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ginger and garlic infused honey for immunity and wellness

Ginger + Garlic Infused Honey

Anti-microbial / Anti-viral Helper

Garlic & Ginger Infused Honey

March 16, 2020 by Sarah Luikart in recipes

I’ve been baking, cooking, parenting, and doing a lot of hiking and walking in the wake of the mandated social distancing we are all experiencing with the coronavirus. My friends at Nimbo Alto asked me to contribute to their See/Make/Do newsletter and I decided to make something in the kitchen that would act as a gentle anti-viral and anti-microbial helper for our current times. This recipe for infused honey is so easy and I love it as a vehicle for loads of garlic. Raw Honey has anti-microbial properties of its own, and when you combine it with the warming spice of ginger - a wonderful herb for aiding digestion - and garlic, which also has major anti-microbial action, you have a powerful immune concoction on your counter. Garlic acts effectively upon bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The volatile oil is largely excreted through the lungs - which makes it especially useful in infections of the respiratory system (hello covid-19!). Garlic is a hot-natured food, so if you have a big problem with acid reflux, indigestion, or leaky guy it could be too irritating for your GI tract to handle when eaten whole. The good thing about this honey is that the garlic is only infused into it, making it easier for most people to consume without issue, and still retain the anti-viral benefits of this powerful herb. Our digestion is a pre-cursor to our immunity, and the sweet taste of honey activates the Earth element (realm of digestive organs), while ginger helps to keep that digestive fire burning. I use this honey by the spoonful as an immune tonic - mixed into a cup of warm water with lemon is the easiest option. A Garlic Ginger Lemonade recipe is also included here, which is especially soothing for stomach bugs or food poisoning - but is adaptable for many immune situations. I find comfort in these small ways of supporting our bodies during stressful times.

garlic ginger infused honey immunity antiviral

Ginger & Garlic Infused Honey //

1 C raw honey (a runnier raw honey is best here, rather than a very thick one)

5 garlic cloves, peeled

1.5” piece of ginger root, sliced into thin strips (about 6 slices)

Place ginger and garlic into a sealable jar like a canning jar, and cover completely with the honey. Close the jar and place the honey mixture in a shady spot on your counter. Leave it there for at least 6-7 days (up to 2 weeks), shaking the jar daily, whenever you see it. Strain out the herbs and keep the honey in the pantry as usual. Honey is naturally preservative and this mix will stay good for a long time (some say indefinitely).

Garlic Ginger Lemonade by the glass //

Combine 1 TBSP of the infused honey with 1/2 C hot water into a measuring cup, stir to combine well until the honey dissolves. Add juice of 1 whole lemon. Add more filtered water (another 1/2 C or so, room temp or cold) into the cup and stir well again. Pour over ice into a large glass and serve immediately. Some fresh ginger juice is also really nice for an extra kick - grate 1” of a ginger knob and then, with your hand, squeeze the juice from the grated ginger root straight into your glass.

Extra immune add-in:

1 tsp Astragalus powder (to the warm water step, stir until dissolved) - Astragalus is an adaptogenic herb good for stress, but especially for how stress affects our immune system. Astragalus is only recommended to use preventatively - not for acute illness - but that being said, is a powerful herb to build qi and blood and prevent respiratory illness.

garlic ginger lemonade infused honey immune antimicrobial

Take care out there!

March 16, 2020 /Sarah Luikart
garlic, ginger, honey, antiviral, antimicrobial, immunesupport, immunity
recipes
With 〰️Inside | Out〰️ today we are focusing on a staple ingredient for fall - Manuka honey.  Honey is a wonderful antidote to dry autumn wind and Vata season. Its moist, viscous, sweet nature balances the light airiness of this season and helps us s…

With 〰️Inside | Out〰️ today we are focusing on a staple ingredient for fall - Manuka honey.
Honey is a wonderful antidote to dry autumn wind and Vata season. Its moist, viscous, sweet nature balances the light airiness of this season and helps us stay lubricated and grounded, similar to oil.
Manuka honey in particular is a powerful anti-microbial / anti-bacterial / anti-viral agent with bio-active hydrogen peroxide, and an active factor of 10➕or more will be best for fighting active pathogens in the body.
Honey is a sweet qi tonic and Earth element food. One of the best things it can do for us in fall is to moisten dryness - of the lungs (cough), intestines (constipation), and skin - what we call the outer lung (roughness and eczema). The Lung & Large Intestine happen to be the 2 organs associated with autumn, so honey is a must-have item in rotation for everyone right now!

