Cold and u season is around the corner and I wanted to share one of my favourite things to drink when I am sick. It is so easy to make and tastes delicious, and best of all can help alleviate symptoms. What’s in it? Ginger, cinnamon, lemon, raw honey (and sometimes raw garlic).
Ginger
Ginger is probably one of my favourite herbs/food medicines. It is a warming diaphoretic, which means it helps us sweat! You’ve probably heard people say, “you need to sweat it out”, well in Traditional Chinese Medicine that is exactly what you need to do. Aside from this, ginger contains anti- inammatory compounds like gingerol (1), which can help soothe sore throats especially when combined with honey!
Cinnamon
Similar to Ginger, cinnamon is also a warming diaphoretic but also has anti-microbial properties. It is used to treat upper respiratory tract infections, upset stomach, nausea and vomiting. If you are using cinnamon, it is recommended that you buy Ceylon cinnamon instead of Cassia cinnamon. While Cassia cinnamon is safe to eat in small to moderate amounts, eating too much may cause health problems due to its higher amounts of coumarin. Research has found that eating too much coumarin may harm your liver (2).
There is a Traditional Chinese Medicine formula called Gui Zhi Tang, which is used to expel wind-cold and the key ingredients are Cinnamon and ginger!
Lemon
Lemons are just great, right? They contain vitamin C, which is an essential nutrient for a healthy immune system. It also helps stimulate digestive juices and help move food along our digestive tract. As such, lemon water can be quite effective in relieving mild constipation. Just a friendly reminder that
having regular bowel movements is a MUST, whether you are sick or not. Going regularly is 1/3 ways in which your body eliminates toxins and detoxies. I recommend adding lemon to your water on a regular basis and not just having it when you’re sick!
Raw Honey
Raw honey contains polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that can help combat the cold.
Clinical research shows that taking honey (0 5-2 teaspoons) at bedtime reduces nighttime cough
Clinical research shows that taking honey (0.5-2 teaspoons) at bedtime reduces nighttime cough
frequency and severity, and improves sleep when compared with placebo in children ages 2 years and older with upper respiratory infections (3, 4). Honey also appears to be at least as effective or more effective than the cough suppressant dextromethorphan and the antihistamine diphenhydramine in typical over-the-counter doses (5, 6, 7).
Caution: due to the potential risk of botulism, avoid raw honey in children under 12 months of age.
Raw Garlic
Garlic can really help to boost immune function with its antiviral, anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, which are often attributed to the active compound, allicin.
How to make this cold & y syrup!
Add all the ingredients together and stir in a sealable contained. I like to prepare a whole jar and store it, so I can just add a tablespoon of the syrup to a cup of hot water as needed.
2 whole lemons cut into slices (squeeze the juice and keep the rind, the skin contains vitamin C, vitamins and minerals)
2-3 raw garlic cloves cut into half
~2 tablespoons of grated ginger
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
Raw honey to fill the jar
References
1. PMID: 23717767 2. PMID: 20024932 3. PMID: 18056558 4. PMID: 22419319 5. PMID: 18056558
6. PMID: 20618098 7. PMID: 25536086