Cold Remedy

Bedroom in Anykščiai. Courtesy of A. Baranauskas and A. Vienuolis-Žukauskas Memorial Museum.

Did you know you can cure a cold with... cognac and a hat?

We’re sharing a quirky recipe from the interwar period, allegedly invented by Augustinas Voldemaras, the first Lithuanian Prime Minister. This peculiar method is called “Three Hats.”

Here’s how it goes:

“You’ll need a warm room, a soft, cozy bed, some cognac, rum, and any kind of hat. Lie down in bed, cover yourself with a blanket, and keep the cognac close by. Start sipping the drink, and now and then, glance at the hat you’ve hung at the foot of the bed. When your vision starts to blur, it means the cold is on its way out. And when you see ‘three hats’ instead of one, it’s time to stop drinking.”

We hope this brought a smile to your face, but that’s all it’s meant to do! We strongly advise against trying this remedy at home.

Have you heard of any other equally strange ways to fight off a cold? Share them in the comments!