A Backwoods Remedy for Sore Throats & Colds
Cold season is upon us, so I knew I had to share this amazing backwoods remedy for sore throats and colds with you!
You can even sip on this hot beverage if you’re not sick to help prevent colds and flus because it’s alkalizing. Alkalizing your body prevents you catching viruses, and the lemon in this drink is meant to aid in that process.
Of course, this drink will do little good to fight off colds if you’re drinking grandpa’s cough syrup - a.k.a. whiskey and other booze. It’s important we realize that with the winter comes holiday parties and more pressure and opportunities to drink. Drinking instantly weakens your immune system, so if you can avoid it, you’re much more likely to avoid colds and flus this season.
A friend of mine who specialized in making herbal tinctures told me about this backwoods remedy years ago and when a family member had lymph nodes so swollen we couldn’t see down his throat and he could barely swallow. We tried it out, and in 24 hours, (after a few big mugs) he was almost back to normal and didn’t have to go to a doctor.
The Remedy
As many backwoods remedies like this one have been shared and spread through word of mouth, there’s no exact science to this recipe. Feel free to alter the amounts of the ingredients to your liking!
The base of this drink is half hot water and half fresh lemon juice. Add a dash of cayenne (if you can handle spice, add more). Next, add a tablespoon or so of honey (preferably organic raw honey because there are more minerals and it’s not a refined sugar because it’s not heated).
Then, add either juiced or powdered ginger. I’d go with one tablespoon or so of that. If you’d like, you can also purchase a dropper of echinacea (I prefer those that do not have grain-based alcohol bases because of the gluten). The echinacea is a bit more expensive than the other ingredients so if you don’t want to add it or can’t find it, don’t stress, okay?
Mix this all up, and like I said, drink it as often as you can! Other foods that boost the immune system are plants with dark colours like kale, broccoli, cucumber, grapes, berries and vitamin C-rich foods like kiwi, anything citrus, and strawberry. If you’re sick, purchase some alkaline water and try to drink at least 2 litres. If you’re not sick, drink it to prevent sickness!
Other Natural Remedies for Sore Throats:
Growing up in a very naturalistic home, we often gargled salt water to help ease the pain of a sore throat and it’s very helpful. There are also natural throat sprays at health food stores, but let’s face it, those can get expensive. Plus, when you make remedies yourself, you know exactly what you’re putting in your body and you can tailor the ingredients to your needs and tastes.
If you want to keep your immune system strong, eat lots of plants, drink alkaline water, eat your greens, and avoid processed foods, soda, alcohol, and sugar. Stress also compromises the immune system so don’t overwork yourself and take time for relaxing bubble baths, watching funny movies, and meditation! Exercise is a great way to boost your immune system and even 20 minutes a day makes a big difference.
Inversions in yoga help to spread the lymphatic fluid around your body and throat to collect bacteria that can cause illness. Doing yoga and deep breathing can help eliminate build-up of toxins and keep you from catching those pesky colds so you can enjoy your holidays. Try to prevent instead of justreacting to your colds once they arise! Stay educated on more natural remedies to stay empowered. And remember, even the smallest healthy habits go a long way.
Related Article: How To Alkalize Your Body to Reduce Chronic Pain & Prevent Sickness
