Ease Your Cold Symptoms with Healthy Herbs. (Part 1 of 2) Cold season has hit the mid-west. Even if you have already had a cold this year, you can boost your immunity with these same herbs!
If you are in the midst of a cold, hopefully these healthy herbs will support your immune system and ease your symptoms.
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One herb that is easy to grow in your backyard or in a planter is Garlic! Learn how to plant and harvest garlic this year.
Can you relate to these symptoms? Common cold symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose, stuffy head, tired, and coughing. It certainly is no fun to be laid up with a cold!
However, simple herbs to ease those symptoms and can assist your body in fighting that unwanted virus. Herbs can be used as a preventative and after the first symptoms of a cold or the flu. Either way herbs will give your body a boost.
Prevention
I am sure you’ve heard the famous quote by Benjamin Franklin, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” (P.S. Historians are not entirely sure he was referring to health here, but it will apply anyway.)
It seems much marketing is given to easing cold symptoms and suppressing coughs, but what about PREVENTION and boosting our immune system (with herbs)?!
As a general rule, I am the type of person that likes prevention. Prevention goes beyond not coming down with a cold. It is not being tired and run down all the time. My desire is to encourage you to boost your immune system to both prevent a cold from happening and ease the symptoms for quick recovery.
Reasons for “Cold Season”
Here in Michigan, we know cooler weather is around the corner when we see the leaves turn color, acorns begin to fall, fleece jackets come out of the closet, and we have less daylight hours.
One of the biggest reasons for “cold season” in the mid-west and surrounding states is the lack of sunshine. Sunshine is a natural source of Vitamin D for our bodies. We get less of it because we are further from the sun and we are indoors a majority of our day.
In general, people spend more time indoors during this time. Windows are often kept shut and the same air gets circulated around our home, office, and school rooms.
Sugar! No one likes to hear that eating sugar suppresses the immune system. We all want our sweets and excellent health!
Between October and December Americans consume incredible amounts of sugar! It starts with Halloween, where the average child consumes 3 cups of sugar on that day alone (roughly equivalent to 384 grams of sugar!) (1)
November and December follow up with more sweets and sugar! Our immunity is constantly knocked-down during the months when “cold season” hits.
Get Off Your Sugar: 7 Steps to Crush your Cravings & Boost Immunity Book
Try Healthy Herbs!
It is quite probable that exposure to a virus or two this year is going to happen, so how can we boost our immune system to ease the symptoms? Try Herbs!
Ease Your Cold Symptoms with 6 Healthy Herbs
Garlic
Garlic has been a staple in our house for many years. My daughters have grown up eating garlic in their food and raw. Garlic is a strong preventative against the flu. It is most known for reducing inflammation. It’s also anti-viral and anti-bacterial making it excellent “medicine”.
My daughters would eat the cloves whole during an asthma flare-up to help ease their symptoms. Our family enjoys garlic on a regular basis, from using it in soups, stews, with roasted veggies and even as a topping on pizza.
Oregano
What a wonderful and easy herb to grow! We often do not know what to do with our abundance. This herb is known for fighting bacteria and viral infections. It is rich in anti-oxidants making it a good fit for preventing and fighting colds. Cook with fresh oregano, add it to your meals, or inhale through steam. (See below for Steam Inhalation Instructions.)
Quick Link: Oil of Oregano Capsules by Designs for Health
Ashwagandha
This is my new favorite herb! I have read about it for years but until recently have not tried it as an herbal supplement. Take this herb to relieve the effects of stress on your body, which makes you stronger.
The antioxidant properties encourage better health and stronger bodies. However, it’s best immune boosting properties is reducing chronic inflammation and soothing the nervous system. Ashwagandha can be taken in a supplement form. I buy this name brand: Organic India Aswagandha – Herbal Stress Response Support
Elderberry
This little berry is potent and works marvelously to activate our immune system. It’s most well known for it’s anti-viral properties and easing cold and flu viruses. Since this herb does activate the immune system, it is best to use for 10-12 weeks and then take a break. Elderberry can be taken many ways from drinking a tea, syrup, lozenge, or even a homemade gummy.
Try Gaia Herbs Black Elderberry Syrup for Rapid Relief.
Peppermint
Most people enjoy peppermint or tolerate peppermint. This herb makes the list due to the leaves containing vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and B vitamins. Peppermint boosts our immune system and it is traditionally used as a remedy for fever and chills. The most common way to use peppermint is by drinking a tea, making a poultice, applying an essential oil or steam inhalation. Organic Peppermint Tea Bags
Sage
It’s amazing how well this herb grows in partial shade. Sage has a lovely scent and is best known for it’s anti-bacterial properties. It also reduces inflammation in your body. Sage is easy to prepare into an effective cough syrup. Check out Herbal Honey Cough Syrup. Sage complements chicken dishes and vegetable dishes.
Ease Your Cold Symptoms with Healthy Herbs
Garlic, oregano, ashwagandha, elderberry, peppermint, and sage are just a few of the home remedies we have at our fingertips.
Our ancestors made poultices with the above mentioned herbs. Wellness Mama gives details on How to Make and Use An Herbal Poultice.
Do you have a few that are your go-to herbs for cold season?
I hope that you are able to ease your cold symptoms and recover quickly! It’s not easy, but remembering to rest while you have a cold is important for quicker recovery!
Another common tip is taking a teaspoon of local raw honey. Honey does wonders for relieving scratchy throats and coughs.
I wish you a healthier cold season!! Please share which herbs you like and use in your own home.
Pursing Better Health Together,
Click on the Amazon links below if you would like to learn more about growing and using herbs!
(1) – “Here’s how much sugar the average kid consumes on Halloween-and it’s way more than you’d think” by Leah Rocketto. www.thisinsider.com October 23, 2017.