Sunday, October 20, 2013

Garlic Honey, An Effective Cold Remedy

garlic cloves

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. 

make garlic honey

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:

make garlic honey

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.

make garlic honey

This will keep safely on the counter for a couple of days, or in the fridge for longer. 

garlic honey

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Garlic Honey, An Effective Cold Remedy
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51 comments

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October 22, 2013 at 6:01 AM

I 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/

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Anonymous
October 22, 2013 at 4:02 PM

I 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 :)

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October 22, 2013 at 9:35 PM

You're right, it seems like a weird combination. But plenty of things are sweet and spicy! Somehow, honey takes the sting out of it.

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October 23, 2013 at 4:54 AM

Hi! 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!

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October 23, 2013 at 8:48 AM

Found 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

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October 24, 2013 at 7:16 PM

I 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

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October 25, 2013 at 4:35 PM

If 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.

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October 26, 2013 at 3:41 PM

Love your blog! Thanks so much for sharing this, too. Definitely going to try it!

Dee @ gypsyveganmama.blogspot.com

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October 26, 2013 at 4:20 PM

Hope you are having a great weekend and thank you so much for sharing your awesome recipe with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen

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October 26, 2013 at 11:26 PM

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.

Britni @ Play. Party. Pin.

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October 27, 2013 at 6:05 PM

3 weeks ago we ate alot of garlic and honey. We are now all healthy.

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October 28, 2013 at 6:13 AM

Great idea. I can see making a small canning jar full of this mixture to have around during cold season!
Visiting from Natural Living Monday...

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October 28, 2013 at 1:22 PM

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

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October 28, 2013 at 6:25 PM

This 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!

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October 28, 2013 at 6:36 PM

Hmmm.... 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!

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October 31, 2013 at 4:54 AM

Good to know! Thanks for sharing this with us at the HomeAcre Hop! We'd love to have you back again this morning.

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November 2, 2013 at 2:41 PM

I 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!

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November 5, 2013 at 12:51 PM

Thank you for sharing - I am always looking for ways to make garlic more palatable for our kiddos!!

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November 11, 2013 at 3:07 AM

We use this method too! Thanks for sharing on Tuesday Greens!

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November 20, 2013 at 9:27 PM

Our family has kicked colds by making a honey, lemon, garlic hot drink which is actually quite delish! Works pretty well too!

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Rebecca Engel
December 5, 2013 at 12:20 PM

I 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?

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December 5, 2013 at 12:30 PM

You 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.

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Anonymous
December 11, 2013 at 3:36 PM

Hello! 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...

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December 14, 2013 at 6:04 PM

I'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!

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January 6, 2014 at 8:24 PM

It 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.

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February 27, 2014 at 5:58 PM

I'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!!

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Anonymous
March 2, 2014 at 10:47 PM

I had a cold yesterday. mixed honey, garlic and fresh lemon juice and drank my concoction. I am totally cured today!

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May 23, 2014 at 8:09 AM

Great post! Been reading a lot about different methods for avoiding a cold. Thanks for the info here!

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August 22, 2014 at 7:40 PM

Thank you so very much for posting this. Very helpful!

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Anonymous
September 24, 2014 at 6:11 PM

For the bad breath from the garlic, I take fresh parsley and work like a charm.

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sabrina
October 29, 2014 at 5:22 AM

Thanks a lot. I'm gonna try it.

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February 13, 2015 at 6:38 PM

What 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/

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March 1, 2015 at 8:42 AM

I love garlic. Better to have garlic breath than be sick! :)

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Anonymous
April 9, 2015 at 8:36 AM

No, unfortunately cooking garlic inactivates its antibacterial properties. But eating it raw is difficult.

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Anonymous
August 13, 2015 at 2:13 PM

Really works.. simply chop fine of garlic then put a honey together in a mug then mix it with hot water...

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October 30, 2015 at 2:29 PM

I 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

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Anonymous
December 10, 2015 at 9:18 PM

I 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.

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February 5, 2016 at 4:45 AM

If 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.

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February 5, 2016 at 4:57 AM

Do 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.

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February 8, 2016 at 1:03 PM

My 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!

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June 29, 2016 at 5:47 AM

Okay, 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.
I 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.

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June 29, 2016 at 3:00 PM

You're right- honey and garlic should both be raw and unheated for this to work :)

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June 29, 2016 at 3:02 PM

Those sound like especially delicious ways of having raw garlic :D
Thanks 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.

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August 14, 2016 at 7:43 AM

I eat my raw garlic in homemade no cook salsa!
I'll be trying this soon!
Thanks!
Michelle

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August 14, 2016 at 3:45 PM

This is so interesting! I'll have to try that!
Would 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

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August 15, 2016 at 1:16 PM

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!

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NT
January 7, 2017 at 6:56 AM

I'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. ☺

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Anonymous
February 24, 2017 at 2:11 AM

"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."

http://www.livestrong.com/article/152320-cold-remedies-using-garlic-honey/

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March 20, 2017 at 5:10 AM

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.

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January 29, 2018 at 9:30 PM

I 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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