So, you caught a cold and you can’t or won’t take meds. You’re going to go natural and tough it out. Good for you! Except, when you’re feeling miserable you’re going to wish you had some Sudafed or Theraflu by your side. Not to worry. I have a few cold remedies that will work like a charm, directly from my grandmother’s kitchen.
You will want to start with a hot cup of tea. Plenty at the supermarket, but if you don’t get the organic or all natural brands, you might be sipping up some artificial ingredients that you don’t want. Ginger has long been known for its various healing properties. It is good for digestion, but also great for your cold in hot tea.
Ginger-lime tea:
Ginger lime tea © tuttysan, 2008
You will need one lime and a root of ginger you can get at any supermarket. Optional sweetener: honey.
Wash the lime and peel the skin off the middle circumference. Put it in the tea pot and save the lime. You’ll need it for the next remedy. Grate or cut the ginger in small pieces. You want the juice to come out as the water boils. Grate about a table spoon or two. The more ginger you put in, the hotter the tea will be. Do this a few times until you find what tastes right for you.
Put the ginger with the lemon in a teapot and fill with water. You will let the water boil more than you would if you were only making hot water for infusing. This will allow the juices from both the lime and the ginger to come out. Serve. I like my tea unsweetened, but if you must have some, try honey. It is the most important ingredient of our next remedies and will help heal your throat. Use in moderation. A table spoon per 8 ounce cup will do. Enjoy!
Honey-lime/lemon for soar throat:
Honey, lime and ginger are your flu season friends © tuttysan, 2008
Mix two table spoons of honey with the juice of half a lime or lemon. Drink this twice a day. It’ll make your throat feel better and the C-vitamins in the lemon will help you fight the cold.
Ultimate cold-fighting concoction:
Looks weird and tastes even worse, but it will make you feel better. © tuttysan, 2008
If you feel congested or just for general health, you might want to make your own ultimate cold remedy. It is packed with anti-oxidants sure to help you feel better and prevent further illness. You will need:
A bunch or red radishes
A bunch of green onion
One big red onion
A bunch of watercress
A quarter cup of honey
You can find all of these ingredients at a local supermarket.
Wash and cut all the ingredients in small pieces. Blend with the honey and half a cup of water in a blender or food processor. Percolate with a fine strainer. Add another half a cup of water to the percolated remains. Repeat. What comes out of the colander will be your concoction. Place in jar (I use a washed spaghetti sauce jar). Use a bigger container if necessary. Store in refrigerator. You will take this as you would a cold syrup two to three times a day, three to five tablespoons at a time. This remedy has an acquired taste, but the results don’t fail. You can also use this remedy to prevent colds.
By the way, these are home remedies, not medical advice. If you have a fever or symptoms that do not get better you need to see a doctor!
