Natural Honey Citrus Syrups for Coughs & Sore Throats

 

 A home remedy that works! Combinations of honey, lemon, and tea are age old remedies for soothing a cough or sore throat. Turns out there's actually some science behind them; these old remedies can really work! What luck that they taste good, too-way better than those drug store cough syrups. 
Studies have shown that honey can calm a cough as well as, or even better than, over-the-counter cough medicines. Honey has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and can fight bacteria. Combine it with the nutrients in lemons & other citrus, herbs, and spices, and you've got a natural, delicious way to treat cold and flu symptoms. Blends of honey and citrus can be swallowed straight from a spoon or stirred into hot water or tea. The steam and warmth of hot tea and water are also soothing to sore throats and can relieve stuffiness.

• Warning:  Never give honey to a child younger than age 1 due to the risk of infant botulism, a rare but serious form of food poisoning.
• Disclaimer! I have absolutely no training in nutrition or medicine. My syrups are all based on information I've gathered on the internet. Of course, if you are experiencing severe cold or flu symptoms, or have diabetes or other health conditions, you should consult a doctor. 

DIY Home Remedy: Orange Ginger Honey Syrup  

Honey syrups have long been a home remedy to sooth a cough or sore throat. This syrup has a pleasant flavor than can be taken by the spoonful straight from the jar, or mixed into hot water or hot tea for a comforting drink when you are feeling under the weather.

SERVINGS: About 40 teaspoons

TIME TO TABLE:
4 hours prep

INGREDIENTS:

1 Paramount Citrus orange, sliced and quartered
½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger
½ to ¾ cup locally-produced raw honey

PREPARATION

1. Place the orange pieces in a pint jar, pressing firmly to fit them all in. Add the ginger to the jar.

2. Pour the honey into the jar. Use a spoon or chopstick to gently move around the orange pieces to allow the honey to fill the jar. Use enough honey to fill the jar within ½ inch of the top.

3. Place the lid on the jar and transfer to the refrigerator for storage.

4. The syrup is ready in about 4 hours and it will keep up to 1 month. 

Homemade Cough Remedy

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (preferably Bragg's, if available)
2 tablespoons honey (locally produced raw honey is best, if available)
2 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Place all the ingredients in a small jar and shake to combine. Leave at room temperature for a few days or place in the refrigerator for longer storage. Shake well each time, before using. The spices will not dissolve into the liquid. It will not be a thick syrup, it should remain watery. Take as needed and have a happy and healthy new year!

Turmeric Milk  

 Ingredients  

2 cups fresh whole milk 

1/2 - 1 tsp turmeric powder 

2-3 whole black peppercorns

 2-3 whole cardamom pods, cracked

 1/2 inch ginger,roughly chopped

 Pinch of saffron, optional 

Sweetener like honey, jaggery or regular sugar can be added to sweeten the milk. 

Method 

Heat the milk along with the spices for 2-3 minutes. Add the sweetener to taste if using. Let it cool until its warm. Strain and serve. 

granny tip

                

                 

Health Benefits of Black Cumin Seeds

Black Cumin Seeds is one of the most powerful healing natural medicines available to mankind. As the name indicates, they are black in colour and thin crescent shaped. The herb is native to Egypt. They are widely used by people belonging to India, Egypt and countries in Middle East.

Though it is very tiny in nature, the seeds have about 100 chemical compounds (including vitamins, proteins, fatty acids, carbohydrates, minerals, etc) and some are not yet identified.

In Islam, it is believed that Black cumin seeds have the property to heal any type of disease except death. In bible, it is referred to as the curative Black Seeds. They have been used for various Medicinal uses since very ancient times.

Black Cumin seeds are different from Cumin seeds (Botanical name is Cuminum cyminum), although both look similar. However, Black Cumin seeds are black in colour unlike cumin seeds.

Egyptians used black cumin after their meals to help digestion or clam upset stomachs. Besides stomachaches, it was also used to treat infections, cold, toothaches and migraine.

Studies have shown that most of the times illness is caused by imbalanced immune system and components like Nigellone and Thymoquinone in black cumin helps fight diseases by increasing the production of immune cells in the body. Great research is done on black cumin regarding it properties against cancer and it has been discovered that unlike chemo-therapy, black cumin can be used to cure tumor and breast cancer without any negative side effects.

