Fall weather can be beautiful; it is my favorite season. The color, the cooler weather, and the smell of the season is the best. Unfortunately, it also brings us closer to cold and flu season which begins in October/November and then peaks between December and February. This season I could do without!
A great line of defense is eating a nutrient-dense diet consisting of whole foods and getting enough rest; but another way to fight this battle is using herbs. Teas are an easy way to add health-promoting herbs to your diet; they are warming as the days get cooler. Here are a couple of teas for the cold and flu season.
ImmuniTea
- ½ teaspoon rosehips flowers
- 1 teaspoon Echinacea root and leaf
- 8 ounces hot water
Combine the dried herbs and steep in water, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the herbs from the water and sip tea slowly. This could be a great daily tea for the season.
Herb Highlights
Rosehips are the fruit of the rose. They are considered anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, antiviral, antiseptic, antispasmodic, and anti-bacterial. They have been used to strengthen the immune system and help relieve phlegm and chest congestion.
Echinacea is an amazing immune stimulant. It is also anti-microbial, anti-allergenic, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and diaphoretic (to introduce a sweat).
Echinacea Caution: If symptoms of hay fever appear, discontinue use.
Licorice and Ginger Tea
If you feel a cold coming on, this tea will help expel heat from your body which helps fight an infection. The amount of ginger can be adjusted to your taste; just know that the more ginger the better the effect. Makes 3 cups
- 2 tablespoons ground licorice root
- 2 tablespoons peeled and grated fresh ginger
- 3 cups boiling water
Combine the licorice and ginger in a ceramic or glass vessel with a lid. Add the boiling water, cover, and let steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain, then drink piping hot.
Drinking the tea while it is hot will encourage your body to sweat which helps to fight viruses. Drink one cup every two hours the first day of symptoms, then taper off to two to four cups per day for up to four days.
*Caution: Avoid licorice if you have high blood pressure.
Herb Highlights
Licorice is fifty times sweeter than sugar cane! It is one of the best know plants to soothe nasal passage ways, throat, lungs, stomach, and the gastrointestinal tract. It can be an excellent choice for relaxing the spasms of irritating coughs. As noted above, it should not be taken by those with high blood pressure.
Ginger is great for day-to-day health, immune defense, anti-nausea, and to reduce muscular pain and cramping. It is considered helpful to warm up the respiratory tract and release tension that may be restricting the ability to expel mucus.
Tips for making herbal teas
Use filtered water when making teas. Tap water can contain many chemicals such as chlorine and many other chemicals which are not healthy promoting. Organic herbs can be purchased from Mountain Rose Herbs.
Always steep your herbal teas in a vessel that has a lid as this limits the evaporation of volatile essential oils.
I have additional post for building immunity such as Building Immunity Through Nutrition, Building Immunity Through Lifestyle Choices, Building Immunity through Connections and Spirituality, and Real Immunity Through Homeoprophylaxis.
Supporting our immune system is our first line of defense for the cold and flu season. I want to build up my immune system to be as strong as possible before I an exposed to any virus or infection that may be going around, don’t you?
Do you have a favorite tea you like for its healing properties? Please share if you do.
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Heather
Recipe Sources
- Browne, J. (2015). The Good Living Guide to Medicinal Tea. Good Books. New York, NY.
- Ayales, A. (2016). Healing Tonics: Next-level juices, smoothies, and elixirs for health and wellness. Sterling Ethas. New York, NY.
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