There are few things worse than being a mom and being sick at the same time.

We don’t get sick days as moms where we can lay in bed with no bra and binge watch Gilmore Girls for the 97th time. Ain’t no momma got time for that (especially the single ones).

My brief career at a local natural health market back in the day taught me a few tips and tricks when it comes to maintaining a strong immune system and a healthy lifestyle in general.

I learned how to make fresh juices like a boss. I learned that a shot of wheatgrass is the ultimate hangover cure, the tricks is keeping it down. I learned lavender flowers in smoothies is FREAKING DELICIOUS. I learned that just because something is sold in a health market does not automatically make it healthy.

But the most useful thing I learned is the recipe for a magical cold-fighting elixir that prevents me from ever being sick longer than a day. Except for that one time I got food poisoning from bad ranch and thought I was going to die, but I digress…

All you need is:

Directions:

While you’re heating up your water, add a generous layer of honey to cover the bottom of your mug. Honey coats sore throats and also covers up the taste of the apple cider vinegar, so yay.

Sidenote, make sure the apple cider vinegar is with “the Mother”. I’m honestly not even sure what that means exactly. I could look it up but to be honest I don’t want to. All I know is it’s important.

Combine tea bags, honey, lemon slices or juice, ginger, apple cider vinegar, cayenne, and turmeric into a mug. The cayenne goes a long way so one little shake should do the job and clear those sinuses nicely.

Add hot water, give it a little stir, and let steep for a couple minutes. Remove tea bags then BOOM, one magical potion guaranteed to have you feeling back to your superhero mom self in no time.

I’ve avoided many a common cold with this elixir. It beats out sodium-packed chicken noodle soup by a long shot and is a much healthier alternative than cold medicines like Nyquil and Sudafed. There is no limit to how much you can drink, so sip on this potion throughout the day as much as needed. You’ll have that inconvenient cold running for the hills faster than your ex when it’s time to pay child support.

Feel free to let me know how this cold elixir works for you or any other secret weapons you use when you don’t have time to be sick.