★★★★★
When my husband came down with a nasty virus, I began to drink fresh squeezed lemon juice, and also to chew on the peelings. This kept me from catching his bug, and I also felt much healthier as a result -- more energy and healthier digestion.
Since then, I have found a more palatable way to take the lemon juice. I put on some filtered or distilled water to boil. In the meantime, I squeeze one whole lemon and set the juice aside. I cut up the peeling into quarter-inch pieces (approximately) and drop them in a coffee cup. I pour boiling water over the peelings just to cover, then cover the cup and let them steep for 5 minutes. This pulls the zest from the peelings. I strain the liquid and discard the pieces. I then combine the hot liquid with the sqeezed lemon juice and drink. This should be done once per day at the onset of flu season, and 2 to 3 times per day if exposed to or suffering from any virus.
This drink is bitter, since it consists of the essence of lemond rind. It may cause loose stools, which may be a good thing if ridding the body of unwanted "guests".
It works extremely well if combined with an ecchinacea regimen for convelescence after a bout of illness. Adding a teaspoon of cinnamon may help to prevent diarrhea if it becomes bothersome.
