Homemade Natural Spicy Cider Decongestant and Expectorant

Homemade Natural Spicy Cider Decongestant and Expectorant


Our bodies react more fiercely to protect us when we're ill. Antiseptic enzymes and antibodies rise in conjunction with mucus production. In an effort to reduce the number of germs and hinder the entry of new ones, our noses run. A cold or other general illness can cause narrowed, inflamed nasal passages, which, when combined with an increase in mucus, can lead to some incredibly uncomfortable days and nights. It is likely that you have extra mucus in your chest if you are not only allergic to anything but also have a cold or sinusitis. An expectorant and decongestant that is entirely natural is here to save the day (and night).
 

Ingredients: Cayenne pepper, honey, lemon juice, ginger, apple cider vinegar.

 

Decongestant: Thins out mucous, making it less likely you’ll get a really stuffed up nose/reduces mucous production.

 

Expectorant: It helps “expel” the mucous by loosening it up and making it easier to cough up.

 

Why the ingredients?: Cayenne pepper, honey, and ginger are all natural expectorants, meaning they help loosen phlegm or mucous from the lungs, making it easier to rid yourself of it and therefore relieving pressure and making you more comfortable.

Cayenne also works as a decongestant, thanks to the natural chemical capsaicin, which helps relieve swelling and inflammation that is narrowing nasal passages.

Apple cider vinegar is thought to help thin out mucous being secreted, making it easier to drain the congestion. Lemon juice is also thought to help with congestion, although the exact scientific reason isn’t known, and makes the whole thing go down a little easier.

 

You will need…
– ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper
– ½ teaspoon of powdered ginger
– 3 tablespoons of all natural organic honey
– 1/4 cup of lemon juice
– 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar


Directions

Pour ¼ cup of lemon juice and ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar in pot and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in 2-3 tablespoons of raw organic honey and ¼-½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper and powdered ginger each (the latter amount makes it quite strong.) Store in a jar in a cool, dark, place indefinitely. Adults take 1-2 tablespoons daily as needed. Shake well before using, as the powder doesn’t dissolve in the most pristine way. I find it pleasant sometimes to warm the mixture before taking it.


One of my least favorite sensations is waking up in the middle of the night with one side of my nose completely plugged up. The sensation is usually followed by frantically flipping from side to side to try and “drain” it, only to have the other side get blocked (I won’t even get started on all the crumpled, wasted, tissues that pile up as a permanent sign of my discomfort.) We’ve all been there, and nobody likes it. When I feel the onset of a stuffy nose, or wake up like this, I go the cupboard for my trusty jar of spicy cider syrup ASAP.

 

Tip on Decongestants
One thing to keep in mind-the best (almost) instant and natural decongestant out there is steam. If you’re in need of instant relief, hop in a hot shower or make a cup of tea/boil some water and breathe in the steam to thin out mucous so it drains easily. Have some tissues next to you!

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