Recently, I’ve found myself in the midst of a situation that makes me feel a little uncomfortable — the dreaded “cough zone”.
Do you know what I’m talking about?
It’s the time when you’re peacefully going about your business and then you hear: “COUGH, COUGH, COUGH”, and upon further investigation you realize that all the people around you are clutching boxes of Kleenex as though they’re best friends.
I’m not trying to say anything negative about these people — yes, we all get sick, but I am saying that when I go home I want to take extra preventative measures!
Enter the honey-onion syrup.
This is an old-fashioned remedy that has fallen by the wayside as people have forgotten that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that we have the power to do preventative healthcare very well in our own homes! It’s also good to use if you’ve already developed a cough, cold, or sore throat.
I can hear some of you thinking: “Honey and onion? Together?”
Why, yes. Although you might not think of these two common food items initially in regard to colds and coughs, they’re both highly medicinal foodstuffs, and it’s easier to consume a dose of medicinal onions this way than eating a plate full of them.
Onions and other members of the Allium family such as garlic, leeks, chives, and shallots, all contain compounds that are thought to be anti-bacterial, antispasmodic, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory. Add to that the anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal influence of honey and you have a winner food-as-medicine.
To make this remedy, take a whole onion and cut it into half moon slices (note: please use organic onions).
Place into a pan and cover with honey.
Warm the mixture until the onions become very soft and you can taste them in the honey. You can also add some chopped garlic to the mix for extra medicinal value (I sure did!).
To use, just take 1/2 to 1 Tsp as a preventative measure or at the first sign of a cold. If you already have a cold, take 1 Tsp. 3-4 times a day to speed recovery. The syrup can be kept for several weeks to a month in the refrigerator.
And it’s true, despite being around a plethora of sick people, I did not come down with anything! Additionally, Michael had a bit of a tickling cough last week that went away after a few teaspoons of the syrup.
(Disclaimer: Michael says this is an acquired taste, although I think it’s pretty yummy!)
(This post may be linked up on any of these blog hop, Small Footprint Friday, and The Backyard Farming Connection.)
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