Ailment: Cough

Remedy: Ginger tea

Take a piece of fresh ginger, the size of your thumbnail, or bigger if you like your tea strong. Crush it, put it in a mug and fill with hot or boiling water. Leave it to steep for 5 minutes.

Fresh ginger is available at most grocers and Asian stores. Dried ginger powder has different properties and is not as effective. Similarly, ginger tea bags are not very effective.

Comment posted by Donna of Hamilton , North Island, New Zealand on 12 August 2014 at 20:58       2790

YES
I have been making ginger tea by grating a good amount into a pot filled with water and simmering on the stove. I strain out the ginger and store in a glass container in the fridge. Every night and every morning for about 3 weeks I have been sipping on this tea which is quite strong in flavour (warmed in a pot on the stove) with about 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric stirred in. I am lucky as I enjoy the taste and the warming sensation. I have just googled ginger and depression to see if it is known to help lift spirits because this has been an unexpected side effect! Although the reason I started with this routine was to reduce pleghm in attempt to rid a chronic cough I've had for years...(I am definitely coughing less and I am even able to sleep on my back again which I haven't been able to do as a result of post nasal drip I've had for years) My mood has definitely lifted with this routine, it's easy and inexpensive...thumbs up for these wonderful healing spices!
Update the next day: After googling the other element of my ginger tonic, turmeric, I am now thinking this is more likely the mood elevating component...apparently some studies show turmeric is more effective than Prozac.