The Chinese Material Medica is a collection of natural substances with known medicinal uses. This knowledge has been a collection for thousands of years and the full list totals more than 5000 plant, animal and mineral items. Here in the West, we make use of about 450 different substances and design formulas using herbal medical theory that allows us to synergetically amplify the healing properties of the herbs. BUT many common foods, herbs and spices are found in the Chinese pharmacopia and it’s fun and very useful to be able to create kitchen medicine from these easy-to-find items.

As this year’s cold and flu season drags on, I have some kitchen medicine for you to try: Honey Garlic Tea or Cough Syrup.

Both honey and garlic are known antibacterials, but there is a little more to them. Honey also coats and soothes the throat and works as a cough suppressant. Garlic actually has an antimicrobial effect against bacteria and viruses like influenza. Garlic will also warm the interior of the body and breaks up phlegm. If you have raw ginger around, that would be a nice addition, but almost any kitchen has the two staples, honey and garlic, available at a moment’s notice.

Honey Garlic Tea

4 cups water
4 garlic cloves
1 tbsp. honey

Boil the water. Peel and crush the garlic cloves with the flat side of a knife and put in a container with the honey. Pour the water over the garlic and steep for 10-15 minutes. You can remove the garlic and add more honey if you like. Bundle up and sip.

Honey Garlic Syrup

If you want something prepped and ready to go, you can peel and crush 2 entire heads of garlic and put in a jar with 1 1/2 cups of honey (enough honey to cover the top of the garlic). You can use this in about 2 days, but it will reach full potency after about 4 weeks. At the first signs of cold or flu, dissolve a teaspoon in hot water and you have instant Honey Garlic Tea.

Or, you can take a teaspoon of this by itself as a cough suppressant and to break up phlegm. Studies have shown honey is as good a cough suppressant as OTC products.* Finally, if you are really feeling inspired, eat the garlic.

*Please remember there is always a time and place for anti-bacterials and anti-virals, but using something like Honey Garlic Tea in the earliest stages of an attack can reduce the need for these strong medicines.