7 All-Natural Herbal Teas to Soothe Away a Cold
Now’s the time of year for sore throats and sniffles, as the temperature drops and the nights grow long. But if you have a stock of dried herbs in your pantry, or even better, access to fresh herbs, you can soothe even the worst colds by making a simple herbal tea. People have been using herbs for colds and other ailments for millennia – because they really do work!
All you need to do is take a large spoonful of chopped fresh herbs or a small one of dried, and steep it in hot water for ten minutes. Do this in a covered cup to stop the volatile, health-giving essential oils from evaporating away.
Each one of these herbs is an excellent friend when you have a bad cold. Mix a few together, and you’ll have an all-natural remedy to match anything you can find on the drugstore shelves.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm makes a delicious light tea with several flu-fighting properties. First, it has a gentle antiviral effect to help fight off a fever. Second, it works to calm the upset stomach that a severe cold can bring. Lastly, it also has a gentle mood-enhancing effect to cheer you up when the sniffles are getting you down.
Sage
Sage is excellent for treating clogged airways, soothing irritation, and fighting bacterial infections. It also helps your body flush out toxins while giving your immune system a boost. For a particularly effective sore throat remedy, stir a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar into your sage tea, and sweeten it with raw honey.
Peppermint
Peppermint’s powerful, fresh menthol aroma makes it an excellent herb for tackling stuffy noses. However, it also has antispasmodic properties to reduce wracking coughs, along with antiviral agents to relieve fever.
Chamomile
Chamomile is well known for its ability to clear out blocked airways. Drink this tea steaming hot, breathing deeply as you do so to enjoy the full benefits. As an added bonus, chamomile has a mild sedative effect, easing you into healing sleep.
Rosemary
Rosemary is known to boost blood circulation, helping you sweat out the bugs causing your cold. It’s also a great way to ease sinus pain and throbbing headaches, thanks to its natural anti-inflammatory effects.
Oregano
This common kitchen herb is useful for much more than adding flavor to your pizza or pasta. As a natural expectorant, it helps to unblock sinuses and ease congested coughs.
Lavender
Lastly, if you’re laid low with aching muscles and other flu-like symptoms, add a touch of lavender to your tea. This fragrant herb’s combination of anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties will soothe the aches away. Just as importantly, it’s also an effective reliever of both fever and cold sweats.
Nearly all the cold treatments you can buy over the counter are based on common chemical ingredients rather than advanced drugs. Next time you’re suffering with a cold, why not go directly to an organic solution with a herbal tea?
When you use herbs for colds, you’ll spend less, and you’ll feel better just as quickly. Most importantly, you won’t be adding artificial substances to your body when it’s already fighting a viral invader.
