The Best Cold Home Remedy: A Nice, Steaming Cup of… Orange Juice?

Some of the best cures for common ailments like colds or headaches are surprising and strange combinations of easy-to-find foods.

Raisins soaked in gin have been known to relieve arthritis symptoms, and a mix of cow dung and molasses supposedly reduces migraine pain. Yes, cow dung.

A common trick to relieving cold symptoms and clearing up sinuses, especially in Latin countries, is a steaming hot cup of orange juice and other spices.

Hot Orange Juice Recipe for Colds

The hot orange juice drink is almost as simple to make as a cup of tea. This easy-to-make quality is good because when you realize how well it works, you’ll want to make five a day.

Ingredients

Get together the following ingredients for your hot orange juice drink:

Orange Juice
Herbal Tea
Honey or Sugar
Cinnamon
Ginger
Cloves
Orange Slices

Now, let’s make your hot orange juice.

To make this magical tea, boil water and prepare a teabag. Herbal tea is best for this drink. I like to use chamomile!
Microwave about a cup or so of orange juice until warm.
Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the orange slices.
Stir the orange juice.
When the water boils, fill a mug with the teabag about halfway or a little more.
Pour the orange juice mixture into the tea, let steep for about two minutes, and enjoy!

If you want, plop the orange slices into the mug to add to the citrus smell. Some people also add a dash of tabasco to help open up their sinuses.

The Science

So, does this drink actually help? Let’s break down the health benefits of the ingredients included.

Orange Juice

OJ is loaded with vitamin C, which helps boost your immune system and reduce the risk of disease. The boost of Vitamin C helps your immune system fight off the cold more quickly.

Herbal Tea

Tea is a relaxing, comforting drink that makes many people feel better when they are sick all on its own. If you haven’t experienced the effects for yourself, most people will tell you is a steaming hot cup of tea is excellent during a cold.

Honey

Honey has antibacterial properties that can help fight off infections. Like orange juice, honey is high in antioxidants and nutrients.

Ginger, Cinnamon, and Cloves

Ginger, cinnamon, and cloves all help reduce cold and flu symptoms with their medicinal properties. Ginger is also known to:

Reduce nausea
Alleviate symptoms of osteoarthritis
Reduce blood pressure
Reduce cholesterol
Improve brain function

Both ginger and cinnamon have intense medicinal properties that work to boost your immune system and reduce the risk of infection. The high levels of nutrients and antioxidants found in all three spices work with the orange juice to increase immune functions and end the cold quicker.

Final Thoughts

Most people think of an ice-cold, fresh-squeezed glass of orange liquid when they think of OJ. However, this strange concoction takes the juice in a different direction.

This blend of tea, orange juice, and spices will kick your next cold to the curb and help get you through a sniffly day.