I try to treat coughs, sore throats, and colds and flu naturally rather than taking over-the-counter medications. We can strengthen our immune systems by eating well, but occasionally we will get a cough, sore throat, or the flu. When that happens, I make ginger tea, which is just water with a lot of freshly grated ginger and is sweetened with honey or palm sugar (a natural sweetener). For their amazing healing properties, I add lemon and garlic to it when I sense a more persistent one coming on:
Ginger helps to decongest by warming the body and promoting faster circulation.
Lemon balances the pH of the body, thins mucus, and makes the body less inviting to bacteria and viruses.
Garlic in itself is a powerful herb to fight infections. It is an effective decongestants and contains antioxidant flavanoids and has anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties.
Raw honey is antiviral and antibacterial, which helps the immune system fight infection.
So this is how you can make your own lemon, garlic, ginger, and honey tea at home.
Ingredients
- 5-8 cloves of garlic, crushed and peeled
- 1/4 - 1 tsp of grated fresh ginger (start little if you are not used to taking raw ginger)
- 2 cups of water
- 1 lemon
- Raw honey
Directions
Boil 2 cups of water. Put in garlic and ginger and let it sit in boiled water for 10-15 minutes. Add the juice from one lemon. Add honey to taste.
Drink it throughout the day. Best when served warm. You can put it in a thermos to keep warm.
Other Resources
Try making homamde vapor rub for external application to warm the body and relieve congestion naturally.