Soothing Anti-Virus Hot Toddy

When I feel a cold, bronchitis, cold sore, achiness, or flu approaching, I immediately start drinking this tea several times throughout the day and evening.

It features spices that are anti-inflammatory, as well as Vitamin C and Echinacea. The warm liquid helps soothe chest ache and congestion, too.

NOTE: No promises, guarantees or claims here. It usually works for me, and maybe you'll like it, too.

SOOTHING ANTI-VIRUS HOT TODDY

• 1/4" slice of ginger root, peeled and chopped - put into a tea-ball so you can retrieve the pieces after steeping; OR 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• pinch of cayenne powder
• 1 tsp turmeric powder (anti-inflammatory)
• pinch of ground cloves
• contents of 1 capsule 1000mg Vit C (it's anti-viral)
• contents of 1 capsule Echinacea* (it's reputed to be anti-viral)
• 1 tsp honey
• juice of 1/4 to 1/2 lemon
• optional - non-dairy milk (Rice, Almond) to make it taste creamier
• optional - Yogi DeTox tea or Yogi Ginger tea

Add boiling water, cover, and steep for a minute or two.

Remove tea-ball.

Drink this several times a day when you feel like something viral is starting (cold, sore throat, cough, cold sores).

TIP: If you want to make up a larger quantity of this tea in advance, you can portion it into individual tea bags by ordering (bleach-free) bags from naturalteabags.com. This is especially helpful if you travel, since you may not have the individual spices at hand where you're staying.

NOTE: A little more about Echinacea: Echinacea is generally seen as a safe supplement that results in few side effects. However, it is noted that if you take it as an oral supplement, you may experience some tingling or numbness in your mouth. Additionally, if you’re allergic to plants in the daisy family or have asthma, it’s recommended that you steer clear of it. It’s advised that folks with a liver disorder, an auto-immune disorder (including HIV/AIDS), leukemia, connective tissue disorder, diabetes, or tuberculosis avoid this supplement. Though there’s little evidence to suggest that using echinacea during pregnancy results in any birth defects, it’s generally recommended that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding forgo taking this supplement. There are some noted drug interactions as well, so your best bet is to consult a health care provider if you’re using any medications before picking this up at a store.  (from Go Ask Alice!)