An excellent natural alternative that you can easily prepare at home to help alleviate the discomfort of the common flu.
We arrived in Playa del Carmen a few years ago and one of the things that never ceases to amaze us is how sick we've been since we've been here. My husband and I had probably gotten sick four times in the 12 years we were living abroad. And my daughters never had to go to the doctor for illness in their first two years of life before coming to Playa - in our mind that was going to be even better when we were in Playa! We thought: warm weather, no long winters, no closed spaces because you can't play outside with the girls... But no! We just got here, boom, bubonic plague for everybody.
My daughters started going to school when we first arrived and I had already been warned that when that time came I would prepare for, as my cousin says, a big six-month flu. What they didn't prepare me for was for all the times my husband and I would get sick too! In retrospect, and from what people who have been here longer tell me, it's all the fault of the humidity and the air conditioning.
A natural alternative to syrups sent to you by the doctor
The point is that in order to avoid living on breakfast medicine we had to look for natural alternatives, and in our searches we found what is now known in my house as "the bomb. The pump is a mixture of honey, turmeric, ginger, garlic and lemon, and is truly MIRACLE. If you feel like you're getting sick, you're going to get the flu, or you've already had the flu, give this magic potion a chance. The portions of this recipe are not exact. If you don't have two lemons but you have one, go ahead; if you lack one of the ingredients but you have the rest, it's better than nothing. If you need twice as much honey to pass it, you go. This is just a guide to what (more or less) we put into it when we prepare it at home.
Ingredients
- 2 or 3 lemons (yellow or green), their juice and zest
- ½ cup honey (preferably organic)
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
- 5 cm fresh ginger, peeled and grated
- 2 teaspoons turmeric powder (if fresh, use the same portion as ginger) - add a pinch of black pepper
Mix all the ingredients in a glass jar and let them marinate.
How to take it
Take one tablespoon of the mixture every hour while you're feeling bad and then a few teaspoons a day until you feel perfect. Warning: Prepare to smell garlic, it's inevitable. Here we get used to it and, like when one takes it, everyone takes it, because it more or less goes unnoticed. It's not so pleasant, but it's so wonderful that you put up with it.
There are several options on how to take the mix, it depends on your tastes and your tolerance for strong flavors. My husband prefers to take a spoonful to the brave every hour, followed by a glass of water to pass the "bad" taste. You can also dilute a spoonful in water and take it that way, little by little, or prepare a warm tea and dilute it there (just don't use boiling water because it eliminates many of the properties of honey).
The secret of the "bomb" lies in two powerful cold-fighting ingredients
Turmeric as an anti-inflammatory
Turmeric not only gives this drink its golden colour, but also contains important anti-inflammatory components. The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric are derived from curcuminoids, which is a natural chemical compound found in the plant. Recently, studies have shown that turmeric may actually be more effective than ibuprofen for some chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. This is because it not only relieves inflammation, but also repairs damaged tissue and reduces pain signals sent to the brain by blocking enzymes called COX-2.
The use of this ingredient in India dates back more than four thousand years, where it came to have religious significance. Turmeric has long been used in South Asian medicine and several studies suggest that it reduces oxidation in the blood and may even reduce the growth of cancer cells, as well as helping to prevent cardiovascular disease and other diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Turmeric is difficult to digest on its own, so adding a little black pepper is recommended to increase its absorption.
Ginger as an immune system booster
Ginger is a spice that is part of the Zingiberaceae family. It has been used for centuries by many cultures as a natural remedy for various ailments. Ginger can be used to treat colds, flu and nausea. The medicinal properties of ginger have been studied extensively in recent decades and many benefits have been found to support its use as an immune system booster.
In a 2006 study, it was shown that ginger can reduce inflammation and improve circulation when consumed in conjunction with exercise. These benefits make it particularly useful for athletes seeking an immunity boost before or after training sessions or games.
Ginger has also been found to have neuroprotective properties, increasing levels of antioxidants in the brain that help defend against free radical damage caused by factors such as stressors.
The history of ginger and its medicinal use also dates back thousands of years, being used by the Chinese, Romans and South Asians. This incredible ingredient in golden milk has properties that strengthen your immune system, help alleviate digestive problems and recover from a common cold faster.
* Please note that this article is only an opinion and not a medical reference. Always consult your doctor.
