An excellent remedy for the cold season, this simple blend of raw garlic and raw honey is quick to make and surprisingly tasty. While I love garlic, the idea of eating even one clove of raw garlic straight does not appeal to me, no matter how good for you it is. However, this simple combination makes huge amounts of raw garlic very palatable.
I first made this when I had been sick for a few days and none of my normal remedies (nettle tea, rest, neti pot, gargling with salt water, avoiding sugar) were doing the trick. I was just not getting better, until the morning I made this. I ended up eating an entire head of raw garlic that morning, and immediately felt so much better that I made and ate a second head of garlic honey that afternoon.
My illness was gone, and I just felt good. I continue making garlic honey regularly now, even when healthy, just because I like it! Here is the recipe:
Peel and mash one head of garlic. You can mince it finely if you don't have a garlic press. Stir together with about half the volume of raw honey, until it forms a thick paste. I use about one teaspoon of honey for maybe 7 cloves of garlic, but you can use as much as equal parts garlic and honey if you are worried about the taste. Let this mixture sit for several minutes, give another quick stir, and then eat in tiny spoonfuls whenever you want, as often as you like.
This will keep safely on the counter for a couple of days, or in the fridge for longer.
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Garlic Honey, An Effective Cold Remedy
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ReplyI just chop the garlic very finely and swallow it with water. We've had no honey from our hives this year, and I don't feel very good about eating commercial honey. Here's how we make it work: http://anniekateshomeschoolreviews.com/2012/02/fighting-colds-and-the-flu-with-garlic/
ReplyI can eat raw garlic, I rather like raw garlic. However, I can imagine that few people want to get even remotely up close and personal when I have eaten it. I just can't get my tastebuds around garlic and honey. I know the therapeutic benefits of both but my gut says not together. But until I've tried it I'm not in any position to question. So tomorrow I try garlic and honey. I'll report back :)
ReplyYou're right, it seems like a weird combination. But plenty of things are sweet and spicy! Somehow, honey takes the sting out of it.
ReplyHi! I'm stopping by from Poor and Gluten Free's party. Garlic honey is a great idea. I'm going to pin this so I don't forget it if someone catches a cold here. Thanks!
ReplyFound you from Healthy 2day. I just got over a sinus cold and used several natural remedies, but I am still learning. I will for sure try this! Thank you so much. :) Claire
ReplyI have a friend from Brazil who swears by this. I haven't tried it because I reek of Garlic when I eat to much of it. People (dh) complain. I love the stuff. Hahaha! Charlie @pickledokra.blogspot.com
ReplyIf you roast the garlic it will still be good for you, if the taste is an issue :) Roasted garlic cloves spread onto chunky bread, or toast, is delicious! Especially with a bit of balsamic and oil - if you olive oil you get the omega-3 fatty acids to also help with overall wellbeing.
ReplyLove your blog! Thanks so much for sharing this, too. Definitely going to try it!
ReplyDee @ gypsyveganmama.blogspot.com
Hope you are having a great weekend and thank you so much for sharing your awesome recipe with Full Plate Thursday.
ReplyCome Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Hmm this is an interesting idea, might have to try it next time I have a cold. Thanks for sharing on the weekend re-Treat link party.
ReplyBritni @ Play. Party. Pin.
3 weeks ago we ate alot of garlic and honey. We are now all healthy.
ReplyGreat idea. I can see making a small canning jar full of this mixture to have around during cold season!
ReplyVisiting from Natural Living Monday...
This is a wonderful idea! Thanks for linking up with "Try a New Recipe Tuesday." I hope you will be able to join us again this week. http://our4kiddos.blogspot.com/2013/10/try-new-tuesday-october-29.html
ReplyThis is a wonderful, natural remedy for cold symptoms. I always rely on natural remedies for cold and flu, so I will definitely include this in my arsenal. I am so glad I found this post on Natural Living Mondays. I am going to pin this to my Natural Remedies board!
