Someone sent me a recipe to "Natures Flu Shot" and just a couple of days after receiving said recipe, I had the opportunity to test it out. Fortunately, I did NOT get the flu, but I did get a healthy dose of pharyngitis/bronchitis/sinusitis ... on top of my asthma!
I didn't have enough lemons to mix up a full batch, so I made half a batch. Folks, let me tell you, this stuff really works!! And it's quite tasty too ... well, at least for the first few seconds, and then the afterburner affect of the cayenne, garlic and ginger kicks in! YOWZA!! I really should divulge here that I am NOT a "spice girl" but lean more towards being a "sugar baby." I can barely handle black pepper, much less cayenne! lol. So, if you like spice, then you'll probably love this tonic. Actually, after the first few sips, the "heat" didn't bother me anymore. YAY!
Here is the recipe:
Juice of 6 fresh lemons, preferably organic
1 "bulb" of garlic (Yep, a full bulb - the whole shebang - not a "clove")
2 tsp of ginger powder, preferably organic
2 TBSP raw local honey
3 cups of fresh pineapple juice*
1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper
Blend all ingredients thoroughly and store in a glass jar.
Drink 1 cup, 4 times a day until symptoms are resolved.
* * *
I didn't keep drinking the juice until symptoms were "resolved" because, as mentioned, I didn't have enough ingredients; however, I did notice a significant difference in chest congestion, coughing and stuffiness every time I drank a cup of juice.
*I buy pineapples already cored. For this recipe, I just cut the cored pineapple into spears and ran them through the juicer. I then saved the pineapple pulp (which came out more like soft serve ice cream) and used it in smoothies. =) Just make sure when you juice the pineapples, that the juicer is clean so your pineapple pulp is pure and not mixed with other produce.
Even though there's a full bulb of garlic in this photo, I only used half since I halved the recipe.
I hope you won't need this, but if you do get the flu, this tonic is, by far, a much better and healthier alternative to a toxic flu shot. Here are a few of the health benefits of the ingredients in the Natural Flu Shot tonic:
GARLIC is renowned as a natural
antibiotic,
antifungal, and
antiviral ... and with NO side effects! Well, except for smelling like garlic!
On Dr. Mercola's site, he quotes John Summerly:
“Forget the flu shot. A soup based on more than 50 cloves of garlic, onions, thyme and lemon will destroy almost any virus that enters its path including colds, flu and even norovirus.”
LEMON has strong
antibacterial,
antiviral, and
immune-boosting powers. In addition, it is a liver cleanser and aids digestion. Lemons contain many vitamins and nutrients that
fight infections by enhancing immunities -- notably citric acid, Vitamin C, bioflavonoids, calcium, magnesium, pectin, and limonene.
PINEAPPLE is extremely nutritious and is loaded with many essential vitamins, minerals and enzymes. One enzyme, Bromelain
, has
anti-inflammatory,
anti-clotting and
anti-cancer properties, and is effective in breaking up mucus and suppressing coughs. Pineapple is also rich in vitamin C that can ward off viruses that cause colds and cough, plus it can accelerate healing. Besides Vitamins C, pineapple also contains Thiamine, Manganese, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium and proteins. Oh, and Vitamin B6 which helps to promote a healthy immune system!
GINGER has anti-inflammatory properties and has long been used as a natural treatment for colds and the flu. If you've ever had "Ginger Ale" you know ginger eases the symptoms of stomach flus and food poisoning.
RAW HONEY is just loaded with benefits! For one thing, it's a fabulous antiseptic that promotes healing and fights infection. It is also an anti-bacterial and anti-viral that contains enzymes and antioxidants proven to fight bacterial and viral infections, like sore throats, coughs, colds, bronchitis, flu ... you know, all the stuff that the "flu shot" is supposed to (ahem) treat. If you take RAW HONEY every day, the antioxidants and phytonutrients that it contains enhances the immune system.
***NOTE OF CAUTION: It is crucial that you buy raw, local honey. According to
Food Safety News, more than three-fourths of the processed honey sold in U.S. grocery stores isn't even honey! The bee pollen has been deliberately filtered out. Bee pollen is what makes honey, honey! When the pollen is not present, there is no way to verify its origin, which typically means it is fake honey from China. Honey that comes from China is contaminated with chloramphenicol and other illegal animal antibiotics which are dangerous, even fatal, to a very small percentage of the population. So buyer BEWARE!!
CAYENNE PEPPER, according to
Eat This! is one of nature's most healing and therapeutic foods. It is a powerful
anti-inflammatory that stimulates circulation and neutralizes acidity. It also has the ability to ease stomach upset, sore throats, as well as spasmodic and irritating coughs. Since it helps to break up and move congested mucus out of the body, relief of flu symptoms usually follows shortly afterwards.
So there you have it - a natural alternative to the flu shot that TASTES GOOD, is HIGHLY BENEFICIAL, and has NO SIDE-EFFECTS! Hmmmm... seems like a no-brainer to me!
Stay healthy and be wise.
It was very inspiring, and the motivating force behind my decision to pursue another 3-4 weeks. 