A savvy home cook has revealed her quick fix recipe for soothing sore throats, swearing by one ‘miracle’ ingredient.
As winter approaches, many of us are likely to suffer colds and flu. There’s sadly no cure for the common cold, but we can certainly ease our suffering with good nutrition, plenty of rest, and self-care.
But when you come down with a cold, there are tricks to make it more tolerable. TikTok user Maty Harrington, known as @nutritiouslyeasy, shared her mother’s secret recipe after waking up with a sore throat.
“The other morning I woke up with a sore throat, not fully sick, but my throat was definitely scratchy,” she explained. “Luckily I’m staying at my parents’ house and my mum told me to make this little wellness drink with the key ingredient being cloves.
“Cloves are the ultimate immune booster and super anti-viral. I’m not joking, one hour later my throat didn’t feel scratchy at all,” she added.
To make this comforting beverage, Maty combined ginger and cinnamon with four to six cloves, covered them in boiling water and let the mixture brew for a ten minutes. She then strained and enjoyed the drink like a cup of tea.
The viral clip has sparked a wave of comments, including health tips and other remedies for pain relief. One person remarked: “Tried salt water gargling yesterday and today but didn’t work… hoping this will! Just drank it! “.
Another suggested, “Add lemon and honey,” leading Maty to reply affirmatively: “great additions always! ! ” Someone else eager to find a solution added: “Omg I feel exactly like that and I’m going to try it ty.”
Renowned for their numbing properties, cloves have been used as natural painkillers for centuries. Toothpaste brand Colgate points out that clove oil can be used as a temporary pain relief for dental discomfort due to the presence of eugenol, which doubles up as an antibacterial.
“Eugenol is a natural anaesthetic and antibacterial agent, and it works well at reducing inflammation in the mouth,” their website read.
Healthline added the ingredient has other health benefits: “Research suggests that the compounds in cloves may have several health benefits, including supporting liver health and helping stabilise blood sugar levels.”