ReplyHmmm.... you've almost convinced me to try this next time I have a cold! I'm well aware of the therapeutic benefits of garlic, but absolutely hate raw garlic. I might have to try this. Might ;) Thanks for linking up to Healthy 2Day Wednesday!
ReplyGood to know! Thanks for sharing this with us at the HomeAcre Hop! We'd love to have you back again this morning.
ReplyI have got to be honest, I gag every time I tried this! It is a great remedy but blegh. I just take the garlic, crush it, and swallow it like a pill then drink some tea with honey. Tastes great with less gagging. ;) Thanks for sharing on Natural Living Monday!
ReplyThank you for sharing - I am always looking for ways to make garlic more palatable for our kiddos!!
ReplyWe use this method too! Thanks for sharing on Tuesday Greens!
ReplyOur family has kicked colds by making a honey, lemon, garlic hot drink which is actually quite delish! Works pretty well too!
ReplyI have a hard time digesting raw garlic (as in, the taste will stay in my mouth for many hours after eating it and I belch it up)...Do you think mixing it with honey would combat this and make it more digestible? I do fine with cooked garlic, but even too much of that and I will belch it up and have a garlicky taste in my mouth for awhile...Help?
ReplyYou might find the same issue with this! I would try a half a clove in a teaspoon honey, and let it sit for an hour at room temp so the honey can do its magic, before you eat it.
ReplyHello! I think this is a great idea and I plan to try this method. I actually did the other method before where I placed the entire clove into the honey inside a jar to infuse and it still sits in my fridge as I speak (made it a few months ago). I had the intention of using it as medicine until my In-laws scared me out of using it Both my husbands parents are from the mountains of vietnam and both protested that I would probably "die" if I take honey & garlic together because a girl in their country used the garlic &nd honey infusion to commit suicide after a bad break-up. So I feel a little skeptical about it ,, not that I necesarily believe them though but its a scary thought in a way...
ReplyI've had enough of this minced garlic in honey (I really like it!) to know that it's not going to assist anyone in a post-breakup suicide! An intact, whole clove in honey might be a little too intense for me, but I still don't believe it could do any actual damage. I think you're safe!
ReplyIt is 4am and I've given up trying to sleep. Just made myself some toast with 2 minced cloves of garlic spread on them with honey to make a toasted garlic sandwhich and chasing that down with a honey and cinnamon tea. It's amazing how much better I feel already. I try to avoid bread, but that was the only way I could think of getting raw garlic into me. Might try doing your method again mid morning and see how that does me. I do have a very garlicky mouth now though. Might have to go and brush my tea once I've finished the tea.
ReplyI've been looking online all day for home remedies to treat my cold. I tried everything from ACV, cayenne, lemon and honey shots to steaming showers with vapor rub and nothing worked. I thought I'd give this a try as one last desperate plea. I let the garlic honey sit for maybe 15 mins, had some echinacea tea close by to help this go down smoother, and dove right into the spoonfuls. It felt really tingly at first in my stomach but after about 5 mins, I got up with this renewed energy and started to do some chores- something I had to begrudgingly postpone to help with my healing. I never would've thought about eating raw garlic, but thanks to this post, I have to now share this with all my family and friends. I can not thank you enough!!
ReplyI had a cold yesterday. mixed honey, garlic and fresh lemon juice and drank my concoction. I am totally cured today!
ReplyGreat post! Been reading a lot about different methods for avoiding a cold. Thanks for the info here!
ReplyThank you so very much for posting this. Very helpful!
ReplyFor the bad breath from the garlic, I take fresh parsley and work like a charm.
ReplyThanks a lot. I'm gonna try it.
ReplyWhat an interesting idea--and I'm sure the bad breath caused by this recipe would do wonders to keep people away so as to not spread the virus! My aunt has been running out of home remedies for her children who have been sick for a few days now! I wonder if she has ever heard of this one before! http://modernemergentcare.com/urgent-care-center-and-emergent-care-center/
ReplyI love garlic. Better to have garlic breath than be sick! :)
ReplyNo, unfortunately cooking garlic inactivates its antibacterial properties. But eating it raw is difficult.
