Guest author Murphy Stidham has you ready and armed for this flu season! She has a few herbal recipes that will help ease a few of your symptoms during those rough, sick days.
- Wash, wash, wash your hands!! (This is one of the best ways to ward off the flu.)
- Get your flu vaccine: Influenza comes in many different deadly strains. While getting the flu shot can be helpful, it doesn’t always guarantee that you won’t get the flu. However, it can help to lower symptoms should you get the flu.
- Build up your immune system. The healthier you are the easier it is for your body to fight back against the flu. This includes eating nutritious food, getting enough physical activity and making sure to get plenty of rest.
“I drink hot black or green tea with lemon and honey. Drinking the tea and breathing in steam stimulates the cilia—the hair follicles in the nose—to move out germs more efficiently. Lemon thins mucus, and honey is antibacterial.”
—Murray Grossan, MD, ear, nose and throat specialist at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, in Los Angeles told ABC News.
You may feel like the Grim Reaper is knocking at your door… but Medicinal herbal infusions, “herbal tea” can help ease your symptoms. Picture it- no more sore, scratchy, rock hard, impossible to swallow throat!
HERBAL TEA – GENERAL PREPARATION
Herbal teas are a great way to treat cold/flu symptoms! Not only do you get the medicinal benefits, but they are also soothing, warm, and relaxing.
- Pour boiling water over the herb, steep at least 20 minutes, and strain.
- You can also use a French press, preparing as above and pressing after 20 minutes
The Herbal Academy recommends using the following tea recipe as a base and then add some of the other remedies below if needed. Keep in mind that garlic can irritate the stomach. If you are drinking this often you may need to adjust the amount of garlic or eliminate it.
- 3-4 slices fresh ginger with skin
- One clove chopped garlic
- Cayenne powder
- Tea of choice (black, green, oolong, herbal)
- Honey to taste
- Milk/milk alternative, optional
- Bring 3-4 slices of fresh ginger (skin on) and one clove of chopped garlic to a boil and simmer for approximately 20 minutes
- Use ginger water to steep tea (black, green, oolong or any herbal tea)
- Add cayenne powder as hot as can be tolerated to induce sweating
- Honey to taste
- Add milk or dairy alternative (almond, soy or other)
- Drink 3-4 cups per day
- Drink before bed and bundle up to induce sweat
Herbs are used to aid a variety of symptoms. These teas are easy to make, and very good for you when prepared properly.
Ginger Tea: 2- 3 slices of ginger per cup of water (or to taste – ginger can be strong)
Sage Tea (Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding): 1 ½ teaspoon dried sage (or 3 teaspoon fresh) per cup of water.
Thyme Tea: 1 ½ teaspoon dried thyme (or 3 teaspoon fresh) per cup of water.
Some of these teas have a very thick and heavy taste. But fear not! You do not have to drink them without some sweeteners or other fixings in order for them to work. Below are some insider tips from the Herbal Academy on how to use certain herbs and other holistic items such as honey to help with the flu, and cut the sometimes bitter taste that comes with herbs.
- Lemon juice squeezed into your sage tea removes the bitterness.
- Sweeten your tea with sugar or honey for respiratory problems, but leave it unsweetened for digestive upset.
- Make an infusion of 1 cup of herbs and 1 quart of water. Infuse overnight in a French press and strain. Heat individual servings on the stove throughout the day when ill, rather than making an individual cup each time.
Over-the-counter medications suppress symptoms. Taking a little time to prepare these remedies will not only help you feel better, but also your body will have a chance to focus more on healing itself, rather than being in constant agony. Regardless, this isn’t going to be an easy illness to kick… But these teas and herbs will help to alleviate some of the strain on your aching body.
Author, Murphy Stidham is the Digital Media Manager for Team SML. She explores everything from in depth-articles about health and wellness, to fun, frothy articles that anyone with a light-hearted spirit would love to read. She studied journalism and documentary production in college, and brings an essence of delicacy with delivery to harsh truth and sincere interviews in her pieces, with a hint of personal pizzazz.
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