Ginger, Honey, Lemon Tea: Cold, Cough & Flu
When cold season hits, I make this concoction to keep in the fridge and share with my family as needed.
Ingredients:
- 2 organic lemons, cleaned and cut in thin slices
- 1 large piece of fresh ginger, peeled and diced
- ⅓ to ½ cup of raw organic honey
*optional: dash of cayenne pepper
Instructions:
- Layer lemons, ginger and honey in a mason jar
- Add a dash of cayenne pepper if you want
- Depending on the sizes of your lemons and ginger, you may want to add more to the jar if it is not full.
- Close and seal jar. Store in refrigerator.
When you aren’t feeling well, shake the jar and take a scoop (~2 Tablespoons) of the concoction (including lemon and ginger slices) and let it steep in a cup of hot water for a few minutes. You can drink it as is, or strain before drinking.
Honey: In addition to tasting good, it is a natural cough suppressant and soothing for sore throats. When honey is pasteurized it can lose some of its anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, so try to find raw honey.
Lemon: It is high in vitamin C and reduces inflammation.
Fresh Ginger: Ginger has natural antiseptic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a natural fever reducer, and it will also help settle nausea. It also helps the body clear out toxins by stimulating perspiration.
Cayenne Pepper: This can help break up mucus.
Elderberry Syrup: Cold & Flu
Black elderberries have immune-supporting benefits that can help you avoid a cold and the flu, and speed up recovery if you get infected. Elderberry syrup is a concentrated, and tasty way to get these benefits. You can find recipes to make this at home, and I’ve done that successfully a few times. But often I get lazy and just buy mine online. Store it in the fridge. I try and remember to have everyone in our house take a teaspoon a day, a few days a week, during the winter to help boost our immune systems.
Spoonful of Honey: Cough Suppressant
When my daughter has a cough, I give her a spoonful of honey before bed and it helps. She thinks it is a treat! Honey is a natural cough suppressant. Try to do raw honey so you won’t miss out of some of the anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties that are lost when it is pasteurized. If anyone in your house has seasonal allergies, try to get local honey. Some research shows that regularly eating honey from bees as close as possible to where you live, may help build an immunity to some seasonal allergies.
