Even if you ’re ultra - vigilant with handwashing during cold and flu time of year , it ’s still difficult to forefend photo to foul germs and virus – they ’re in the air , and on practically every surface in public places .

But should you take hold of any of the time of year ’s unfriendly bugs , fast , in force relief of mutual symptoms can be obtain in this herbal brewage that ’s made with all - rude ingredients available topically or from the garden .

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A close up horizontal image of a cup of hot herbal tea.

Photo by Lorna Kring.

This recipe is my adjustment of the hard decoction for colds and flu from Stephen Buhner ’s invaluable manual “ Herbal Antibiotics . ”

The decoction is used to assuage symptom of throat and upper respiratory infections , and when waste as a soothing tea you get all the benefit of the factor plus the comforting and helpful properties of steam .

Herbal Antibiotics

A close up vertical image of a pot of herbal tea being poured into a small glass cup pictured on a dark background. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white printed text.

Now in its 2nd edition , you could pick up a copy of this rich imagination on natural healingfrom Amazon .

get together us now to learn how and see how to make soothing herbal tea to help alleviate symptoms of colds , cough , and the flu .

Here ’s what ’s ahead .

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How to Make Soothing Herbal Tea

Natural Ingredients

When you ’re down and out with the ache and congestion of seasonal ailments , the plant public offer a wide selection of relief - give ingredients – like the one discover in this soothing herbal tea .

A great addition to over - the - counter medications , relief is effective , fast , and lifelike .

And most can be grown in your own garden , which is like a dual - whammy of healing properties !

A close up horizontal image of the ingredients for a herbal tea set on a wooden surface in a home.

Here ’s a look at each factor :

Medicinal Sage

Sage , Salvia officinalis , has been used as a curative in kinsfolk medication for millennia in treat a variety of disorders ranging from diarrhea , gout , and hyperglycemia to inflammation and rheumatism .

Numerous study have supported many of itsbeneficial wellness title , in the main from its abundant levels of significant flavonoid such as rosmarinic and ellagic acids .

field of interest for its pharmacologic activities include its anticancer , anti - inflammatory , antimicrobial , antioxidant , and hypoglycemic properties .

A close up horizontal image of sage growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

For cold-blooded and flu symptom , salvia brings immobile relief to congested respiratory systems and upturned tummies , and it helps to prevent viral and bacterial transmission as well .

And although salvia has a somewhat medicinal flavour in great amounts , the pep , dear , and lemon in this herbal Camellia sinensis smooth the flavor for a soothing , deliciously sippable drinkable .

Sage is easily grown and adds beautiful , silvern foliage to the garden plus tall spires of pretty , puritanic - to - purple flowers in saltation .

A close up horizontal image of fresh ginger root, whole and sliced on a rustic wooden surface.

Our guide onhow to grow coarse sagehas all the polish details .

Fierce Ginger

We ’ve add ginger , Zingiber officinale , to our adaptation of Mr. Buhner ’s recipe because several of its robustantiviral phytochemicalsweaken rhinovirus , one of the most common causes of colds .

Other compound like gingerol and shogaol , can serve to salvage symptoms such as body yen , fever , coughs , and raw throats , and ginger is also known to effectively reduce sickness and stomach worried .

Plus , we like the zippy taste !

A close up horizontal image of lemons growing in the home orchard, ripe and ready to harvest.

pep can be grown at place as a perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 - 12 , or as an annual in cooler region .

Our guide has all the steps on how to set and grow gingerroot in your household garden .

The Antioxidant Punch of Lemons

Like all citrus fruits , lemons , Citrus limon , are naturally high in vitamin C , a powerful antioxidant .

Foods high in vitamin C may assist tostrengthen the resistant systemto protect against the virus that cause cold and flu , and are thought to help repress the continuance of dusty symptom .

Along with its healing dimension , lemon succus adds a lovely , savory flavor to herbal tea that can help to relieve a sore throat .

A close up horizontal image of a bowl of honeycomb set on a wooden surface with wildflowers scattered around.

Ever thought about growing your own stinker tree , but do n’t have the elbow room ? A gnome Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree could be the answer !

Our guide onhow to grow dwarf citrus treeshas all the info you need .

Soothing Honey

sweet-smelling dearest is wondrous soothing , and rounds out the look of the other ingredients .

It also has antibacterial and antiviral effects , and is know to reduce the pain of sore throats and theintensity of coughs .

When potential , use a local wildflower root of raw love to assure pollen has been collected from flowers destitute of commercial chemical . Or easily yet , harvest some from your own hives !

A close up horizontal image of hot cayenne peppers growing in the garden.

Heat-Inducing Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne peppercorn , Capsicum annuum , is known as athermogenic spicewith analgesic properties .

That is , it stimulates circulation , increases blood menses to the cutis , and has a sudorific effect that induces perspiration – all of which help to reduce fever , relieve over-crowding , and reduce achiness .

In addition , cayenne performs catalytic actions that enhance the efficaciousness of other herbs . So be sure to admit some in your tea when you ’re suffering from a fever , or point and chest over-crowding from a common cold .

A close up horizontal image of the ingredients needed to make a soothing herbal tea.

And as cayenne does rush sudation , wad up to head off catching a chill !

For this recipe , you may use store - buy powdered cayenne pepper , or dehydrate homegrown black pepper , ground up using a pestle and mortar .

Hot peppers likecayenne can be cultivatedin a sunny garden and do well in containers too .

A close up horizontal image of a pan with ingredients to make soothing herbal tea on a hot stove.

pick up how to found and raise blistering common pepper in our pathfinder .

Recipe for Soothing Herbal Tea

This soothing herbal tea should be served piping red-hot . While you sip , be sure to take a breather the steamy vapors deeply to help loosen engorged airways .

takings : 3 - 4 servings

Ingredients

Instructions

1 . First , gather and prep your ingredients . Wash the sage and ginger under coolheaded , running water .

hack the sage coarsely , slice the peel off ginger into 1/4 - inch - thick-skulled piece , and juice the gamboge . Remove any seeds .

2 . In a small pot , total the chopped sage and sliced peppiness to 24 to 32 troy ounce of water .

A close up vertical image of a herbal tea being poured from a saucepan into a ceramic mug on a wooden surface.

continue and bring just to a boil , then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes .

3 . Remove from the heat . Just before help , add the lemon succus and cayenne ( if needed ) , stirring well .

Strain into your favorite tea mugs .

A close up horizontal image of a mug of freshly made herbal tea with ingredients to the side.

4 . Sweeten each mugful with a generous spoonful of raw , local wildflower beloved . Sit back , relax , and sip slowly to enjoy the spread of lovingness and natural healing attribute .

Strain any remnant tea into a ceramic or glass jar , cover , and computer storage in the refrigerator for up to three day . Reheat in a small saucepan as needed .

The Last Sip

When you ’re in the sharp phase of a cold or flu , drink several cups a solar day for effective pain relief and to reduce symptoms – you ’ll find better while you ’re sick , and this herbal remediation may shorten the duration of your illness as well .

And match out some of our other article onhealing herbsnext :

Photos by Lorna Kring © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .

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Lorna Kring