If you live in Czechia long enough, you’ll learn that there are two kinds of medicine here. The kind you buy at the pharmacy. And the kind your Czech babička (grandma) swears by the famous babské rady. The term babské rady literally means “grandma’s advice.” It’s the traditional Czech art of healing everything from a sore throat to a broken heart, using natural remedies, herbs, and a bit of superstition.
These home cures are passed down through generations and are as much a part of Czech culture as beer and dumplings. And when the cold season arrives, babské rady come out in full force.
So, if you catch a cold in Czechia, here’s how to handle it like a local.
Garlic Is Life
The ultimate Czech weapon against viruses is česnek — garlic.
You’ll hear it everywhere: “Eat garlic, it kills everything!”
Czechs add it to soups, spread it on bread with butter, or, in extreme cases, eat raw cloves before bed. Your breath may scare away more than just bacteria, but at least you’ll be healthy.
Onion Magic
If you thought garlic was intense, meet the onion.
A classic Czech trick: slice an onion in half and place it by your bed while sleeping. It’s said to “absorb bacteria from the air.”
No one can scientifically confirm this, but generations of Czechs will tell you it works. (It also guarantees that no one will come too close while you’re sick.)
Med a citrón – The holy duo
Forget fancy supplements, Czechs trust the holy duo. Med a citrón.
A spoon of honey mixed with lemon juice in warm tea soothes the throat and boosts immunity.
Never pour boiling water over honey. It “kills” the good stuff (and your Czech roommate will absolutely remind you of that).
Chicken Soup That Could Raise the Dead
Called vývar, Czech chicken broth is basically national therapy.
When you’re sick, it’s the first thing people recommend — warm, salty, and full of love (and garlic, of course). Every grandma claims hers is the best.
Eat it slowly, wrapped in a blanket, while complaining dramatically about your symptoms. That’s part of the healing.
Herbal Teas for Everything
Czech pharmacies look like botanical gardens — there’s a tea for every issue.
For colds and sore throats: lípa (linden blossom) or heřmánek (chamomile).
For cough: jitrocel (plantain) or máta (mint).
For strengthening immunity: šípek (rosehip).
If you tell a Czech you have a cough, don’t be surprised if they immediately start mixing herbal blends like experienced wizards.
Alcohol as Medicine (Really)
When it comes to Czechs, alcohol has many purposes.
Got a sore throat? Gargle with slivovice (plum brandy).
Fever? “A little shot will warm you up.”
Feeling weak? “You need some rum in your tea!”
Whether it helps or not, it certainly makes you forget you’re sick.
Steam Inhalation Ritual
Boil water, pour it into a bowl, add a handful of salt or chamomile, cover your head with a towel, and inhale deeply.
Congratulations — you’ve just recreated one of the oldest Czech spa rituals!
It opens your sinuses, clears your head, and makes you look like a mysterious forest healer.
Socks, Towels, and Wet Magic
A true babská rada involves zábaly — wraps or compresses.
For fever: wrap your calves in wet towels to “draw out the heat.”
For sore throat: a warm scarf around your neck.
It may sound medieval, but it’s surprisingly effective.
Stay Under the Blanket Until You Sweat
In Czech households, sweating is sacred.
The rule is: “You’re not healthy until you sweat it out.”
So bundle up, drink hot tea, and stay in bed until you feel like a sauna.
Czechs believe that once you’ve “sweated out the sickness,” you’re officially cured. (You’ll also have to change your sheets immediately.)
Sleep, Patience, and Positive Vibes
No Czech cure works without one key ingredient. Čas — time.
Grandmas will always say, “It takes seven days with medicine and a week without.”
So slow down, sleep a lot, and let your body and maybe a bit of garlic, do the rest.
Living in Czechia means embracing not just the language and culture, but also the babské rady that keep generations healthy.
Even if you prefer modern medicine, these little traditions make you feel at home cared for, comforted, and connected to the Czech way of life.
So next time you catch a cold, skip Google and call your Czech grandma (or borrow someone else’s). She’s got a lifetime of wisdom — and a jar of honey waiting for you.
