I didn’t grow up drinking tea. In fact, it took me a long time to grow an affinity for it. Yet it has become one of those things that comforts me when I have a cold. The warmth of the hot liquid, just like soup, makes me feel better, if only mentally. Although there is some truth to hot liquids and steam opening the sinuses.

Recently, after a day or two of a slight scratchy throat, I woke up with a stuffy nose and head one morning. That night, when I tried to go to sleep, breathing out of my nose was impossible and I woke up with another scratchy throat for a different reason – I had been snoring.

Groggy, it was a morning of indecisiveness. So I got the idea to look up on the interwebs to find out what the best tea would be for a cold. As you can imagine, there is a wealth of knowledge and a number of opinions! {I’ve also found that while Hot Toddies in the evening may be be comforting, but I’m always left feeling a little more stuffed (and dehydrated) the next day.}

Last week, though, I think I found the trick! I drank this concoction and the next day…

I felt better.

Now I wasn’t 100% yet, but I woke up and could breathe freely through my nose. Usually, the morning of a cold is the worst. I ended up having another one before breakfast, too…

The DIY Stuffy Nose Remedy includes three medicinal ingredients:

• honey
• lemon
• ginger

This is such an easy, natural tea you can make yourself using ingredients that have been known to treat symptoms for thousands of years. You can get the “recipe” here. But the truth is that there is no right or wrong ratio of these components – you can make it to taste. Here are the tips I’d like to offer that I think help make this tea best:

1. You need a big mug – one that can hold two cups of water, like in the recipe. Otherwise, you’ll need to make yourself a second cup of tea and when you’re sick, that’s just a PITA. Get a big mug – or bowl – and settle in. This one did the trick for me. Just shy of two cups:
2. Do not skimp on the ingredients!
   • Do not substitute stevia or another sweetener or leave out the honey! It’s the medicinal qualities in the honey that are helping you fight infection. The sweetening properties are just a bonus!
   • I found my personal best ratio is about 1 Tbsp or so of honey, juice of half of a lemon, 3/4″ piece of fresh ginger (freshly grated) and 2 cups of water. My humongo lemons from Costco were a bit much the first time around, so I upped the honey a bit. You can adjust to taste.
   • You might be able to use ground ginger or even a ginger tea in a pinch in place of fresh; but I haven’t tried and can’t vouch for it.
3. Put the ingredients in your mug first.
4. Boil your water separately.
   • Often, when I make tea, I heat the water in a mug in the microwave and add the teabag afterward. I know it’s better to pour boiling water over the teabag; but sometimes I’m just lazy. I don’t have a kettle and think it’d be silly to boil water for just one cup of tea.
   • This is a time that it’s worth it to heat your two cups of water in a separate bowl in the microwave – 3 to 4 minutes should do.
   • Take the water out of the mic using a pot holder and pour over your ingredients and stir.
5. Adjust ingredients to taste. It tastes good and will make you feel good, too!

Do you have any home remedies you swear by for colds?

Be Well!
Carrie