ReplyReally works.. simply chop fine of garlic then put a honey together in a mug then mix it with hot water...
ReplyI eat a lot of garlic as is i eat the peeled clove lik it is but a couple of days ago i had a sote throat and had run out of garlic I'm going to try this as a cough syrup see if it helps. Last november i had pneumonia
ReplyI find it easier on my stomach if I swallow it & not chew it. When I chew it, my stomach does flip flops for about 20 minutes.
ReplyIf you use hot water you take away the benefits of raw garlic. Using hot water cooks it a little of which you DONT want to do. Raw is much much much more potent.
ReplyDo not add heat (no hot water, no microwave, etc) of any kind... if you want the full potent effect of raw garlic. Once heated (even for 10 seconds in the microwave) you've killed the effectiveness of eating raw garlic. Nowhere in the original post did it say to add hot water or microwave. Buuut... If you do add hot water or heat it will just take longer to kick your cold. It will still help but just not as much as eating raw.
ReplyMy Grandmother eats raw garlic and rarely gets sick, she's 96 now. I tried the recipe with honey today, in hopes of getting rid of a cold that's creeping in, it didn't go so well. Within 5 minutes, I had intense stomach cramps and burning. Then became sick to my stomach. I won't be trying that again!
ReplyOkay, so I am trying this garlic thing. Just so you know I am full blooded Italian. Raw garlic doesn't bother me. With that said, I still never ate it by itself raw.
ReplyI have a cold and decided to give it a try this morning. I took an avacado and a big spoonful of chopped garlic. Salt and pepper. Lemon juice and olive oil. Man it was good. Other then my wife telling me im sleeping upstairs tonight.
So for lunch I will have garlic knots and a plate of pasta with raw garlic and grated cheese. This is very easy for me as I own pizzerias.
Immediately after I ate the avacado with garlic I am starting to feel better. Not cured, but better. I will keep you updated.
You're right- honey and garlic should both be raw and unheated for this to work :)
ReplyThose sound like especially delicious ways of having raw garlic :D
ReplyThanks for sharing. My kids would probably like those combinations better than the garlic honey, which can be too much for them. Or maybe they don't like the sweet/garlic combo.
I eat my raw garlic in homemade no cook salsa!
ReplyI'll be trying this soon!
Thanks!
Michelle
This is so interesting! I'll have to try that!
ReplyWould love to have you share this at our Dishing It & Digging It Link Party! Live every Sunday @ 4pm.
http://www.thestonybrookhouse.com/2016/08/dishing-it-digging-it-link-party-109.html
We cut up garlic and swallow it like pills when we sick in this house, with a bit of vit c or a spoon of honey. We swear by it, it is amazing how it works!
ReplyI've always loved eating raw garlic. Usually have minced, with cheese and nuts (walnut or peacan). I stink afterwards, so I don't do it too often. But I'm sick....and thought to try raw garlic and raw honey together. I was shocked how the honey calmed down the fire-like taste of the garlic. Made it really easy to eat. Now, I'm just trying to figure out how effect it is. ☺
Reply"To date, there is no human research evaluating the use of garlic in combination with honey to treat the common cold. A September 2013 article in the "Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine" reported that a combination of garlic and honey inhibited growth of some disease-causing bacteria in the laboratory. Effectiveness against bacteria, however, often doesn't apply to viruses. Additionally, human studies are lacking."
Replyhttp://www.livestrong.com/article/152320-cold-remedies-using-garlic-honey/
Garlic is my first preference when I need to cure whiteheads overnight. I know you are not going to believe me but this is true. I have used this many times and this is very effective way to cure face related lot of problems. Health benefits of garlic are numerous and raw garlic is very good for digestion. If you want to know more about health benefits of raw garlic , you can visit this site.
ReplyI woke up every two hours all night long – sneezing, coughing and filling up two trash cans with Kleenex. This works for me..Addiction center Indianapolis
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