Growing up, my mom took a huge amount of pride in my perfect attendance record, so no matter how I was feeling, I bundled up and took myself right to school, sniffling the whole way. With increasing anxieties around COVID, we certainly do not take such a lighthearted approach to illness these days—and we shouldn’t!
I personally have lost every ounce of my earlier resilience. An everyday cold can keep me bed-bound and ringing my imaginary butler’s bell all day long—to the chagrin of my long-suffering family. I’m desperate to get back on my feet again and take all the usual medications, but nothing really seems to give me ease until I brew this remedy (thanks to a salty ex-boyfriend for the recipe)!
It’s essentially a hot ginger-honey concoction with a squeeze of lemon and a healthy dash of cayenne. The drink is warm and reviving, creating that nestled-in comfort that soothes me every single time.
I make a pot at the first sign of a cold, then drink it all day long until I’m seeping ginger out of my pores. Doesn’t sound attractive, but it’s effective, which matters much more when you’re down with a cold. After a day or two, I usually feel like myself again!
Salty Ex-boyfriend’s Reviving Cold Remedy
- 6 cups water
- 2” knob of ginger, peeled and cubed
- 4-5 tablespoons honey
- 1 dash cayenne (or more to taste)
- ½ medium lemon, juiced
Toss the ginger into the pot of cold water and bring to a boil in a covered pot. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and let simmer, covered, for 15–30 minutes. The longer the concoction simmers, the more gingery the taste. Take the pot off the heat and stir in your honey, cayenne, and lemon juice. Serve hot.
Read More: 5 of My Favorite Self-Care Items From Trader Joe’s
