This cold- and flu-evasion technique may sound kooky, but folks who’ve tried it swear it’s kept them fit as fiddles even during the fiercest flu seasons. The simple routine: The minute you feel the first sign of symptoms, use a small eyedropper to insert 4 or 5 drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide into one ear. (It may sting a little, but don’t worry—that’s normal.) Wait until the bubbling and stinging subside, which may be anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes. Then drain the solution onto a tissue, and repeat the procedure with the other ear. It works because, as medical scientists first discovered in the late 1920s, the viruses that cause colds and flu can enter your body through your ear canal. As long as you’ve acted quickly enough, you should be able to kill the germs before they get a toe-, er, ear-hold.
Just remember, no matter what you do, it’s still important to wash your hands frequently during flu season, and steer clear of anyone who’s coughing and sneezing.
