When you have a cold that’s bringing you down, you may feel tired and drowsy, like there are lead weights attached to your every limb. You may be coughing and sneezing and spreading your germs all over the place. Your nose may be so runny that you have to use multiple tissue boxes per day. You may have even graduated to keeping an entire toilet paper roll near your bed to blow your nose and get some relief from the assault of mucus. These symptoms of a cold certainly don’t make for a good time.
In situations like these, your first instinct may be to reach for over the counter medications. Indeed, they can work on symptoms of a cold, and they can save you from some of the terrible symptoms that you’ll experience during a viral infection. However, few or none of these medications that you can buy at the pharmacy get to the root of the problem. At the end of the day, the only thing that can cure you is your own immune system, so it’s probably a good idea to spend some of your energy on helping to boost your own natural defenses. Luckily, there are some great home remedies in the form of syrups that can both treat the symptoms of your cold and help to strengthen the power of your immune system to rid you of the germs.
Syrups to relieve the symptoms of a cold
Garlic syrup: Honey has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and antibacterial which strengthens the immune system against viruses. Powerful expectorant.
Ingredients:
– Garlic cloves
– 1 lemon
– Honey
Instructions: Put a crushed garlic clove and boil with a quarter cup of water add the juice of half lemon and some honey, let the mixture cool, strain and you have your syrup. Take 1 teaspoon every 2-3 hours.
Syrup Onion+honey: Onion has antibacterial properties and is a powerful decongestant agent. Honey has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.
Ingredients:
– 1 Onion
– Honey
Instructions: Combine a teaspoonful each of raw juice from an onion and honey, let the mixture stand from 3 to 4 hours, take as tolerated throughout the day.
Onion broth: chop one onion and boil with a cup of water 10 to 15 minutes, strain it, then drink the resulting broth three times a day. This is going to reduce congestion.
Lemon water with ginger and honey: Honey soothes the throat and has antibacterial properties. Lemon contains Vitamin C that strengthens the immune system and has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Vitamin C also reduces histamine and therefore throat swelling.
Ingredients:
– 1 Lemon
– Honey
– Ginger root (dried or fresh)
Instructions: Mix the lemon juice with a cup of warm water and add a tablespoon of honey and 1/2 tablespoon of ginger root (dried or fresh) . Drink 3 cups a day.
Turmeric milk: has been used to treat the symptoms of a cold, like congestion, headache, and sore throats… This drink boosts the immune system. Spices like turmeric and cinnamon have anti-inflammatory, expectorant and antibacterial properties.
Ingredients:
– 1 can of Coconut Milk (you can use regular milk or almond milk too)
– 1 teaspoon Turmeric
– 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
– 1 teaspoon raw honey or maple syrup or to taste
– Pinch of black pepper (increases Turmeric absorption)
– Tiny piece of fresh, peeled ginger root or ¼ tsp ginger powder
– Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions: Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth (do not add the honey yet!)
Pour into a small saucepan and heat for 3-5 minutes over medium heat until hot but not boiling.Add honey. Drink immediately
Elderberry syrup: It is a traditional remedy used for centuries in Europe to treat the symptoms of a Cold and flu. This delicious syrup boosts the immune system and is very effective reducing the severity of the symptoms and the duration of colds going from 2-3 days instead of 7-8 days.
Ingredients:
– 1 part of fresh elderberries (or 1/2 part dried berries)
– 2 part of water
– 1 part of raw honey
– optional 1 Teaspoons ginger root (fresh or dried)
– 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
– ½ teaspoon cloves or clove powder
Instructions: Pour water into a saucepan and add elderberries, ginger, cinnamon and cloves (do not add the honey yet!) Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 30-45 minutes until the liquid has reduced by almost half. Strain the juice from the cooked elderberries into a glass jar or bowl. Discard the elderberries and let the liquid cool. Then add the honey and stir well.
Store in the fridge (for up to 2 months) and take daily for its immune boosting properties.
The standard dose is ½ tsp to 1 tsp for kids and ½ Tbsp to 1 Tbsp for adults. Take 1 to 4 times a day until symptoms disappear.
*Please note that to maintain its benefits, raw honey shouldn’t be heated over around 110°F (43°C).
Honey should not be given to children under 1 year old.