The flu season has started. I, for one, have fallen a victim to a nasty influenza virus, for the first time in years. While recovering, I thought I would share with you some natural ways of support your body through an illness and speeding up recovering. Two things I swear by are turmeric and ginger.
Turmeric has been a household remedy in India for centuries. It’s taken by teaspoons (mixed with honey and or ghee) at first signs of cold or upset stomach. Turmeric efficiency in fighting various ailments is attributed to curcumin, its key active compound.
Curcumin possesses an anti-viral activity. When we get infected with a virus, the latter gets inside our cells, “hijacks” our cellular machinery and coerces it into making multiple copies of itself. Curcumin inhibits this process. Hence, less new viral cells are formed and our immune system can deal with the attack more efficiently and win the battle quicker. But like any battle, this one has a cost. In this case, it’s inflammation. Remarkably, curcumin can help here too. It is known to suppress production of several inflammatory molecules. Thus, for instance, it down-regulates production of prostaglandins using the same mode of action as aspirin.
Ginger is botanically related to turmeric. It’s no surprise, that the two demonstrate similar properties and can be used synergistically.
Here is a recipe for a ginger and turmeric tea, which I take several times a day when sick.
1 cm of peeled and finely grated ginger
½ teaspoon of turmeric powder
½ teaspoon of honey
250 ml hot water
A generous squeeze of lemon/lime
Combine in small saucepan and warm for 2 min.
Mind you, turmeric has a rather strong earthy flavour, so use honey, coconut milk, cinnamon or lemons to mask it.
