My hubby caught a cold a couple of weeks ago and it was a fierce one.
I felt so bad for him.
He was coughing, sneezing, wheezing and just plain miserable.
He is not really natural-healing-oriented but he doesn’t like to take much conventional
medicine either, so the cold just dragged on.
That’s when headed to the kitchen and decided to whip up some natural remedies from
whatever we had on hand in the house.
I always keep our pantry stocked with natural essentials so it was easy to find half a bottle
of Bragg Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar.
That was the start of something good.
*Raw, unfiltered, organic apple cider vinegar is the foundation of this healing tonic designed
to flush out wastes that are clogging the organs of elimination, the bowels, lungs, skin, and
the kidneys.
Apple cider vinegar helps to alkalize your body which is very important for good health.
A body that’s more alkaline may be more effective at fighting off viruses that cause colds and
the flu.
Once you have a cold or the flu drinking vinegar will help your body fight off the germs, give
you more energy and help improve your digestion.
ACV can also help relieve a sinus or chest infection or stuffy head by adding 1/8 of a cup of ACV
to the water in a vaporizer and leave on over night.
If you are suffering from chest congestion, cut a piece of a paper bag the size of your chest and
soak in apple cider vinegar.
Sprinkle one side with black pepper and lay across your chest for half an hour.
The other healing ingredients included:
*Ginger root: In herbal medicine, ginger is regarded as an excellent carminative (a substance
which promotes the elimination of intestinal gas) and intestinal spasmolytic (a substance which
relaxes and soothes the intestinal tract).
Ginger possesses numerous therapeutic properties including antioxidant effects, an ability
to inhibit the formation of inflammatory compounds and direct anti-inflammatory effects.
Ginger also induces sweating and aids elimination.
I often make a hot ginger root tea when I have a cold or sore throat.
*Lemon is an excellent source of Vitamin C and an excellent aid in detoxification and healing.
Vitamin C in lemons helps fight infections, colds, flu, and neutralizes free radicals linked to
aging and disease.
*Cayenne pepper is a healthy anti-cold and flu agent, which assists in breaking up and moving
congested mucus.
Once mucus begins to leave the body, relief from flu symptoms generally follows.
*Raw honey or maple syrup
Other immune boosting add-ins include turmeric, sliced garlic, grated onion.
Of course, the key to getting my sweetie to take something that was good for him was to
make it tasty and sweet.
Let’s face it, if it doesn’t taste good, he won’t drink it.
After drinking this tonic for a week, his cold symptoms subsided and he returned to the living
to his delight–as well as mine!
Here’s the tonic that worked for him.
DIY Ginger Lemon Cayenne & Vinegar Tonic
Ingredients
3-4 tablespoons Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar
juice of 2 organic lemons
2 inch piece organic ginger, grated
1/2 teaspoon organic cayenne pepper (or more, if desired)
2 teaspoons organic raw honey (or maple syrup for vegans)
8 oz hot, filtered water
Directions
Juice the lemon.
Grate the ginger and squeeze out the juice
Add the honey or maple syrup to a glass tea mug.
Pour hot filtered water over the honey or maple syrup and stir.
Add the apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, ginger juice and cayenne pepper to the
hot water and stir the ingredients together.
Taste to make sure it is spicy and sweet enough for your sweetie.
Add a bit more sweetener and cayenne pepper, if necessary.
Stir again.
Serve it to your honey with a smile.
Urge him to sip it slowly to soothe his hacking coughs, scratchy throat and aching chest.
Note: Optional immune boosting foods which you can add include turmeric, minced garlic
or grated onion.
What are your favorite natural cold and flu remedies?
Share your thoughts and comments with us.
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