Here is a manuka honey paste I make at some point every fall to help fight illness - especially in the sore throat/ cough/ cold category. It’s a great immune booster and will provide your body plenty of ammunition to fight pathogens when you need it!
Warrior Honey:
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh grated ginger
1 tsp turmeric powder
A couple grinds of black pepper
2-3 tbsp manuka honey
Mix all ingredients together in a jar or bowl with a small whisk and seal tightly, store in fridge.
Use 2 tsp of this honey mixture diluted in hot water or ginger tea, up to 2x/day.
Or swallow a spoonful straight in desperate times.

Learn more about the amazing powers of Manuka & how to use it for your healthiest skin ever over @neuskinaustin. 🍂🍯💗.
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#medicinekitchen #metalseason #chinesemedicine #fiveelements #insideoutforwomen #beautyfromwithin #naturalbeauty #naturalhealing #holistichealth #innerbeauty #fallhealth #autumnvibes #immunesupport #manukahoney #healingfoods #foodtherapy #nutritionaltherapy #medicinalherbs
(at Austin, Texas)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BprcmDZlhKn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=so8iiaayv6kw

Inside Out: Warrior Honey

November 02, 2018 by Sarah Luikart
November 02, 2018 /Sarah Luikart
medicinekitchen, metalseason, chinesemedicine, fiveelements, insideoutforwomen, beautyfromwithin, naturalbeauty, naturalhealing, holistichealth, innerbeauty, fallhealth, autumnvibes, immunesupport, manukahoney, healingfoods, foodtherapy, nutritionaltherapy, medicinalherbs
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Talking about packing nutritious food + health aides for travel in stories today. 👆🏻👆🏻Getting vacation ready. 😎.
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#medicinekitchen #herbalmedicine #travelbag #travelsnacks #healthathome #healthytravels #immunesupport #digestivehealth #well…

Talking about packing nutritious food + health aides for travel in stories today. 👆🏻👆🏻Getting vacation ready. 😎.
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#medicinekitchen #herbalmedicine #travelbag #travelsnacks #healthathome #healthytravels #immunesupport #digestivehealth #wellnesstips #healthykidsfood #packyourlunch #lunchbots #foodforflight (at Austin, Texas)

July 25, 2018 by Sarah Luikart
July 25, 2018 /Sarah Luikart
foodforflight, healthathome, packyourlunch, digestivehealth, wellnesstips, herbalmedicine, healthytravels, immunesupport, travelsnacks, healthykidsfood, lunchbots, travelbag, medicinekitchen
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A little for them. A little for me. Are any of you still dealing with on & off (or even constant) sickness this season? I keep hearing stories, seeing all the kids out of school, and keep trying to protect my own family after we had the flu a fe…

A little for them. A little for me. Are any of you still dealing with on & off (or even constant) sickness this season? I keep hearing stories, seeing all the kids out of school, and keep trying to protect my own family after we had the flu a few weeks ago. This is a cycle that becomes incredibly frustrating for families. Please remember, getting sick does not mean you failed at something. Here’s a little pick me up juice we’ve been making to keep our immunity and spirits up. ☀️ 1 C organic Pineapple juice / 2 small celery ribs / ~3 in. length of cucumber / few large basil leaves / squeeze of lime juice / probiotic powder / 1 tsp ginger (or few dashes ginger powder). Tons of vitamin C in here. Tons of anti-inflammation. Probiotics to keep our guts strong. Some ginger to also fire up the digestion —-> which helps the immune/respiratory system.
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#healingfoods #foodtherapy #intuitiveeating #superfoods #bromelain #holistichealth #holisticnutrition #juicerecipes #immunesupport #immunetonic #kidshealth #immunityboost #therapeuticfoods #vitaminc #plantmedicine #selfcare

February 12, 2018 by Sarah Luikart
February 12, 2018 /Sarah Luikart
foodtherapy, therapeuticfoods, kidshealth, superfoods, immunityboost, selfcare, vitaminc, holisticnutrition, immunetonic, bromelain, immunesupport, intuitiveeating, juicerecipes, healingfoods, holistichealth, plantmedicine
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