Cold and flu season has hit with a vengeance this year. No matter where I go it feels like I’m surrounded by people who are sniffling, sneezing, and coughing! Despite the usual precautionary measures (avoiding crowds, washing my hands often, and fiendishly spraying household surfaces with Lysol) getting sick seemed inevitable.
My teenage son was the first to succumb in our family. It was hardly a surprise since his high school is literally a petri dish for germs. I knew I was in trouble when I started feeling like I’d been enveloped by a heavy fog. Exhaustion is the precursor that warns me my immune system is going down.
Reacting quickly at the first signs of cold or flu can often mean the difference between heading sickness off at the pass or dealing with weeks of misery. When those early symptoms raise the red flag, I run to the kitchen and make a batch of Suzanne’s famous Witch’s Brew!
My friend Suzanne Griffin shared this cold cure recipe (originally procured from a culinary instructor) on her Facebook page. A Certified Natural Chef and owner of Cooking By The Bay, Suzanne is an expert when it comes to healthy food and natural remedies.
This pungent concoction delivers a wallop to germs thanks to raw garlic and ginger. Garlic is a powerful antioxidant with antimicrobial, antiviral and antibiotic properties. For colds and flu, it also works as a natural decongestant and expectorant. Ginger contains nearly a dozen antiviral compounds. It also helps reduce pain/fever and has a mild sedative effect that encourages rest.
This brew may not be the best thing you’ll ever drink, but it delivers a powerful immune-boosting punch that will kick the bug’s butt!
*Be sure to check out Suzanne Griffin’s monthly calendar of themed small group cooking classes by clicking here.
SUZANNE’S WITCH’S BREW (makes a single serving)
Ingredients (preferably organic):
1 large garlic clove
1-2 teaspoons fresh ginger root
1 teaspoon miso paste
dash of tamari
Instructions:
- Use a microplane to grate the garlic clove and 1-2 teaspoons fresh ginger root into a coffee cup.
- Add 1 teaspoon of miso paste, and a small amount of very warm water. Stir to mix.
- Fill the cup with more warm water. Add a splash of tamari to taste. Drink it down and have one more.
Rest and feel better soon!
FARMINISTA'S FEAST 
This sounds like just the thing for a cold or flu, Karen. I had a cold last week (first one since 2011!) and wish I had had this recipe. It’s a bad season this year. I hope you’re feeling better 🙂
Thanks Anne Marie! Feeling much better. This little elixir helped turn the tide in my favor 🙂
Glad to hear it, Karen 🙂
Good recipe to bookmark. I could have used it last month when I had the flu. I will definitely check out Suzanne’s site.
It really helps Jovina! And I actually don’t mind the strong flavors. It’s both soothing and effective.