Are there children in your home, or colleagues at your office coughing, wheezing, sniffling and sneezing? Or maybe it is you?
It seems like everywhere I turn someone is sick. Whether it is because a son or daughter is home from school, or a client is unable to make an appointment, the same question keeps coming in ~ Laura, what can I do?
Despite the most beautiful winter anywhere on earth, we still get sick, and when that happens this is what I do, and what I recommend for you ~
Honey Cough Syrup
Put three to four spoons of honey into a small bowl and set that in a larger bowl filled with hot water. As the honey softens, remove the bowl from the water. Add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of ground clove, a shake of ground ginger and a shake of cayenne powder. Squeeze in about a tablespoon of lemon juice and stir well. Store in an airtight container. Take half a spoonful every hour, or to coat your throat whenever it feels dry, itchy, or sore. You can also stir it into very warm water with the juice of the rest of that lemon to make a tea, which is especially good for coughs or heavy mucus.
This is delicious, natural, botanical medicine that your children, colleagues, clients will love. It’s also more proof that Nature is the perfect Mother: healing, comforting, loving in so many delightful ways.
Surfing Sunday before getting sick on Wednesday
Please note that the CDC warns that honey should not be fed to infants for risks of botulism. Honey also should not be heated or cooked. It “denatures” above 100 degrees. This from Wikipedia: “Excessive heat can have detrimental effects on the nutritional value of honey. Heating up to 37 °C (99 °F) causes loss of nearly 200 components, some of which are antibacterial. Heating up to 40 °C (104 °F) destroys invertase, an important enzyme. At 50 °C (122 °F), the honey sugars caramelize. Generally, any large temperature fluctuation causes decay.”
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May you be well ~ Namaste!
Perfect. The Mister is feeling heavy with chest congestion at this very moment. I’ll mix up some Honey Cough Syrup now. He’s also steaming with sage and “tapping” the chest to release any stuck places. All will be well.
I am sure you are healing comfort for him, Sally!
Hello Laura!
I enjoyed reading your winter wellness blog. Ever since our children went to a Steiner school, I’ve had lots of good ole German family remedies come my way. This is one for cough.
Bring to the boil, then simmer in a saucepan with plenty of water to cover a chopped white onion. Add honey (as locally sourced as possible). When onion is soft and translucent, strain liquid and keep. I keep mine always warm on the back of the AGA and give big cereal spoons to the patient. Our 3 were raised on this remedy in damp/chilly England and seldom were they ill for more than a day. I also keep the magic orange balls (mandarines and satsumas) in constant supply. Be well.
Katie Kate
Per Laura’s suggestion I brewed cinnamon & ginger tea (then added lemon & honey). It felt so good on my sore throat & cleared my head from congestion. My 10 yr old nephew also loved the taste & it really helped his throat too. Thanks Laura! 🙂
Ginger is the Divine Mother incarnate! Thanks, Gina.
This is so great thank you! We are all healthy but this one is going to be filed away for the next cold!
The great thing is that it is so simple and usually every ingredient is right at hand. Of course, Pamela, I hope you will never need it ~
gorgeous new look and lovely recipe!
thx, kate!
Fantastic! Do you know the 10 day Ayurvedic ginger treatment to strengthen immune system its fantastic. My ayurvedic doc up here in Santa Rosa reccomends it once a month for most people–even children!
These ingredients are the major stars in my ‘Zap Your Cold’ tea. There seems to be very little that a honey, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne and cloves combo can’t take care of! 😉 Cheers! ~ Hoda
So true! Thanks, Hoda.
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