Previously written 26/04/2019, updated 18/09/2023

I am not sure where you are in the world, but this week, in London, we are experiencing a few seasons in a day...

One moment, the sun shines bright and warm enough a t-shirt would do. A couple of hours later, it is raining cats and dogs and, as the evening draws by, the weather changes again and we would be happy wearing a hat and scarf. 

Pleasant it is when the weather stays clear for most of the day, and we would question pulling our summer clothes out. And then the next day, the wind from the north sends a greater chill and we are glad that we did not put our winter clothes away. Then rain, hail, and storms have settled for the last two days and all we see is great and wet. 

With these changes in weather, many people's immune defences are put to the test.
From hot to cold and wet, and then hot again, we may feel a little under the weather, literally. It is the perfect moment for viruses and bacteria to take advantage and test our immune system. 

It may take some time for the symptoms to appear though, but when we are experiencing such symptoms as fatigue, runny nose, sore throat, aches and pains, the immune system is already activated and working hard to fight microbes. For example, a sore throat is the shedding of our cells that is quicker than what the body can produce, sometimes, exposing capillaries and inflaming tissues.  

All we need is rest and let the body and the immune cells do their job; however, in our days and age, it seems that we cannot afford to rest, to let nature heal us, and that productivity is what drives us, forces us to push on, to go about our day, to work, and to continue as normal; popping a pill or two here and there.

Medicines help suppress symptoms, take away the pain, stamp down the inflammation, and numb the body, but they do so at a great cost. While the body should be resting and heal, we virtually break further because we are not experiencing any symptoms, but the infection is still running its course — the body actively working to resolve the infection.

To help you get over that cold naturally and quickly, I would like to present to you the best, most effective natural medicine out there I have tried. It can work as quickly as a couple of hours to take symptoms away and help the body fight the infection. 

It takes a few days to become potent enough but it can keep for many months. Now is the time to make it (right now, at the end of the summer) and keep it until winter is over. 

Recipe:

500 ml filtered water
2 Lemon Juice, (plus skin, but keep aside)
3 Garlic cloves
a large chunk of Ginger
1 medium Red Onion (chopped finely)
thumb-size fresh turmeric

1. Bring water to a boil with grated ginger and turmeric, crushed garlic and chopped onion.

2. Leave to cool for 2 hours. Add the lemon juice and stir well. Add the clean, unwaxed lemon peel (grated or dehydrated powder). stir and store in the fridge. 

3. You can also add a sprig of thyme and/or rosemary to the warm liquid. They are known to have antibacterial and antiviral properties. 

4. Do not pass the liquid before decanting it into a jar. Only, use a sieve to pass this elixir before pouring it into a glass and drinking it.