Many of the herbs and foods commonly used from Bible days on, along with old fashioned home remedies your Mom or Grandma used, when used properly, can be your body’s best and least costly defense against colds and the flu. These remedies also help to minimize the misery if you do get a cold or the flu. That’s just what Matt Swaim of the Sonrise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio talked about today. Here’s a few tidbits:

CINNAMON. Actively traded a thousand years before Christ was born. You can add a stick or shake of cinnamon to some warm apple juice or cider and it will help warm the body and clear mucus congestion. Apple juice is mainly water so it helps hydrate.

GARLIC.  When someone is feeling under the weather and they can tolerate only liquids, augment your chicken broth with a smashed clove of garlic. Smash a few cloves, then let them sit for 5 minutes to allow the healthful compounds to “bloom” and thus go into your broth.

GINGER. Ginger helps induce sweating so it can help break a fever. It’s also calming to the tummy and a light “tea” can be made by simmering ginger slices in water. Strain and add a squeeze of lemon juice for immune system, sweeten with raw honey, a natural antibiotic.

LEMON, GINGER AND HONEY COUGH SYRUP


I just cut up a lemon in chunks (first, roll it around on the counter to soften and release juices) and then cover with raw honey, smooching the lemon down into the honey. High quality raw honey is antibiotic and is a super sweetener which gives some energy. I’ll sometimes add fresh ginger root, grated or smashed and cayenne pepper to help congestion.

This is best used after a few days – store in frig. It’s also good added to tea.

SALT GARGLE FOR SORE THROAT

1 teaspoon salt to  8 ozs warm water – gargle several times a day

GOLDEN MILK

“Golden milk” is trendy right now. Make it with2 cups of milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon dried turmeric (or one-half inch fresh turmeric thinly sliced or diced).  Add 1 teaspoon dried ginger (or one-half inch fresh) and honey to taste.  A dash of freshly ground black pepper or a few peppercorns allows your body to utilize the health benefits of the turmeric better. Bring it to a simmer. Turmeric tends to have a bitter taste, so the longer you simmer it, the more mild it gets. Strain. Turmeric is a pain reliever which has preceded aspirin by over 2000 years.