La Chatte Gitane (or The Gypsy Cat) was the name we chose for our cottage in France at the time. We chose it while on the road, moving house the first time round, from Ireland to France with 2 dogs and 7 cats in the car.
This blog began its insignificant life as a recipe book for friends and family who would ask me repeatedly for a recipe of this, that and the other.
Since then it has taken many different directions, like we did and like gypsies tend to do. Sometimes making a U-turn and revisiting familiar roads and taking a break when necessary.
You'll find recipes here, but also musings about the places we've called home, the gardens that we've established, not always successfully, the homes we've improved and the environments we've lived in. Currently, after yet another stint in Ireland, we're back in France @ Le Mas d'Ayen

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

All Natural Medicine


For winter blues, colds, coughs, sniffles and general flu like symptoms.
Anyone coming into my home suffering from any of the above will be treated by moi to a mug of this. Generally the first few gulps will be accompanied by faces being pulled in all directions and exclamations like "Bleurgh ! This is strong. What is it ?" But as the golden liquid finds it's way down, you can hear sighs of relief by the drinker.
Usually I make it per mug, but this time I got myself a jug full, because I'm feeling a little meh! I can then reheat it throughout the day as and when.

The recipe for a jug (1.5 ltr)

  • juice of 3 lemons
  • 2 heaped tablespoons of honey (and then some)
  • 6 cm piece of ginger, peeled and grated (over a recipient to collect the juice too)
  • a little bit of cold water (150 ml or so)
  • boiling water to top up
Stir the first 4 ingredients together in a jug and top it up with boiling water. I always add cold water first, because you are not supposed to hit honey with anything boiling. Apparently it diminishes the healing properties. The feelgood factor will be received when you drink this hot, but is also very refreshing cold. 
I also like to spoon out the grated ginger that settles at the bottom of my mug. Feeling better already !

Patricia xxx...x


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9 comments:

  1. Simple Living7:53 am

    My hubby has a bad cold, when he has a regular spoonful of Manuka Honey he never gets one, so it must work x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Patricia (La Chatte Gitane)5:06 pm

      Honey in general is good. Unless it has been overly processed in a factory.
      Normally I use any good quality honey, but I got the Manuka as a Christmas present from a friend.
      As children, our dad made us take a teaspoon of honey every morning.

      Delete
  2. Jo@awholeplotoflove7:59 am

    It sounds interesting, I shall try it at the next sign of sniffles xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shortbread and Ginger8:24 am

    Sounds like the perfect warm drink to ease sniffles and coughs.
    Liz

    ReplyDelete
  4. A Heron's View12:13 pm

    Excellent Patricia, am all for natural remedies. What I do believe though is prevention is better than cure. So what I do is to add one drop and only one drop of essential thyme oil to a jar of Manuka honey and have one teaspoonful every other day throughout the winter period.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Patricia (La Chatte Gitane)5:13 pm

      Sure ! Prevention is better. I don't get a cold that often, certainly not every year. And if I do, it usually lasts only a couple of days. Not too bad.
      However this year I seem to be ailing constantly. Again, not too bad, but it's there under the surface. Think my immune system got a blow after the summer.
      I have plenty of essential oils, but no thyme oil. On shopping list now. :)

      Delete
  5. sustainablemum12:37 pm

    I never knew that about honey...........I can't eat lemons they make me ill. I made my own version of this with cider vinegar and it was actually really good (and it worked!). I used equal amounts of vinegar and honey diluted with water.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Patricia (La Chatte Gitane)5:14 pm

      Cider vinegar should be a good substitute for lemon.

      Delete
  6. Lies Capoen4:42 pm

    Perfect timing, Patricia! I wasn't feeling too well on Wednesday (cold, every muscle in my body hurt, tired, ...) I tried your recipe and I definitely felt better after a couple of hours. And the taste was great too! Thanks! x

    ReplyDelete

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