Lemon, ginger and honey cough syrup

My kids LOVE this cough syrup. It is one of my favorite home remedies for sore, scratchy throat, sinus problems and general congestion. Not only does it sooth the throat but also gives your body a much needed Vitamin boost.

Here are the the indigence - man this is soooo simple!

Lemon: High in vitamin C, strengthens the immune system and neutralizes the free radicals in your body. It also reduced inflammation and swelling.

Ginger: Helps sweat out the toxins from your body. Ginger is also helpful for settling upset stomachs, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and cold sweats.

Honey: Soothes a sore throat and is a effective natural cough suppressant. Honey has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and can fight bacteria. It improves the body’s ability to fight infection and decreases the risk of fevers. 

Combine it with the nutrients in lemon and ginger and you've got a natural, delicious way to treat cold and flu symptoms.

 

How to:

1.  Thoroughly wash the lemon and peel the ginger.

2. Dice equal amounts of lemon (including the peel) and ginger to fill a jar of your choice. ( I usually use 500ml to 1lt to get a decent amount of syrup)

3. Pack your lemon and ginger into the jar and pour over with honey, ensuring that it reaches all the way to the bottom. Use a knife to release any air bubbles trapped in between the ingrediance.

4. Secure a lid and let stand at room temp overnight.

5. Strain the ginger and lemon to get a golden delicious syrup. YUM! :-)

Immune boosting Elderberry syrup

Elderberry syrup is a natural daily supplement in our household as soon as cold and flu season starts.

Despite being tiny in size, elderberries pack a big, healthy punch. Elderberries are considered an anti-viral natural remedy which is why elderberry products (such as Sambucol) are consumed so readily during cold and flu season.

Elderberries are rich in:

Vitamin C

Vitamin A

Iron

Potassium

Beta-carotene

Calcium

Phosphorus

Bioflavonoids

Antioxidants

In addition the syrup is made with ginger, cinnamon and cloves - all of which have immune boosting properties and flu fighting agents.

Recipe:

·  2/3 cup dried black elderberries

·  3 1/2 cups of water

·  2 Tablespoons freshly grated ginger root

·  1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

·  1/2 teaspoon cloves or clove powder

·  1/2 cup honey

How to:

1.      In a medium pot, add water, elderberries, ginger, cinnamon and clove powder (not honey)

2.      Bring to a boil and simmer for around 30 - 45 min. I usually squash the elderberries with a potato masher as they are cooking to make sure I get all the goodness out of them.

3.      Strain, squeeze all the juice from the elderberries. Discard the used elderberries

4.      Cool the liquid down to room temperature and then add the 1/2 cup of honey. Mix well.

5.      Transfer into a jar and store in a fridge.

Use:

At 1st sign of illness or if already ill

·  Kids: 1/2 tsp, every 2-3 hours

·  Adults: 1/2 to 1Tbsp every 2-3 hours

or as a daily immune booster

·  Kids: 1 tsp once a day

·  Adults: 1Tbsp once a day