Grandma knows best.
Wellness influencer and licensed lymphatic massage therapist Lo Reyez has gone viral with her abuela’s “flu bomb,” a combination of common ingredients she swears will deliver unprecedented results if you want to shorten the length of time that you’re sick.
Noting that cold and flu season is in full swing — or sneeze, as it were — Reyez promised not to “gatekeep” and offered up her grandmother’s remedy.
And there’s never been a better time as flu rates continue to surge in New York and across the US.
The flu has killed roughly 1,500 people across the country this season. According to the CDC, another 3.1 million people have reported contracting the flu, resulting in at least 37,000 hospitalizations.
Addressing her 68,000 followers, Reyez promised that this DIY recipe can help you fight off infections.
“You guys, I’m telling you. I haven’t been sick for more than 24 hours, ever,” she said.
Her go-to cure-all boasts easy-to-access ingredients emphasizing antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
“Y’all better listen to Abuela. These are all-natural ingredients that you can find in the kitchen or the store, and let me tell you, it’s going to knock the flu out because nature knows best, baby!”
Abuela’s flu-bomb recipe:
- 2 tbsp. ginger
- 1 tbsp. turmeric
- 1 tsp. minced garlic
- 1 pinch of black pepper (to activate the turmeric)
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- cinnamon (to taste)
- cover in honey
Reyez says the mixture can be taken straight, one teaspoon at a time, or diluted in warm water and sipped. The flu bomb can be taken as a preventative or curative measure and, if sealed and refrigerated, can be kept for up to three months.
In terms of the efficacy of ingredients, ginger is a natural expectorant with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, while the capsaicin in cayenne pepper has been found to relieve congestion and sneezing.
Garlic is rich in prebiotic insulin fiber, which supports gut health and is believed to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. It also contains allicin, a natural antibiotic used to fight disease for thousands of years. One study found that people who took a garlic supplement for 12 weeks during cold season had fewer colds and saw their symptoms cease faster than those who didn’t.
Meanwhile, honey is high in antioxidants like flavonoids and polyphenols, which help balance the immune system and ward off illnesses. Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound known to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
“This flu season is crazy, y’all stay safe,” urged Reyez.
Commentators were quick to share their own variations of the remedy. “My mom makes the same mixture, but she adds onions and lets it ferment all year long. It cleared me up overnight,” shared one user.
“Swear by this,” said another. “Thank god I saw this when I started to feel sick, and it worked. Thank you so much!” noted another grateful devotee.
Reyez’s tonic shared some ingredient overlap with other natural remedies, including “Amish amoxicillin” and Australian alternative health care advocate Barbara O’Neill’s viral (no pun intended) seven-ingredient flu-bomb recipe.
