If you have a cold, you should make THIS tea.

When the air starts to get a little chilly and you have a tickly in your throat… and your first thought is “Oh crap..!” what do you do?

When there’s “something going around” and everyone around you has a cold, you might be exposed to any of the following viruses:  Human Rhinovirus (over 100 strains!), Coronovirus (only about 5 infect humans), Human Parainfluenza Viruses, Adenoviruses and Respiratory Synctial Viruses.

While there are plenty of folk remedies out there to ward off the common cold… some more
effective than others.

As a Naturopathic Doctor, I love working with herbs to help support the immune system, reduce congestion and speed recovery time. My favorite herbs to help fight off the common (but inconvenient!) cold include ginger, Echinacea, garlic, and andrographis.

Ginger has long been used in Asia as a “warming” spice to improve circulation. Clinical studies have proven ginger to have some antiviral properties, can be effective against arthritis pain and inflammation and can be helpful for low appetite and nausea. Ginger can also help decrease menstrual cramps!

And it’s always nice to sip on something warm!

You need:

• Fresh ginger root (not dried or powdered!)
• Honey, to sweeten
• Optional (but highly recommended for flavour):
  • 1 apple, chopped
  • Cinnamon sticks
  • ½ lemon, chopped

 
Here’s what you do:

1. Thinly slice ½-1” of fresh ginger root and add to large pot of filtered water. Add other ingredients if using.
2. Simmer on medium for 15 minutes. Strain, into a cup and sweeten with honey.

Sip on 3-4 cups at first sign of a cold and to help decrease joint pain. For nausea, you can drink hot or cold. You can refrigerate the rest in a glass jar and reheat on the stove for a quick cup.

Want to really reduce your risk of getting sick? Sign up for my natural Cold & Flu Support Program.

In health,

---

Dr. Keila Roesner BHSc ND

​References

1. Chang JS1, Wang KC, Yeh CF, Shieh DE, Chiang LC. Fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale) has anti-viral activity against human respiratory syncytial virus in human respiratory tract cell lines. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013 Jan 9;145(1):146-51.
2. Grzanna R1, Lindmark L, Frondoza CG. Ginger--an herbal medicinal product with broad anti-inflammatory actions. J Med Food. 2005 Summer;8(2):125-32..
3. Daily JW1, Zhang X2, Kim da S2, Park S2. Efficacy of Ginger for Alleviating the Symptoms of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Pain Med. 2015 Dec;16(12):2243-55. doi: 10.1111/pme.12853. Epub 2015 Jul 14.