The Perfect Winter Remedy for a Cold and Flu
This Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) inspired honey and onion syrup is a simple yet powerful immune supporting remedy, which can be quickly brewed during the cooler months when seasonal colds and flu’s are rampant. Utilising common pantry ingredients, honey and onion syrup can be used to soothe a sore throat, clear mucus, reduce a cough, and support the Wei Qi (immune system).
TCM symptoms
Due to the warming and sweet nature of the ingredients, this syrup is more suitable for a Wind-Cold strike pathogen according to TCM theory. Common symptoms include a productive cough with clear-white phlegm, sore throat, chills, aversion to cold, joint aches, headaches, absence of thirst, and clear urination. As these symptoms are caused by an external Wind-Cold pathogen, there should be an absence of heat-symptoms such as an aversion to heat, high fever with sweating, yellow or brown phlegm which is hard to cough up, strong thirst, dry/hard stools, and yellow urination.
Benefits of honey onion syrup / how it works
For centuries, honey, garlic, and onions have been used to prevent and ease colds, coughs, congestion, and other respiratory symptoms. According to TCM dietary therapy, all foods are classified based on their energetic properties, such as thermal temperature (cooling or warming), flavour (bitter, sweet, bland, sour, salty, and pungent), and their effects on specific organs and acupuncture channels. By understanding these energetic properties, certain foods and herbs can be used to support and balance the body when symptoms arise.
Manuka Honey
According to Chinese medicine, honey is considered sweet and neutral-warm. It is often used in the preparation and frying (called Pao Zhi) of certain herbs such as Gan Cao (Liquorice root), to increase its moistening, tonifying, toxicity clearing, and harmonising properties. Because the sweet flavour also generates fluids according to TCM theory, honey can be used to soothe a sore, dry throat and clear toxicity from the body. Any type of raw honey can be used, but manuka honey has received the most attention due to its proven anti-bacterial, enhanced wound healing and tissue regeneration, and immune-modulating properties [1].
Depicted: Honey-fried Gan Cao (liquorice root)
Garlic & onion
Garlic (Xie Bai) and Onions (Chong Bai) are two herbs commonly used in the Chinese herbal pharmacopeia for a Wind-Cold strike pathogen. Both garlic and onion are regarded as warm-pungent, and are used to open the lungs, release the surface, promote sweating, and disperse Wind-Cold from the body. Due to their warming-pungent nature, garlic and onions act as an expectorant, clearing stuck mucus from the chest and throat, and mildly relieving cold-stiff joints and aversion to cold.
Turmeric
Turmeric, also called E Zhu in Chinese medicine, is warm, bitter and mildly pungent. Turmeric is used in Chinese medicine to activate the blood, move stasis, dissolve accumulations and relieve pain. Numerous studies have also shown that turmeric has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuro-protective, cancer fighting, liver and cardiovascular protective effects [2].
Ginger
Considered one of the quintessential herbs in Chinese medicine, Ginger (Jiang) is warm-pungent in nature. Similar to the properties of garlic and onion, ginger opens the lung Qi, disperses Wind-Cold and phlegm, and mildly promotes a sweat. Depending on its processing (Pao Zhi), ginger internally warms and descends Stomach Qi to ease nausea and reflux, reduces loose stools, alleviates bloating, and astringes the blood to stop bleeding, according to Chinese medicine. Now that we’ve covered the basics, lets look at how we make this winter warming remedy!
Onion and Honey Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup of raw honey (manuka is best if available)
- 2-3 brown onions, finely sliced
- 2-3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2-3 sliced fresh turmeric
- 2-3 slices of ginger, finely chopped
Preparation Method
- Peel and finely slice the onions, then place them in a medium-sized pot.
- Add the garlic, ginger and turmeric.
- Pour honey over the onions, garlic, ginger, and turmeric. The ingredients don’t need to be completely submerged, just enough honey to coat them thoroughly.
- Place the pot over low heat for 45mins-1.5hours, stirring occasionally until the onions begin to soften. The honey should feel warm to the touch but not excessively hot.
- Allow the syrup to cool and transfer it to a glass jar for storage.
The immune-boosting syrup can be stored in the fridge for up to one week and consumed in doses of ½-1 teaspoon every 1-2 hours as soon as cold and flu symptoms start.
Caution on honey & infants
Infants under the age of 1 should not be given honey due to the increased risk of infantile botulism, caused by a type of bacteria called Clostridium found in honey. Symptoms can include muscle weakness, with signs of poor sucking, weak cry, constipation, and decreased muscle tone (floppiness).
Closing thoughts
Honey and onion syrup has many potential health benefits as winter warming remedy to ease the onset of a cold or flu. If you’re unsure if this remedy is right for your symptoms or you feel your immune system needs a little extra support, reach out to Dr. Fraser Cobham (TCM) at Ancient Waters Acupuncture in Nowra for an immune boosting treatment.
[1] Niaz, K., Maqbool, F., Bahadar, H., & Abdollahi, M. (2017). Health Benefits of Manuka Honey as an Essential Constituent for Tissue Regeneration. Current drug metabolism, 18(10), 881–892
[2] Sharifi-Rad, J., Rayess, Y. E., Rizk, A. A., Sadaka, C., Zgheib, R., Zam, W., Sestito, S., Rapposelli, S., Neffe-Skocińska, K., Zielińska, D., Salehi, B., Setzer, W. N., Dosoky, N. S., Taheri, Y., El Beyrouthy, M., Martorell, M., Ostrander, E. A., Suleria, H. A. R., Cho, W. C., Maroyi, A., … Martins, N. (2020). Turmeric and Its Major Compound Curcumin on Health: Bioactive Effects and Safety Profiles for Food, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnological and Medicinal Applications. Frontiers in pharmacology, 11, 01021
[3] Wikström, S., & Holst, E. (2017). Spädbarnsbotulism – skäl att inte ge honung till barn under ett år [Infant botulism – why honey should be avoided for children up to one year]. Lakartidningen, 114, ELMF
