Honey Garlic Remedy to Help Your Cold and Sore Throat

Brisk air has arrived in the Northeast and that gets me thinking of cold and sore throat season. If you tend to get a scratchy throat or sick when the seasons change, then you will love this natural remedy made from only two ingredients, garlic and honey.

Why Garlic and Honey?

What do garlic and honey, two kitchen staples, have to do with fighting illness? A little know fact is that both fresh garlic and natural honey, manuka or tualang in particular, are antibacterial, making them perfect for this easy-to-make natural throat and cold medicine.

With folk remedies becoming popular again, studies are focusing on these ingredients and beginning to back what ancient healers used.

Antibacterial honey is a prominent one. In a study published by National Institute of Health, they stated, “Manuka honey has been widely researched and its antibacterial potential is renowned worldwide. The potency of honeys, such as Tualang honey, against microorganisms suggests its potential to be used as an alternative therapeutic agent in certain medical conditions…”

Similarly, garlic is another on-hand ingredient that is also studied for its antimicrobial properties. Plus, it is also getting attention for its potential as an antiviral for viruses linked to respiratory ailments. All agree that it is allicin and sulphur compounds in garlic that make garlic so powerful and worth adding to your diet for better health.

How to Make Garlic and Honey Paste

When making this mixture, purchase the best quality ingredients. Choose fresh, organic garlic, which helps to avoid the controversial ‘bleached garlic’ imported from China.

My choice for honey is manuka, which is from New Zealand where it is regulated and rated. If your manuka honey does not have either a MGO or UMF rating on the label, assume that it is a low-grade version which does not have the antibacterial properties you are looking for.

Since high quality manuka honey is expensive, this becomes an exercise in tradeoffs. What is good enough to really provide benefits, but also can fit into your budget? I only use my manuka honey for medicinal purposes so I opt for MGO 400 /UMF 12+ or stronger.

Garlic & Honey Paste Recipe
©GLAD for Health

Ingredients:

10-20 cloves of garlic (about 2-3 heads)
1 small jar of manuka honey, MGO 400/UMF 12+ or higher

Instructions:

1.Peel and mince/press all the garlic. It is important to mince or press rather than leaving whole to activate the allicin. Read “Chop, Crush & Eat Garlic For Better, Improved Health” to learn why.
2.Let the garlic sit for 5-10 minutes.
3.Put garlic in a small jar that can be sealed.
4.Stir in about ⅓ cup honey – enough to make a garlicky paste.
5.Take one teaspoon several times a day but especially before bedtime.