Primary Medicinal Uses

Stomach Disorders

Karunjeeragam has the property of healing the problems related to stomach. It is being taken by people after having a heavy feast. They cure stomach disorders like constipation, flatulence and ease digestion. They also have the property to kill theintestinal worms.

Pancreatic Cancer

Based on research, it has been found that black cumin seed oil is successful in treating pancreatic cancer. Karunjeeragam has been serving as a miraculous medicine for treating this type of hardest cancer. Remember that the seeds are effective in treating in early stages of cancer.

Immunity Power

The seeds have the power to boost immunity power in the body. They induce production of bone marrow and help develop immune cells in the body. They help to recover from fatigue and stimulate new energy in the body. This is being prescribed to people who have problems with the immunity system.

Some doctors use the cumin seeds in combination with garlic. This is known to bring harmony in the body and prevent the immune cells from getting destroyed.

Skin Problems

The oil has been used since old times in treating skin disorders like psoriasis, acne, allergies, burns, rashes, etc.

Respiratory disorders

Karunjeeragam has the power to cure diseases arising due to respiratory disorders. They can cure cold, asthma, bronchitis problems.

Increased Breast Milk

The seeds have the property to increase milk production for feeding mothers.

Cough and Asthma Problems

To get immediate relief, those infected with cold need to chew a few black cumin seeds. Hot drinks made of cumin seeds can also be consumed. You can also consume the seed powder along with honey.

Apply warm Black seed oil to the chest and back. You can also boil water with a spoon of black seeds and inhale the vapour.

Beauty Cosmetics

Black cumin seeds have the property to strengthen hairs and nails and give them a glossy look. This has been used by few beauty queens since old times. Some people consume the oil in the form of capsules for few months. Some people prefer to apply the oil to the external body especially in the nails and hair.

Headaches

Apply black oil over the head and nostrils. You can find a great relief from severe migraines and headaches.

Toothache

Mix black seed oil with warm water. Gargle with this solution. Toothache will get alleviated quickly.

General Well being

The seeds can be consumed for general well being and for increasing body resistance and immunity power. Grind the seeds to fine powder. Mix them with honey about half an hour before breakfast and consume it.

Additional Uses

Spice in Cuisines

Black Cumin Seeds are used as seasoning spice in various cuisines in different parts of the world. They have a slight bitterly taste which makes it suitable for using it as substitute for pepper.

Energy Booster

As a first thing in the morning, mix black cumin seed oil in any juice and consume it. It gives great energy boost to the body.

Body Nutrient

The seeds have more than 100 chemical compounds. They can be taken as source of vitamin for the body.

Hair Growth

After bathing, you can mix a small quantity of black seed oil and olive oil and apply it in the hair or the bald portion of your head. This will promote hair growth.

Moth Repellant

Karunjeeragam oil is sprinkled in woolen garments to keep protected from moths.

As a Preservative in Egypt

It is believed that black cumin oil is used in Egypt as one of the ingredients for preserving the mummies.

Precautions

• Black cumin seeds should not be consumed in raw manner. They need to be heated and then consumed. When heating, you can try tasting them to see if they have become bland in taste.
• Do not consume more than 25 grams of the seeds.
• Exposure to undiluted black cumin seed oil might result in skin irritation. To avoid, the oil can be diluted with vinegar.
• Pregnant people are advised not to use the oil. If the seeds are taken in large quantities, it induces abortion.

Some of the key health benefits of Black Cumin are mentioned below:

