THE harmattan is at its peak and attendant
diseases are in session. Ailments including
infections whooping cough, pneumonia,
common cold, malaria and asthma, are on the
rise. The dry winds and dust are certainly not
helping matters. However, there are simple, affordable home remedies with which to cope
with these conditions. Garlic tea immune enhancer A well-known immune system strengthener,
garlic shines as an antibacterial and antiviral
herb for fighting colds, coughs and the flu. One
of the best ways to take advantage of garlic’s
healing properties is by drinking fresh garlic
tea. Sweetened with a little raw honey, it’s delicious. Peel 2-3 cloves of fresh garlic and lightly crush
them with the side of a wide knife blade. Add to
two cups of water and boil. Simmer for 15
minutes. Strain the garlic and allow the tea to
cool to mouth temperature. Add raw honey, a
tiny pinch of cayenne pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. Drink as desired. *Honey Red onion and raw honey cough syrup A wonderful home remedy for adults or
children suffering from a cough uses brown
cane sugar, raw honey or stevia and red
onions to make a soothing and tasty cough
syrup. Wash, peel and slice the entire onion
horizontally. Starting with the base of the onion, layer the slices in a bowl alternating with
layers of raw honey or brown sugar. Continue adding layers of onion and sweetener
until the entire onion is reconstructed in the
bowl. Cover and allow the sweetened onion to
remain in the bowl for about 12-15 hours or
overnight. The next day, there will be about a
cup or more of sweet syrup in the bowl. The cough syrup contains a range of nutrients,
vitamins and minerals to help fight infection
and soothe sore throats and quiet a cough.
Take a spoonful as needed. Has no onion-y
taste. Raw honey and lemon For sore throats A mixture of fresh lemon juice and raw honey
provides soothing relief for sore throats and
helps stop the tickle that stimulates coughing.
Raw honey — with all its components including
royal jelly, propolis and bee pollen — is high in
nutrients and enzymes which kill bacteria and viruses. The vitamin C and antioxidants found
in fresh lemons boost the immune system,
speeding healing. Together these two home
remedies are a powerhouse for getting over a
cold and sore throat. Mix the juice of 1/2 the
lemon with 2- 3 tablespoons of honey and sip throughout the day as needed. Chicken soup antiviral Chicken soup really does act to knock out a
cold or the flu and hasten healing. As long ago
as the 12th century, the Jewish physician
Maimonides recommended consuming chicken
soup to fight colds and flu. Take advantage of
the high antioxidant properties and nutrients found in organic vegetables and chicken.
Although non-organic chicken soup may
relieve some cold symptoms, it also supplies the
body with pesticides, growth hormones,
herbicides and antibiotics that are not
recommended for well being. Mullein tea for coughs and congestion Mullein tea is well-known for relieving chest
congestion from coughs, colds and the flu. It
acts as an expectorant, loosening trapped
mucous and soothing sore throats. Fill a tea ball
or strainer with dried mullein herb and
steeping in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. Sweeten with raw honey and drink as
needed to relieve symptoms.