Ilya (from the Urals) translated my “Top 10 useless remedies for the common cold” comic into Russian, and it looks awesome!
A few interesting facts I’ve learned about popular remedies for the common cold in Russia:
- They use wool socks too, but without rubbing Vicks (which doesn’t exist there).
- They stick their faces over a bowl with hot boiled potatoes and water, not just water.
- For the mouth-burning contest, they use vodka with pepper.
- Sweating at the bathhouse while ill is quite popular, even without Gwyneth Paltrow’s advice.
- The mustard plaster is very popular in Russia.
- Flu busters: they have an extensive list of so called “fuflomicini” (ex. immune enhancers).
- Suppositories are not so popular, but people like to eat garlic while ill, keep it near, and make patches from it (which often causes skin burns).
- Chicken noodle soup is not a delicacy there… They use a soup called “borscht“, made with meat and vegetables.
- Russian pharmacies sells cough syrups too, but instead of DM or codeine, they contain antiseptics, mucolytics and light painkillers.
- Antibiotics are available without a prescription!
Thanks so much Ilya!
