The Dao Does…The Best Honey Onion Syrup Recipe to Boost Your Immune System ~
This Honey & Onion folk recipe has been a generational cold and flu recipe amongst Naturopathic, Homeopathic and Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries.
I often recommended this easy-to-make recipe as a first point of call to help with seasonal colds and flu as it is easy to make and utilises pantry staples to effectively help soothe a sore throat and cough, clear mucus from the airway and support the immune system.
Ingredients ~
1 cup of raw manuka honey.
2-3 onions, thinly sliced (Organic if possible)
Optional
Garlic Cloves x 2-3
Sliced Fresh Turmeric x 2-3
Sliced Ginger x 2-3
There are two methods that can be used to create this immunity syrup; method 1 involves steeping raw onions in honey for several days to allow them to soften, whilst method-2 is fast-tracked via softening the onions in honey warmed on the stovetop, which will be discussed below.
Please note, honey is not safe for children under 1 year of age.
How Does the Syrup Work?
Honey, garlic and onion have been used for centuries in the treatment and prevention of the common cold, cough, congestion and respiratory issues.
Manuka honey is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and a powerful antioxidant; it is particularly useful for soothing a dry and sore throat. In Chinese medicine, honey is often used in the preparation of herbal medicine to aid the body’s digestion of medicinal ingredients; its nature is sweet and moistening and is useful for clearing pathogenic heat and toxins from the body and combating dryness.
Garlic and Onions are acrid and sweet in nature in Chinese medicine and help to soothe irritated throats. The sulfuric compounds found in onions and garlic help to reduce inflammation and clear mucus from the airways acting as an expectorant. Onions also contain antioxidant quercetin which helps to reduce inflammation.
Turmeric contains curcumin which is anti-inflammatory, naturally antiseptic and a powerful antioxidant. In Chinese Medicine, Tumeric is bitter in nature and facilitates the movement of qi and blood, expelling wind and resolving pain.
Ginger is a super anti-oxidant and is anti-inflammatory in nature, it is one of the most commonly used herbal ingredients in Chinese medicine. Its nature is warming and benefits the lung in Chinese medicine, expelling colds, reducing fever, warming the digestive system, reducing nausea and clearing and drying mucus from the lung.
How To Make the Recipe
1. Peel and finely slice the onions and then add them to a medium-sized pot.
2. Add 2-3 chopped or crushed garlic cloves, ginger and turmeric. (if desired)
3. Pour the honey over the onions, garlic, ginger and turmeric, the ingredients do not need to be completely submerged, just enough honey to coat them completely.
4. Place the medium-sized pot over low heat for 1-2 hours and stir occasionally until the onions begin to soften; the honey should feel warm to the touch but not overly hot.
5. Allow syrup to cool and transfer to a glass jar for storage.
The immunity syrup can be stored for up to 1 week in the fridge and consumed at a dosage of ½-1 tsp every 1-2 hours as soon as cold and flu symptoms start.
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By Clarice Berry
BHlthSc (TCM), MRepMed (current)