• Black cumin extract is anti-hypertensive, carminative and anti-parasitic.
• It is used to treat diseases related to the respiratory system, circulatory and immune system, stomach and intestines, kidneys and even the liver.
• The seeds have been known to prove effective in fighting parasitic infections, asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism and cold symptoms.
• They also provide health benefits like increasing body tone, stimulating menstrual period, increasing milk production in nursing mothers and increasing the flow of breast milk.
• Black cumin seed oil calms the nervous system, quells colic pain, stimulates excretion of urine, helps pertussis and improves digestion.
• Black caraway stimulates body’s energy and helps in recovering from fatigue and dispiritedness.
• It provides an effective cure for skin conditions such as allergies, eczema, acne, psoriasis and boils.
• Black cumin oil encourages the production of bone marrow and cells of the immune system, increases the production of interferon, protects normal cells from the damaging effects of viral diseases, destroys tumor cells and increases the number of antibody producing B cells.
• It contains potent sexual hormones, stimulants, digestive enzymes, antacids, and sedatives; all of which help boost the immune system and preempt diseases.
• The seeds contain beta-sitosterol – an anti-tumor sterol. They are very effective in curing abscesses and tumors of the eye, abdomen and liver.
• Black caraway seeds are also used to treat flatulence, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, constipation and dysentery.
• A teaspoon of black cumin seed oil, when mixed with honey and consumed regularly during breakfast, lunch and dinner, results in good health and strong immunity to diseases.
• The seeds, when taken in capsulated form, help in strengthening hair as well as nails.

For Weight loss

For Weight loss

Ingredients:

Vaamu (Ajwain, carom seeds):  100 grams

Patika Bellam (Candy Sugar):  100 grams

Cow’s ghee (Clarified butter):  100 grams

Method

Fry Vamu (Ajwain) and make fine powder and sieve it.  Add candy sugar powder and mix uniformly.  Boil cow’s ghee (clarified butter) to liquid state.  After removing it from the stove, add the above mixture of Vamu (Ajwain) and Candy sugar to the ghee, spoon by spoon, and stir it well.  Let it to cool down.  After it cools down, store it in a glass bottle. 

Usage:  Children ½ spoon; Elders : 1 spoon - 2 to 3 times a day after meals.

Benefits:  Belly will reduce, improves digestion, Gas problems eliminate, old Back Pains are also eliminated.

Ingredients:

Old Rice

Usage:  Soak the old rice one full night and dry it the whole next day, then fry it lightly.  Grind it to make rava (semolina).  Add water that is equal to 14 times of the rava (semolina) and cook it till it becomes gruel.  Eat this using cooked vegetables.

Benefits:  This will remove all the excess fat in the stomach and gives you flat stomach and also removes excess fat that is hidden in the body. 

Foods To Be Taken At Night For Weight Reduction:

Ingredients:

Old Rice, Jowar (sorghum grain), old wheat, Moong (green gram dal), ulavalu (horse gram), barley seeds in equal proportion.

Method:  Soak them overnight, dry them in the morning.  Add little by little quantity in fry pan and fry them. Later powder the contents and store in a bottle.

Usage:  Prepare chapatti/roti and take them in the nights as food.

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Yoga Aasnas for Belly reduction.

• Uttana padasana
• Agnisaara Kriya
• Udyana Bandha
• Naukasanam
• Vajrasanam

Stomach cleaning should be done once a month

Stomach cleaning Method 1:

Ingredients:

Ginger juice : 2 spoons

Honey: 2 spoons

Castor oil : 4 spoons.

Mix the above three constituents and boil thoroughly 3 times

Usage: Take it with warm water early in the evening.  Rasam with rice can be taken as food in the afternoon.

Precaution: Avoid going outside as motions (bowel movements) may occur 3 to 4 times.

Stomach cleaning Method 2:

Ingredients:

Aloe vera juice : 2 to 4 spoons

Jeera (Cumin seeds) powder : ¼ spoon (lightly fried)

Turmeric : 1/8 spoon

Pepper powder :3 pinch

Usage: Take the above contents together half-an-hour before meals.

Benefits: This will not only clean the stomach, but also sores in (ovary) and also sores due to cancer.

Food precautions:

1. Avoid drinking cool water from fridge
2. Avoid fried items
3. Avoid taking cold rice, new rice
4. Drink cow’s milk only
5. Avoid meat
6. Avoid breakfast before 10 AM, take juices in the afternoon and light food in the evening.
7. Eat according to the body’s needs and to the extent of physical work one does.
8. Avoid sleep during day time and reduce sleep during night.
9. Reduce rice and wheat as much as possible
10. Avoid milk products, sugar
11. Exercise morning and evening. 

Apple cider vinegar and it's amazing benefits!

