When you feel the first tickle in your throat or that familiar wave of fatigue creeping in, your first instinct might be to reach for cold medicine.

But while those over-the-counter remedies may temporarily mask symptoms, they don’t do much to support your body’s ability to fight illness. Instead of relying on a quick fix, why not give your immune system the natural boost it needs?

I typically catch a cold once or twice a year, and when I do, this nourishing tonic is my go-to remedy. Even if I just start to feel a little off—whether it’s a scratchy throat, a runny nose, or general fatigue—this recipe often stops illness in its tracks. I’ve relied on this supercharged, virus-fighting elixir for years, and it never fails to provide relief.

How Do These Ingredients Work?

Lemon, ginger, turmeric, and honey are some of nature’s most powerful healing ingredients. Together, they create a potent combination that not only soothes your symptoms but also helps fight off bacteria and viruses before they take hold.

These ingredients have been used for centuries in traditional medicine for their antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Here’s a little brief on how they work:

Lemon: lemons decrease the strength of cold and flu viruses in the body. It also helps reduce phlegm thanks to the citric acid that helps break down thick mucus. Lemons are anti-bacterial and anti-viral, and super high in vitamin C to help support the body’s natural defences.

Ginger: gingers’ active ingredients like gingerols and gingerdiols are effective in reducing some symptoms of viral infections. It is a potent anti-viral, and makes a warming cold and flu remedy. Ginger also works as an effective anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce inflammation of the sinuses and aches and pains in the body.