Honey and Ginger to Ease Cold Symptoms

Coughing throughout the day? Sore throat? The two most common kitchen ingredients- honey and ginger- can provide instant relief. Here’s how you can ease out cold symptoms using honey and ginger. 

How Honey Can Soothe Out Cold Symptoms

Loaded with antioxidants, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, honey helps to fight against the common cold and its associated symptoms. The honey helps in getting relief from sore throat and prevents drying of the throat. In addition to these, honey also boosts up the immune system that helps to treat the infection due to which cold has developed. Hence, honey can help in recovering faster and reduces the risk of common cold in the future.

How To Use Honey to Ease Cold Symptoms

• Honey

It is clinically proven that consuming honey on a daily basis can help in treating common cold as well as other medical conditions. As soon as you experience some symptoms, one has to just consume 1-2 tablespoons of honey regularly.

• Honey and raw onions

To get relief from symptoms of a common cold such as the runny nose, stuffy nose, headache, taking a mixture of raw onions, and honey helps. Here’s what you have to do- cut a whole onion, especially a red one. Coat the slices with some honey and sugar overnight. The next morning, consume one spoon of this. 

• Honey with warm water

A lot of people drink honey with warm water every day for various health benefits including boosting up immunity. You just need to warm a glass of water and add one teaspoon of honey. Drink this every morning to soothe out throat irritation. 

How Ginger Can Soothe Out Cold Symptoms

There are over 400 different compounds found in ginger. Some of the major components of ginger are-

• Carbohydrates
• Lipids
• Terpenes
• Phenolic compounds- gingerol, parasols and shogaol
• Amino acids
• Raw fiber
• Protein
• Phytosterols 
• Vitamins- Nicotinic acid and Vitamin A
• Minerals 

All these compounds have some properties that help in treating cold symptoms-

• Anti-bacterial properties
• Photoprotection effect
• Inhibition of inflammation
• Anti-diabetic properties
• Neuro-protective activity
• Antitumor effect
• Gastrointestinal protection effect
• Inhibits obesity

In lots of Asian cuisines, ginger is used extensively. The pungent flavors help in curing various illnesses including the common cold. 

How To Take Ginger To Ease Cold Symptoms

Here’s how you can take ginger to get relief from cold symptoms-

• Raw ginger slices

The most effective way to treat cold symptoms is by consuming raw slices of ginger. One just has to peel off the bark and slice into chunks and chew it. When the slices turn into a pulp, swallow or spit it out. Chew a few pieces of ginger 2-3 times a day. 

• Ginger candies or lozenges

You can also suck on ginger flavored lozenges or candies to get relief. However, excessive taking these lozenges, in the long run, may not be very effective. 

• Ginger supplements

Ginger can also be taken in the form of supplement pills or capsules. However, remember to read the directions on the label carefully before taking these supplements. If possible, talk to the doctor or pharmacist before taking the supplements. 

• Dried ginger powder

Keep some grated ginger under the sun to dry so that you can store them and use them later.  While preparing a meal, add some dried ginger to season it. For effective results, you can eat 2 teaspoons of ginger powder three times a day. 

How To Make Ginger and Honey To Ease Cold Symptoms

Supposedly, if you start the day with a cup of strong ginger tea in the morning every day, you can get relief from symptoms of cold, including headache and sore throat. You’ll only need three ingredients for preparing ginger tea- ginger, honey and half a slice of lemon. Steps-

• Grate some ginger.
• Boil 1 cup of water 
• Put the grated ginger to the boiling water 
• Allow the grated ginger to infuse in the water for 3 minutes
• While the ginger infuses in the tea, add one teaspoon of honey and juice from half a lemon in an empty mug
• Strain the ginger tea into the mug
• Stir the honey and lemon juice until it dissolves 

Your cup of ginger honey tea is served. Fortunately, there are some variations of the tea you can try-

• Before drinking the tea, add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg or cardamom
• You can also add a pinch of turmeric
• Moreover, for a more tangy flavor, use some orange juice instead of lemon juice.