I’ve gotten so many amazing responses to my query about home remedies for colds that I thought I’d post a few of them here. 

First, reader Sarah of Wisewhimsy wrote to tell me about Hot Knives’ All-Natural Nyquil Recipe. 

What you need:

2 cups fresh mint leaves

1 cup water

1 cup agave nectar (or sugar or honey)

1 small ginger bulb

1 lemon

1 tsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp roasted green chile (or half a seeded, roasted jalepeno)

2 shots Pastis

2 shots Southern Comfort

What you do:

1. First, make a mint simple syrup. Pluck 35-40 mint leaves off the stems (yields about 2 cups mint) and chop roughly, setting aside half for later use. Add half the mint to a saucepot with 1 cup water. Bring to a boi; simmer 5-8 minutes. Remove from heat and strain out leaves. Return the mint tea to the stovetop and bring back to a full boil. Add agave nectar, mix, and let cook 1 minute before removing from heat. Set aside to cool.

2. Ready the other veggies for the blender. Peel the ginger and slice it into matchsticks, and then zest the lemon and place zest into a small dish covered with 1 tsp good-quality olive oil. 

3. Toss the ginger, green chile and remaining cup of fresh mint into the blender. Add lemon juice and half the mint syrup, setting the rest aside for garnish. Pulse for up to a minute.

4. Strain the mixture into a bowl through a fine mesh strainer. Taste, and add more mint syrup if you like.

5. Mix. The basic proportion is one part juice to one part pastis to one part whiskey. For a single dose, measure a tablespoon of each into a cocktail shaker. Add a teaspoon of lemon zest oil and three ice cubes, and shake well. Pour into a shot glass or snifter, and get ready to feel better.