity.

In Australia and New Zealand, hot lemon drink with honey is a traditional drink to treat colds. The method is simple. Add some lemon juice to the boiling water, and then pour in some honey. Honey can relieve sore throat, and lemon juice can improve immunity.