This natural healing broth is my go-to home remedy anytime I start feeling under the weather. When I get achy, cold, and the beginnings of a sore throat—when I know that my immune system has run down–I crave this. (I also crave it even when I’m not sick. It’s got so many great healing properties, and I know how good it is for me.) This week has been one of those weeks when I have not been feeling very well. I’ve been fighting off a sinus infection and a respiratory issue, so I made a big pot of this recipe for natural healing broth.
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Natural Home Remedies
Just looking at a list of the ingredients I use in this healing broth gives you a glimpse of the power of natural home remedies. Take a look:
- Lemon – Lemons are known for their strong antibacterial and antiviral power. They boost the immune system, plus serve as a digestive aid and help in cleansing the liver.
- Ginger root – Ginger root is a favorite natural medicine in many cultures. It’s known for being an anti-inflammatory with antiviral properties that help ward off colds and flu.
- Garlic – Studies have shown that garlic is the most potent, all-natural antibiotic available.
- Cayenne Pepper – Cayenne clears clogged sinuses and helps alleviate the symptoms of colds and flu.
A Natural Healing Medicine
I can feel good about giving this broth to my family. It’s a natural healing “medicine” that I know is safe. When I give this to my kids, I back off on the cayenne pepper. They can’t take too much spice! But for my husband and me, I add as much cayenne as we can handle, and sometimes I will even sprinkle a little more in my own cup. (Bring it on!)
Feel free to add more or less of any of the ingredients, simply using my recipe for healing broth as a guide. I also go with what I have on hand. When you’re not feeling well, the last thing you want to do is head out to the store. Also, I usually double or triple this recipe so that I will have it to drink for several days. (This will keep in the fridge for a week or two.)
Does All Natural mean All Organic?
Does all natural mean all organic when it comes to making your own batch of this natural healing broth? Well, whether you are able to go all organic with the ingredients or not, this is still a great home remedy. However, with a healing recipe such as this, I prefer to go as organic as possible. Here are my recommendations:
Use distilled water. Distilled water is important because you actually can’t boil out all the impurities in tap water. Those impurities can actually negate the healing properties that you want when making this broth.
Organic lemons. I prefer to use organic because you’ll notice in the recipe below that we will be using the entire lemon. After you juice it, you will add the complete rind to the pot. You want this to be pesticide-free, but if you can’t use organic, then please wash it well.
I use a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water for washing fruits and vegetables. I keep it in a spray bottle and use it with a vegetable brush to clean well.
Ginger root. If you don’t use organic ginger, remove the skin. If you use organic, then leave the skin on.
Garlic and Cayenne. Use what you have on hand, but keep in mind next time you are at the grocery that the organic versions of these are very inexpensive.
Honey. Again, use what you have available. However, a natural, raw honey is the best route.
- 6 cups distilled water
- 1 whole lemon, juiced. Do not discard rind.
- 2-3 tablespoons of fresh gingerroot, medium slices
- 5-6 garlic cloves, crushed (Crush with the flat side of knife to release the juices, then drop the whole thing into your pot.)
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste)
- Honey to taste
- Put water in a medium saucepan on high.
- Add lemon (juiced) and entire rind, gingerroot, garlic.
- Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce to medium. Allow it to cook at a low, rolling boil for about 15 minutes. You will see the color begin to change and deepen.
- Add the cayenne pepper.
- Strain.
- Add honey to taste to individual cup.
I have a cup-sized mesh strainer that I put over my cup so that I can strain it one cup at a time. (I keep the broth on the stove on low throughout the day when I am sick.) After I have added honey, then I taste it. If I can handle more cayenne, then I will add more.
What is your go-to home remedy for colds and flu season? I’d love to know what you’re doing to stay healthy this time of year.
Thanks. I SO need this today!
If you have leftovers after making this, do you store it? If so, how do you store it?
Angie, I generally don’t have leftovers, but it will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
thanks very much for this recipe! definitely top/healthy ingredients, and i’d like to make it especially at this time of year, but doesn’t boiling the lemon juice/ginger/garlic destroy the enzymes and therefore much of the benefits? i’m just learning about natural remedies and have recently read an article or two that said if you cook/boil fruits or veggies, they lose much of their nutritional and medicinal value. i’m really curious about all this because i want to make sure whatever i natural remedies i decide to buy or make are the best.
thanks so much!
I believe that since you are drinking the liquid in its entirety the nutrients are being consumed….they are in the broth and since you are not discarding the liquid it is full of the nutrients…does that make sense?
Yes, completely!
I make a similiar drink, but add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to my cup. It adds some flavour and also has amazing healing properties combined with the honey – and it really works.
Thanks for the recipe – I’ve never made it is large amounts like this.
I just made this because I am really sick – how much and how often are you supposed to take it? Thanks so much for the recipe.
Hi thank u just made this praise God for his creation
I’m thinking this would be really good with chicken. Would doing boiled chicken and using that broth instead of just water work?
Not if you are wanting a chicken noodle type of taste. It has a definite flavor, so if you use chicken you will have a lemony, garlic, ginger type of taste, kind of asian taste…
I was wondering same thing as Lyn, I did find this…http://voices.yahoo.com/does-cooking-fresh-garlic-destroy-its-health-benefits-5393197.html?cat=5
This drink looks wonderful and I am going to make it now for my son and I
I’m excited! Thanks for sharing 
One thing my husband and a I came up with to incorperate fresh garlic (so to get that allicin in the diet 
is to eat it in warmed olive oil (crush it in, after oil has been warmed), with good bread 
My mother received a similar recipe from a family friend over twenty years ago, and now I use it for my own family. The only difference is that it is prepared in individual servings with the ingredients placed into the bottom of a cup, crushed a bit, with boiling water poured over the top. After it has steeped a bit, the beverage is sipped. You might consider adding the honey to your list of beneficial ingredients ~ it has some mild antibiotic qualities and is good for your health. Great post!
Natalie, thanks for your comment. Actually we do have honey listed to add to it, somehow it didn’t get explained “why” it was good. Thanks for letting me know!
I’m glad I stumbled on to this site, I am currently struggling with sinus issues and have read about lemon water with turmeric and a pinch of cinnamon added as well and as I read your recipe I was wondering if I could add these two ingredients to further boost the anti inflammatory properties of this broth/drink? I’d like your opinion
Thank you!
I think that would be a great addition!
Can you add honey with cancer i was told all sweetners fed cancer?