Macedonian home remedies for a cold & sore throat

Cold and flu season has arrived, and I've picked up a terrible cold & sore throat.  However, my wonderful Macedonian parents have instructed me on some interesting home remedies they use and I thought it would be interesting to share them.

MK Remedy #1.  Tea with honey and freshly squeezed lemon. 

Not sure why, but my mother-in-law always tells me to wait until the tea has cooled before adding the lemon and honey. 

MK Remedy #2.  Sliced lemons covered with sugar. 

"Lemon drop" minus the vodka. :)

MK Remedy #3.  1 tsp. of sugar mixed with equal parts of honey and brandy (aka Rakija)

This is supposed to be really good for coughing & sore throat.

MK Remedy #4.  Hot Brandy (Rakija) & Black Pepper
          Another great remedy for sore throat, and usually done right before bed.You will need:

• 2 cotton bandanna's or hand towels roughly the same size (long enough to wrap around neck)
• Home brandy (warmed)
• Black pepper

In the center of the towel add ground black pepper. Then roll the towel so that it may be wrapped around the neck & throat comfortably, pour hot brandy on the towel (be careful that it is not too hot); wrap the towel around the neck and throat.  Add an additional towel too keep the heat in, and go to sleep. 

MK Remedy #5.  Hot water & Salt 

Soak feet in hot water mixed with a few teaspoons of salt, when the water cools down, add more hot water.  Keep doing this until the heat reaches your head and your done.  (I'm a little skeptical about this one, but it's supposed to help with a cold.)

Fun Facts:
I was told at the Church of Saint George Monastery that, historically, people would scrap the eye's from the icons and use it to make potions.  They believed that the powder from the eyes of the frescoes was healing. 

Ohrid - Macedonia's Hidden Gem from CNN, Jerusalem of the Balkans

Holy Trinity Church & Saint Nikola Church, Kumanovo, Macedonia

These are two Christian Orthodox Churches in Kumanovo, Macedonia.  The first church is Holy Trinity Church, built in 1902.  The second church is Saint Nikola Church, built in 1851.

For more information or to schedule a private tour, contact Dzike53@yahoo.com

Holy Trinity Church, Kumanovo, Macedonia

Holy Trinity held a large congregation about 30 years ago where people from all surrounding villages would join in. The locals tell the story of the church restoration: “It was a Roman church, and later restored. The Turks wouldn’t let us build a church”. They donated money for the restoration of the church. It was finished in 1894. In the past century, there was an old man, Stamen, who moved in here from the Rudare village and he would heal people who would come for remedy using the mineral water from the springs.

Saint Nikola Church, Kumanovo, Macedonia

Saint Nikola is a monumental basilica type building, characteristic for all of the sacred buildings in the Balkans in the 19 century period. It is built from stone and bricks. On the northern side there is a porch with colonnades. The central aisle is over topping with four blind domes. Above the northern, western and southern part of the church extends a gallery where unique collection of icons is placed. Above the western part of the gallery extends another one but with smaller dimensions.

Church of St George (St. Gjorgii) – village of Staro Nagorichane, Macedonia

The Church of St. George, which contains outstanding wall paintings of the late 13th and early 14th centuries, was constructed on the remains of an earlier church, founded probably by the Byzantine Emperor Romanus IV Diogenus (1068-1071).

St. Gjorgi of Staro Nagorichane, Macedonia

For a Private Tour: contact Dzike53@yahoo.com