Need relief for a Coughing kid in the middle of the night? You can make homemade herbal teas and herbal infusions to help alleviate the nasty symptoms of coughs, colds and influenza. This report contains a list of cold and flu fighting herbs, their healing properties and clear directions for how to use them.
Natural healing herbs For treating coughs, colds and influenza
Many herbs lend Themselves well as the principal ingredients in medicinal teas to fight coughs, colds and influenza. The herbs listed below are used in herbal tea recipes meant to improve the healing process.
- Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia) – an immunity-enhancer with powerful anti-flu properties, take just for three weeks, then quit taking for two weeks. Do not give to children under twelve years old or to anyone who has asthma.
- Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) – its leaves have anti inflammatory, anti-flu and a number of other health-enhancing properties.
- French Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) – helps calm a cough and contains anti-flu, anti-bacterial and anti-allergic properties.
- Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare hirtum) – has many anti-flu and antibacterial properties. Can be used to calm down allergy symptoms, such as hay fever and environmental allergies. Marjoram can be used for similar purposes.
- Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) – a stimulant which helps to calm and induce sleep, and also has anti-cold and anti-flu properties.
- Peppermint (Mentha piperita) – soothes stomach issues, helps with pain and has anti-flu and antibacterial properties. Do not give to children under twelve years old.
- Self-Heal (Prunella vulgaris) – has many healthy benefits, anti-flu being among them. May be utilized as a tonic.
- Spearmint (Mentha spicata) exactly the same as peppermint. Do not give to children under twelve years old.
- Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) – has anti-cough and anti-flu properties. Additionally an anti-inflammatory that helps with pain, digestion and gut issues.
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) – Same as Greek Oregano, but also enables the memory. However, take just for three weeks, then quit taking for 2 weeks.
How to make homemade herbal teas
For the herbs Mentioned in the cold and flu-fighting list above, use the leaves of these plants to produce homemade herbal teas. You can make a tea using the herb alone, or add herbs into a foundation tea such as green tea or chamomile tea. If you wish, you can add lemon juice, honey or other sweetener to taste. But most Valerian Tea taste very pleasant as they are. A bit additional honey will make most teas more palatable for kids, but notice that honey is not recommended for children younger than two decades old.