Home remedies: hot lemon for a cold
The tradition: The lemon is popular worldwide in self-medication, as a vitamin C donor, against infections or for revitalization. No wonder: it is available in most households or easy to obtain, cheap in price and tastes good. The »hot lemon« is the second best-known household remedy in Germany – after the head steam bath for inhalation and before honey, chamomile tea and chicken soup.
That’s what science says: It is used for colds. The warm drink with lemon juice and honey combines various active principles: healing ingredients, as well as heat, supply of liquid and finally wetting the throat mucosa through slow, sips of drinking. Lemons contain many vitamins, minerals and trace elements, as well as essential oil, pectin and citric acid. Honey is an energy source due to the sugar, it also contains antibacterial substances, including enzymes. Some of these are sensitive to heat. Vitamin C is also decomposed at high temperatures. Therefore, lemon and honey should not be poured with boiling hot water, but with warm water.
Recipe: Put the juice of half a lemon and 1 teaspoon of honey in a mug (150 ml), pour in boiled, slightly cooled water. Stir. Drink sips. Can be complemented with a strip of lemon peel (organic, washed) or some fresh ginger or ginger juice.