This is the season for stuffy noses, persistent coughs and sore throats. So even if you try, you end up getting these annoying symptoms. If unfortunately you did not manage to avoid catching a cold, here are some tips to ease this common disease at this time of the year:

 

  1. Carrot Syrup  – This homemade tip is a fairly easy recipe that will sweeten and comfort your day:

1/2 carrot; 4 tablespoons of yellow sugar; 2 dessert spoons of eucalyptus honey*.

Wash, peel and cut the carrot into slices (as thin as you can). Add the sugar and the honey and let it rest for 24 hours.

 

  1. Onion Peel Infusion – Want an onion recipe that will not leave you in tears? Here it is:

3 dried figs*, 1 litre of water, peel of 1 onion lemon Peel (to taste); 4 tablespoons of eucalyptus honey*.

Bring the mixture to a boil then simmer to reduce the liquid by half.

 

  1. Magic Shoes – It might not be comfortable or seem smelly, but believe in the detoxing & healing properties of the onion to release the pain in your body. We advise you to put slices of onion in your socks when you go to sleep, to allow a well-rested & healing sleep.

 

  1. Miracle Fruit – To soothe a sore throat, slice an apple, cover it with honey* and let it infuse for 3 minutes. The fruit will reduce the inflammation while the honey smoothes and relaxes the discomfort.

 

  1. Tipsy Tea – To ease flu symptoms prepare this infusion before going to sleep & cover yourself with warm blankets: Orange and Ginger infusion*, 1 tablespoon of honey*, lemon peel (to taste) and 1 shot of firewater.*

 

  1. The Purifying Incense – Scent the air of your home and relieve nasal congestion. Burn dried bay leaf as if it were incense. The essential oils prevent coughs and bronchitis.

 

  1. Food for the Soul – Who refuses chicken soup when feeling ill? Well it is, without shadow of a doubt, one of the best dishes to comfort body and soul:

1 litre of water; 1 small onion; 1 bay leaf; chicken with the skin; salt and pepper to taste.

Let everything boil until the chicken is tender, add small pasta for soup and let it cook or about 12 minutes. Add mint leaves and a squeeze of lemon juice.

 

Mar d’Estórias wishes you a speedy recovery!

 

 

Did you Know: Why we say “bless you” when someone sneezes? In old times people used to think that a sneeze was a way of the devil emerging from the body, so to bless the sneeze would allow us to drive the Devil away.

 

* Products for sale at Mar d’Estórias:

Eucalyptus honey (Meis de Portugal da Apisland) 

Orange and Ginger infusion (Lisbon Tea Co)

Fig firewater (From Algarve)