One of the most common health issues we experience each winter is dealing with the congestion that accompanies the common cold. It makes our nose tips red and irritated, it makes our voices sound funny and it makes breathing enough of a challenge that we often feel tired and rundown.
The spices used in this formula are universally known for being warming which means they stimulate movement in the body. In this case, the stimulation is getting the congested mucous to start moving, hence the decongestant label.
Recipe for Decongestant Honey
½ C honey
1 T turmeric powder
1 T ginger powder
½ t clove powder
½ t fresh ground black pepper
½ t fresh ground black cardamom seeds
Warm the honey just enough so that it flows readily and is easy to stir.
Slowly add each spice while mixing it into the honey. When finished, this will be a thick paste.
The spicy honey can be eaten off the tip of a spoon (or your fingers if no one is looking!)
Or a spoonful can be stirred into a cup of hot water for an instant cup of tea.
Use as needed when there is excess dampness creating stagnation in the sinuses.
Tips on using quality ingredients:
Make the effort to get quality honey. Using a local source is a great idea. Many supermarket honeys have been diluted with various forms of sugar that are less expensive to produce.
Black peppercorns quickly lose their aroma, taste and therapeutics once ground. The pepper found on most kitchen tables in America has long lost any health benefits. Purchase the whole peppercorns and grind as needed. A hand pepper grinder works well as does an electric spice grinder.
There are at least three different forms of cardamom available in commerce. The form I prefer is the whole black seeds that have been removed from the green pods but not yet ground. It is best to either grind these as needed or do it weekly. Like black pepper, the flavor and therapeutics of the fresh ground cardamom is far superior to purchasing pre-ground.
Turmeric, ginger and clove all hold their aromatics well and remain therapeutic for at least a year after grinding. I usually purchase these in powder form.
