Cold and flu remedy for the season…. This is one of those old-fashioned remedies I love because it uses ingredients you most likely already have in the kitchen. Slice up a red onion, put in about 4 cups of boiling water, then let it simmer for about 10–15 minutes. Strain the onion out and let the liquid cool down until it’s warm. Then stir in 1 tablespoon raw honey and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Red onion has traditionally been used when dealing with congestion, thick mucus, coughing, and that heavy feeling in the chest and sinuses. The warmth helps loosen everything up, while the onion releases its natural sulfur compounds and plant compounds like quercetin into the water. And if you’re wondering why red onion specifically, red onions are especially rich in quercetin and anthocyanins, the plant pigments that give them that deep red-purple color. Yellow and white onions can still be used, but red onions are a great choice when you have them because of their higher concentration of those beneficial plant compounds. This is also a little different from an onion honey cough syrup. Onion honey syrup is made by letting raw chopped onion sit in honey until it releases its juices, creating a more concentrated syrup you take by the spoonful. That version is especially nice for coating the throat and calming a cough. This warm red onion drink is more of a congestion and throat remedy because you also get the warmth and steam, which can help loosen mucus and make everything feel like it’s moving a little easier. Honey helps coat and soothe the throat, and the olive oil adds another soothing layer and can feel really nice when your throat is dry or irritated. I love olive oil so much. Sip it warm and breathe in the steam while you drink it. Simple ingredients and perfect for the season!