Earth Clinic Mobile: Home Remedies for People and Pets

Ginger for Flu

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Susan (Knoxville, Tn) on 10/28/2014:
5 out of 5 stars

Just using the powdered ginger from the grocery store spice aisle worked for me in one dose in 2009 when the H1N1 flu was going around. My son had gotten it and coughed right in my face when I tucked him in bed (I couldn't get him to take anything like ginger for it - he was too young and spit it out), so about 2 days later, I suddenly had a runny nose and little tickles in my upper chest - felt like tiny bubbles popping in my chest. When I realized that what I was feeling was the flu, the ginger remedy I had seen here popped into my head (thank you, EC - love your site and you are my first go-to for so many things now! ) Going with what I had available, I used 1/2 tsp of the powdered ginger and made a tea with it, heating up a mug of water and then stirring the powdered ginger in with a bit of sugar. It didn't taste too good but I drank it and had to swirl the mug around to get the leftover powder on the bottom of the mug into my mouth. Within an hour, the symptoms were all gone. I was extremely relieved, because I had a really nasty virus about a year earlier, that I had gotten pneumonia from, and it had wreaked havoc on my upper respiratory area where the flu was trying to take hold and I was still suffering from recurring chest congestion every time I got a cold at that time. So I was extremely worried that the flu would land me in the hospital, given my pre-existing chest issues. I was SOOOO relieved that the ginger worked to get rid of it so quickly. I had read that ginger has over 100 antiviral components in it, but dry ginger may have fewer of those than fresh ginger, but I would say definitely don't overlook the dry, powdered version if it's all you have!

Lawrence (Kingston, Jamaica) on 04/29/2008:
5 out of 5 stars

Sucking on a .5 sq. inch piece of dried ginger cures my sore throat and other cold/flulike symptoms at their onset. You have to however bear the hotness as much as you can,until the sensation is gone. I have not suffered from a cold or flu for the last 10 years or so. For more aggressive forms, a total water & juice fast for 2 or 3 days straight does the trick for me. My roomate had a bad flu recently, it never touched me. When ending the fast, eat only raw fruits and veggies for a day or so. Notice how the gradual resumption of cooked food lowers your mood and vibration.

Earth Clinic (USA) on 03/01/2004:
5 out of 5 stars

This ginger tea is one of the most powerful teas to clear viruses and toxins from the body. Here's an old Chinese recipe that is very beneficial.

Chop into small pieces 2 inches of fresh ginger and add to a pot of water. Add the rind of one orange and one cinnamon stick. Boil for 10 minutes and drink hot. You will be able to tell how well this tea clears toxins from your body by the changing scent of your perspiration (for the worse).

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