BEAT COLDS AND FLU WITH THIS SIMPLE RECIPE FOR GINGER TEA!
Is ginger a decongestant? YES!
Fresh ginger tea is the best decongestant I’ve ever found.
A bonus is that it’s all natural. It’s yummy and very easy to make!
Not Feeling So Great?
Cold and flu season is a gift from the holidays no one really wants. What to do? Here are some tips and tricks that work for me.
I don’t know if this would control allergy congestion for everyone, but it could be worth a try, especially at bedtime. The fact that it’s all natural is certainly a plus.
Of course follow any instructions from your doctor and take any medicines prescribed. Keep careful watch on babies and the elderly as their conditions can change very quickly. Take temperatures and record any fever to tell the doctor’s office about. Get plenty of fluids into everyone!
One of the symptoms of the flu or bad cold that I hate the most is a stuffy nose. I mean when you can’t breathe you are just miserable.
During the daytime I can usually move around enough to keep it to a level of a nuisance. But at night if I can’t breathe, I’m not getting good sleep. Just when I need plenty of rest I can’t get it. No wonder I feel like a puddle of grits on the floor!
How to Make Fresh Ginger Tea
Make some fresh ginger tea! I was skeptical of this remedy, but it worked for me every time. It’s totally natural if you make it yourself.
Keep Ginger Root in the Freezer Until You Need It
Send someone out to buy some fresh ginger root in the produce section of your local grocery store. Here’s how to make it.
Fresh Ginger Tea
1. Use a strong sharp knife to slice small sections of the washed ginger root. Pieces that are about 1/4 inch in thickness are good.
2. Put the ginger pieces in a big sauce pan and add cold water about half way up the sides of the pan.
3. Simmer on a very low boil for about 20 minutes or more. Make sure the water does not boil away or get too low.
4. Let the tea cool in the pan. When it’s cool, remove the ginger pieces and discard them.
5. Pour the tea into a container to keep in the refrigerator.
5. When you want tea, heat a cup of it in the microwave. If it’s too strong for you, you can make it with half water, etc. When it’s hot you can drink it straight or add sweetener to taste. I love it with honey, but sugar tastes good too. Honey is a natural
Ginger Tea as Decongestant
germ fighter, so it adds some extra power.
When I drink this near bedtime I sleep so well. It’s amazing, but I could breathe beautifully all night long. As a matter of fact, I don’t think my nasal passages had ever been that clear in my life! Ginger is supposed to have anti-inflammatory properties, so that makes sense. Try it!
I don’t know if it’s safe for kids; ask your doctor’s office. I have read that honey should not be given to kids younger than three years.
Other Remedies
Don’t return to your full schedule of activities just because you can walk around.
You know you need to rest so your body can fight off the germs. When you can barely roll out of bed and stand on your feet it’s not a problem getting enough rest. As soon as you start feeling better you are so glad that you could tend to overdo. Take your cues from how clearly you can think. When your brain seems back to normal you can start doing more. Just be sure to take breaks and rest again.
Keep Eating Healthy Foods as Best You Can
This is so much easier if you have someone who is not sick to keep feeding you. When the whole household is sick, it helps if you can call on friends and family to bring you food.
Mary’s Tuscan Vegetable Soup is full of nutritious vegetables to fight off viruses. It’s great to make ahead and keep in the freezer to use when cold and flu season hits.
Soup Is Your Friend
There is nothing wrong with eating just canned soup for a while, but you need more than that over time to get your strength back.
Check out my post 10 Things I Learned from Being Sick. It’s full of quick meals that take almost no time to assemble. They are great to make when you almost can’t do anything. Included: ways to stockpile your freezer to be ready in case sickness hits your house.
Unfortunately so many people are sick right now. I hope you don’t catch any of it. If you are healthy perhaps you can call your friends, family, and neighbors to see if they need anything. You could make twice the amount of what you are cooking for dinner and take them some. If we all help each other a bit, we’ll get through this better!
Click here for a great tutorial to make crystallized ginger. It’s easy to make and is a wonderful treat that many find soothing for a sore throat and may shorten your cold. Plus they are delicious. You can make them for very little money and they are pricey if you buy them. Make them ahead of time and keep in a tin for when you need them. Some people won’t travel without them!
You can even grow an endless supply of ginger indoors:
maggie says
Haha, no way I’d mix those things all in one concoction! Yes, those ingredients are reallhy good for you at any time. But really try the ginger if you ever get congested. It really works and is so easy to make. I hope you don’t need it, but if you keep it in the freezer it will be ready for anything! Wishing you the best of health in 2014!
Tanya says
I caught a cold right before the holidays – great timing, I know. I did add a piece of ginger to my tea as it brewed but did I did not make a ginger tea like this. I will try it next time. I hate stuffy noses and they definitely make it hard to sleep. My cold settled into my chest so no stuffy nose this time but an annoying cough. Grrrr…. Cinnamon, vinegar, garlic and onion are also good for you … although not necessarily mixed together! 🙂
maggie says
I’m so glad! I know so many people who are just miserable with various viruses right now. This stuff is amazing and all natural. Yes, it’s great with honey! Please let others know about this as it could help so many! Wishing you good health in 2014, Elissa!
Elissa @ 20s Finances says
Just tried it for my cold – helps so much! And great with honey. Thanks for the recipe!