Ginger Honey Lemonade for Colds
Chinese medicine explains that there are two kinds of colds – ‘hot’ colds and ‘cold’ colds. With a ‘hot’ cold, you are sweating and throwing off the covers; with a ‘cold’ cold you are piling on the layers and shivering. It is very common for one to experience both of these conditions intermittently throughout one cold; you may experience a 'cold' cold in the morning, then then 2 hours later experience a 'hot' cold. It is best to drink warm beverages and eat warm foods and soups during a ‘cold’ stage of a cold; and to drink cool beverages and eat cooling foods and soups during a ‘hot’ stage of a cold. I find this dynamic view of a cold to be very helpful and that tailoring your food and drink intake to your current body state can help you to recover more quickly. Chicken soup is great for a ‘cold’ cold, but later when you are sweating it may be the last thing you want.
When I have a cold, one of my favorite drinks is ginger honey lemonade. It is easy to make and very soothing and comforting, as well as anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and immune boosting. When I am shivering, I drink it hot and when I am sweating I drink it cold. I find that drinking this tea throughout the day helps to keep me well hydrated, gives me short term relief from symptoms, an reduces the length of a cold.
To Make:
- 8 slices of fresh ginger root (or 1-2 tsp dried- note that dried ginger is much more heating than fresh)
- 4 TBS dried Echinacea root
- 4 TBS organic lemon juice - or the juice of one small lemon
- Local raw honey to taste
- 32 oz boiling water
- 8 slices of fresh ginger root (or 1-2 tsp dried- note that dried ginger is much more heating than fresh)
- 4 TBS dried Echinacea root
- 4 TBS organic lemon juice - or the juice of one small lemon
- Local raw honey to taste
- 32 oz boiling water
First, decoct (herbal jargon for simmering roots or bark for 10-30 minutes or more) the ginger and echinacea roots for 20-30 minutes. Then add the lemon juice and honey to taste. It is easier to add honey when the tea is still warm.
The tanginess of the lemon juice and the moistness of the honey feel great on my sore throat. I keep it in the refrigerator and warm up a serving when I want it warm, or drink it as is when I want it cold. If the ginger feels too warming for you when you are experiencing sweating, then decoct the ginger separately in 1 cup of water and add to the mix when you want it. If you don’t have ginger or echinacea on hand, the lemon juice and honey will do wonders by themselves.
This drink tastes great, feels great, and work great! I hope it can help you the next time your body asks for rest by giving you a cold. Namaste
The tanginess of the lemon juice and the moistness of the honey feel great on my sore throat. I keep it in the refrigerator and warm up a serving when I want it warm, or drink it as is when I want it cold. If the ginger feels too warming for you when you are experiencing sweating, then decoct the ginger separately in 1 cup of water and add to the mix when you want it. If you don’t have ginger or echinacea on hand, the lemon juice and honey will do wonders by themselves.
This drink tastes great, feels great, and work great! I hope it can help you the next time your body asks for rest by giving you a cold. Namaste
This information is for educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the FDA. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional.
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