Cold and flu are viral diseases that affect the respiratory tract, especially the nose, throat and sinus. Some of the common signs and symptoms of cold are cough, sore throat, sneezing, headache, running nose, etc.
Although cold is a very common disease and does not cause any major harm to the body, it can take several days to heal. Therefore, Ayurveda recommends treating colds and flu at home with simple home remedies. Most of these home remedies include honey, which is considered one of the best foods for these diseases.
If you want to know more about cough and cold read our related articles:
1. Best Fruits to Eat and Avoid During Cough and Cold
2. Effective Home Remedies to Manage Cold and Flu
Ayurvedic Properties of Honey
According to Ayurveda, honey has Madhura or sweet Rasa. It is light to digest (Laghu) and exhibits Rooksha or dry properties. Honey is also known as one of the best foods to pacify Kapha and Pitta Dosha in the body.
Health Benefits of Honey in Cold and Flu
Honey exhibits antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, which help your body fight against the common cold and flu. It is also rich in antioxidants and helps prevent free radical damage to the immune cells, thereby helping the body recover faster. Furthermore, honey is known to relieve sore throat and provide instant relief in cases of cold and flu.
Home Remedies With Honey For Cold and Flu
1. Honey in Ginger Juice
It is one of the best home remedies to relieve sore throat and cough. To make this, take one teaspoon of ginger juice, one teaspoon of honey and a pinch of black pepper. Mix all the ingredients well and take the concoction twice, once in the morning and then in the night before bedtime.
If you are interested in knowing more about ginger Juice, read our article – 15 Surprising Health Benefits of Ginger Juice & How to Make it
2. Raw Honey
You may use honey with many herbs. However, the best way to use honey is to eat raw honey. For this, all you have to do is consume one or two tablespoons of honey every day as soon as you start showing symptoms of cold and flu.
3. Honey in Lukewarm Water
Instead of eating honey directly, you may add one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and have this decoction in the morning. It will help soothe a sore throat and treat cold and flu.
4. Honey in Lemon Tea
You may also consume honey with lemon juice. To make this remedy, add two tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of lemon juice to one glass of warm water. Mix all the ingredients well in the water and drink it every day to relieve the symptoms of cold and flu.
The Takeaway
Honey is highly beneficial in the treatment of cold and flu. It can relieve many symptoms of cold, such as sore throat, cough, etc., and provide instant relief to the body. You can either use honey with herbs such as ginger or you may consume honey directly to treat cold, cough and flu.