Apple cider vinegar has so many amazing benefits!

I’ve previously shared how it can:

• boost weight loss and wellness
• and why it’s so effective for weight loss
• be used to make mayonnaise
• or salad dressing

Today I’d like to share some other great benefits of apple cider vinegar because it is now one of the most popular and cost effective natural remedies around. It has been used for centuries for numerous ailments, skin care, and more.
Although you can buy apple cider vinegar at your everyday supermarket, it’s not the kind you want to be using because it’s usually refined, with all the good stuff removed. The best kind is made from fresh, organic, crushed apples that mature in wooden barrels to become the apple cider vinegar beneficial for health. When they distill and pasteurize it, it removes many of the vital minerals and trace elements commonly found in apple cider. If you do buy it from the supermarket, at least buy the unfiltered stuff so it retains some of the nutritional value.

The benefits I want to share aren’t just associated with weight loss but cover many aspects of health, I just love using natural remedies whenever possible.

10 Great Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar

1. Use as a natural sinus and chest congestion remedy

Apple cider is a great steam treatment to help relieve sinus and chest congestion. Put half a cup of apple cider into a large heat proof bowl with boiling water. Sit comfortably with your head over the bowl and breathe in the steam. For a more focused steam, put a towel over your head and the bowl.

2. Sooth a sore throat

Whether it’s a croaky throat from a cold or a visit to the latest concert, apple cider can be gargled to help relieve your throat. Add 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon salt to warm water. Stir to dissolve and combine, then gargle a few times a day.

3. Remove Warts

Warts are caused by a viral infection. An old folk remedy is to soak a small piece of cotton wool in apple cider vinegar, place it on the wart and put a bandaid on the wart. Replace every day until the wart falls off. It does look strange as this occurs because it removes the wart from the base. This will heal over in time. This works, I tried it with my daughter.

4. Clear up cold sores fast

Cold sores are also a viral infection and often come on when we are run down or stressed. They can be very unsightly things if allowed to run rampant. If you feel a cold sore coming on, catch it early and treat it with apple cider. Soak a cotton bud or ball in apple cider and apply it to the affected area. Do this 3-4 times a day and it will clear up in no time.

5. Natural treatment for diaper rash

Diaper rash is caused by cloth rubbing against sensitive skin and no doubt is very uncomfortable for your baby. It can also be cause by sensitivities to soaps on nappies or clothing. To remove these irritations, rinse the clothing and cloth nappies in a mild solution of apple cider vinegar. Add about half a cup to the final rinse cycle to help neutralise the ph of the soap in clothing.

6. Treat itchy mosquito bites

We all know how annoying a mosquito bite can be. And the more we scratch them, the worse they get. If you do get bitten, put apple cider on the affected area and it should stop the itching.

7. Improve digestion

The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar helps the process of digestion by keeping hydrochloric acid in the stomach longer to help breakdown food. This is especially important for people with low acid levels (which is quite common), or difficulty digesting foods. Any type of indigestion symptom such as reflux, belching, or wind, could call for the help of apple cider. Instead of taking an antacid, try 1 teaspoon apple cider mixed with a teaspoon of raw honey in some water and you’ll find it does a great job. You can also take it before meals to boost digestion.

8. Improve age spots

Age spots hit us as we get older and go through hormonal changes. They can also come from being in the sun too long. These can be effectively treated with apple cider vinegar. Soak a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar and apply to the area for 10 minutes, tiwce per day. You should notice them fading within a few weeks.

9. Get rid of dandruff

Rinse your hair with a warm water solution with apple cider added made to a 50-50 combo. Massage the mixture into the scalp, wait a few minutes, then wash and condition as normal. The acetic acid in the vinegar helps to kill the fungus and restores the right ph balance to the scalp.

10. Deep hair conditioner

If your hair is looking a bit drab, limp or damaged try this simple preparation. Mix 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar with 2 tablespoons of almond oil or olive oil and 3 egg whites. Massage into the hair and cover with a shower cap for 30 minutes. Rinse with luke warm water and then wash and condition as normal.

These are just a few of the benefits, there are many more but please give a few of these a try, I just love the apple cider and always keep a bottle on hand