WASHINGTON 鈥斅燭he key to fighting聽that cold or flu you caught may be in closer reach than you think. Hint:聽Check the kitchen.
Alexandra Khouri, founder and owner of in Vienna, Virginia, says she tells her clients to use what they have at home to help battle聽winter illnesses like colds and the flu.
鈥淲e use a lot of plant-based and food items in our herbal remedies,鈥� says聽Khouri, who is also a聽licensed acupuncturist, herbalist and hypnotherapist.
Khouri practices聽Chinese medicine, a tradition聽that traces back more聽than 2,000 years, to treat ailments using different methods like聽acupuncture and herbal remedies. In the United States, Chinese medicine聽is considered a聽. According to聽the ,聽about 33 percent of American adults and 11 percent of children used complementary and alternative medicine in 2012.
While it may be easier to reach for the medicine cabinet, combating common illnesses the natural way pays off, Khouri says.
鈥淚t might take a week versus three days, but I find if you do natural remedies, you don鈥檛 get sick as much聽because your聽body learns how to fight the bacteria or virus.鈥�
Here are four foods and alternative remedies Khouri recommends:
Onions
Onions can be used to help fight off flus and viruses, Khouri says. The tear-jerking veggie helps clear phlegm and kill bacteria.
Khouri suggests two different remedies. The first is to cut an onion (white or green), put it in a bowl and place the bowl in your room for up to a week. The second option is to take a whole onion 鈥� without removing the skin 鈥� and place it in a bowl in your room for one month to three months.
The remedy works for babies, too. Khouri recommends placing the bowl of onion underneath the crib to help boost the聽baby’s聽immunity.
Ginger
For colds, Khouri recommends using fresh ginger. It helps reduce fevers, soothe the stomach, kill bacteria, strengthen the lungs and relieve coughs.
Khouri聽incorporates the ginger in a聽lemon honey tea. First, she peels off the ginger skin and聽cuts the ginger into small pieces. Second, she adds the ginger to water and boils it for three to five minutes. Lastly, she adds honey and a squeeze of lemon before drinking the hot tea.
Pears
Don’t underestimate the power of pears.
In聽Asia, pears are commonly used to soothe聽a sore throat and help the lungs remove聽bacteria, Khouri explains.
For cough relief, Khouri recommends聽baesuk, a steamed pear remedy that is widely used in Korea.
Steamed pear recipe:
1 Asian pear peeled and cored, or unpeeled
2 cups of water
1 tbsp. honey
1 piece of ginger
1 cinnamon stick
Directions: Peel the pear. Take out the pear’s core then fill the center of the pear with honey and ginger.聽Place the聽pear in a pot standing up. Add the cinnamon stick and water聽to the pot. Boil the pear in the water for about 30 minutes.聽Eat the pear and drink the boiled water.
Rice
When聽you have a stomach ache, chances are you’re not in the mood to eat much 鈥� and that’s OK.
Khouri’s advice is to grab the rice. The rice itself is a Chinese herb, she says, and聽helps with digestion issues. It also replenishes聽the body, especially after experiencing聽symptoms like diarrhea or聽vomiting.
Khouri suggests making a creamy porridge known as rice congee. The popular Chinese dish can be聽eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Rice congee recipe:
1 cup cooked rice
8 cups water聽(10 cups for less thickness)
Directions: Add the rice and water into a pot. Boil and stir for 45 minutes until it’s thick and creamy. Optional 鈥� Add onions, dates, ginger and chicken broth for flavor.
