Garlic, honey, and cloves – a powerful natural remedy packed with health benefits - Page 2

When garlic, honey, and cloves are combined, their individual benefits are amplified through synergy, creating a powerful tonic:

Enhanced Antimicrobial Action: Honey acts as a perfect preservative and delivery system for the raw allicin in garlic and the eugenol in cloves. This concentrated mix creates an inhospitable environment for pathogens, potentially making the tonic more effective than consuming the ingredients separately.
Gut and Immunity Boost: The combination supports the gut-immune axis. Cloves and garlic target harmful microbes, while honey provides prebiotics and a soothing, anti-inflammatory backdrop for gut healing.
Relief from Respiratory Ailments: For common colds and upper respiratory infections, the mixture provides symptomatic relief (soothing a sore throat with honey) while actively mobilizing the immune system with the antimicrobial action of garlic and cloves.

🥄 How to Make the Ultimate Immune Elixir

The most popular and effective method for combining these ingredients is creating a simple fermented or infused honey preparation.

1 cup raw, unfiltered honey (Crucial for retaining enzymes and beneficial compounds).
1 whole head of fresh garlic, peeled and lightly smashed or roughly chopped.
1 tablespoon whole cloves (Lightly crush them with the back of a spoon to release eugenol).
A clean, sterile glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.

Prepare the Garlic and Cloves: Peel all the garlic cloves. You can leave them whole or, for a more potent infusion, gently smash or roughly chop them to release the allicin. Lightly crush the whole cloves to crack them open.
Combine: Place the prepared garlic and cloves into the glass jar.
Pour the Honey: Pour the raw honey over the spices, ensuring the garlic and cloves are completely submerged.
Infuse (The Magic): Seal the jar and let the mixture sit at room temperature for 5 to 7 days. Shake or gently stir the mixture once daily. You will notice small bubbles forming as the raw honey begins a gentle fermentation process, drawing out the compounds from the garlic and cloves.
Storage: After infusion, the tonic is ready. Store it in a cool, dark place. The honey preserves the mixture, allowing it to last for several months.