Flu Fighting Tea Recipe: All Natural & Effective

Flu Fighting Tea is perfect for fever, aches, pains, a wracking cough, or a sore throat. Sounds like the flu to me! It’s never fun to feel under the weather, but so many of the cold and flu remedies available are full of chemicals that you wouldn’t otherwise put in your body. One of my favorite all-natural ways to feel better is to drink a big cup of honey lemon flu fighting tea. This is a recipe that my  husband has perfected over the years, it tastes great and it’s very effective at soothing a cough and sore throat. Not only that, but the the ingredients in this flu fighting tea are also excellent at fighting cold and flu symptoms at the root!

For this flu fighting tea:

Start off by steeping a good quality, organic echinacea tea bag and several thin slices of fresh organic ginger root in some hot water. Then, stir in freshly squeezed lemon juice and raw honey. Finally, add the spices. Clove and cinnamon add a wonderful flavor to the tea, and a little cayenne pepper adds zip! The great thing about these ingredients is that they not only make the flu fighting tea taste great, they also contain compounds that work to help you feel better…and get over the virus faster.

Before we hop in…
I use this tea once I’ve already been hit with the sickness (grrrr). For helping to keep my immune system strong I take this immune booster supplement (it’s costs a little more on Amazon). I choose this particular product because it’s not just a bunch of fluff vitamins that we don’t really need. It uses focused herbs specifically for immune support like organic reishi mushrooms, astragalus extract, echinacea powder, Andrographis and more. When I know that I’ll be under extra stress I combine the ImmuniPrime with a special liquid “liposomal” vitamin c supplement for high absorption and utilization. When I miss this, then it’s off to the tea.

Benefits of echinacea tea for cold and flu:

Echinacea is an herb (Purple Coneflower, it’s actually quite pretty!) that is traditionally used as a cold and flu remedy.
  • Studies are mixed as to its effectiveness, but it has been shown to increase white blood cells…which helps your immune system fight off germs.

Benefits of ginger for fighting the flu:

Ginger tastes great with the lemon and honey, but it also has many properties that help when you’ve got a cold or the flu.
  • Ginger has long been known for settling upset tummies, but did you know that it also contains a powerful painkiller and acts as an anti-inflammatory? It’s also used to fight the upper respiratory woes that come with  colds and the flu.
  • Ginger has been known to display anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiproliferative activities, indicating its promising role as a chemopreventive agent. (source)
  • There is scientific support that ginger may alleviate the symptoms of nausea and vomiting following pregnancy, surgery, cancer therapy, or motion sickness and suggestive evidence that ginger reduces inflammation and pain. (source)
  • It is suggested that at least one of the mechanisms by which ginger shows its ameliorative effects could be related to inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotriene biosynthesis, i.e. it works as a dual inhibitor of eicosanoid biosynthesis. (source)
  • It’s also commonly used to support digestive discomfort
  • For more info here is a fantastic post on all the benefits of ginger

Benefits of lemon, honey, and spices:

More than just a trio of delicious flavors, these three ingredients pack a powerful punch in supporting you immune system.
  • Lemon and honey are a great combination, they taste wonderful and the lemon juice is full of vitamin C.
  • Honey has antimicrobial properties, and has been shown to be more effective in soothing a cough than the active ingredient in most cough syrups.
  • And did you know that cinnamon is as healthy as it is tasty? Studies show that this sweet spice also reduces inflammation, and his antibacterial properties.
  • You may know that clove was used to ease the pain of toothaches, you can harness clove’s anesthetic properties to soothe your sore throat too. It’s good for your cough, becuase it acts as an expectorant.
  • Finally, the cayenne pepper helps clear out your sinuses.
My husband has been making this tea for years, and I had always thought that he’d just put together the ingredients based on taste and how soothing they were to a sore throat and cough. Turns out, he’d done his research too!  Don’t you love it when something you love turns out to be good for you? Me, too!
Flu Fighting Tea Recipe (Andrew's Hot Lemon)

Prep time
Cook time
Total time
This flu fighting tea recipe is an effective way to say "goodbye" the cold and flu. It boosts the immune system and is yummy, too.
Author: 
Serves: 1 cup of tea
Ingredients
  • 1 bag good quality organic echinacea tea (optional)
    (like this)
  • 3 or 4 thin slices of fresh organic ginger root
  • 3 tablespoons organic lemon juice, fresh squeezed
  • 2 tablespoons raw organic honey
  • ½ teaspoon organic ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon organic ground clove
  • Cayenne pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. In a large cup of hot filtered water, steep the tea bag and the sliced ginger (you may omit the tea bag if you’d like).
  2. Add the lemon juice, honey and spices and stir well. The tea will be cloudy.
  3. If you’d like, you may strain the tea through cheesecloth to remove the ground spices and ginger. At our house, we just drink it as is.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

EVERYBODY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THESE 10 TYPES OF HUGS!

Image
Among the lot of good little things life has to offer, hugs may be among the sweetest and lot of special. Best of all, they’re free! Being hugged typically reminds us that we are not alone and that we will always have a shoulder to cry on. Hugs have a way of alleviating pain, making us feel warm and giddy all over. Did you know that according to some, the way a person hugs says a lot about what they feel and what message they are trying to relay? Check out the ten types of hugs and what each one means! RUBBING OF BACK WHILE HUGGING This type of hug is typically shared by parents and their children. It shows reassurance, as if telling someone that things will get better and you are not alone. EYE-TO-EYE- CONTACT WHILE EMBRACING This type of hug carries deep meaning. It symbolizes a deep and strong connection that supposedly shows the love you and your partner have for one another. HOLDING EACH OTHER’S BODY WITH THE LEGS WRAPPED AROUND This type of hu...
Read more

5 Most Effective Side Fat Attack WorkOuts

Image
Flab around the sides and waist is generally directly associated with overall body fat; the more fat you have, the more it accumulates around your middle. Abdominal flab is not only annoying, but also it’s unhealthy. The Mayo Clinic notes that excess belly fat can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. Fortunately, there are several good exercises for flab on the sides and waist that will help improve your health and physique. Although they’re referred to as love handles, there’s nothing to love about the excess flab at the sides of your waistline. The muscles underneath that layer of fat are known as your obliques. Although their function is to rotate your torso, it’ll take more than torso rotations to get rid of the fat. Reducing fat in one area of your body isn’t possible. Instead, focus on losing weight from your entire body, and as the fat reduces, so will the fat around your middle. Exercises to Reduce Side Fat: 1. ...
Read more

Foods That Heal the Liver

Image
You probably don’t think much about your liver, unless, of course, it’s not functioning as it should. But, your liver serves many vital purposes in your body and keeping it healthy is one of the best things you can do to ensure health and vitality as you age. The liver provides the following benefits: Removes toxins from the bloodstream that enter your body through your skin, respiratory system and digestive system. When the liver becomes overloaded with toxins, though, it can no longer remove them efficiently. They are stored in fat and may contribute to chronic diseases, such as cancer. Regulates endocrine production of the hormones we need for fertility, healthy metabolism and many other normal functions. Produces the enzymes used in your body for the brain, eye, kidney, joint and muscle health. Keeps your metabolism fueled so you use food efficiently and burn fat. When you think of liver problems, you probably think of hepatitis or liver failure, which can be caused by alcoholism, ...
Read more