Feeling Green? Then Go Purple With Echinacea Tea

My mother use to whip up and old fashion home remedy for us when we got sick. She would fill a Mason jar full of cheap bourbon, pour in the juice of four freshly squeezed lemons and stir in about two ounces of pure honey. She would let it sit for about an hour, giving it a shake here and there, and then fill a coffee cup full of the stuff for us to sip on. It was like drinking sweet liquid fire, but it would sooth a sore throat and ease your cough. It was better then anything that the cough and cold market could offer.

The days of the old Whiskey, Lemon and Honey remedies have all but been forgotten. Nowadays you can find most of what you need to take care of a bad cold at your local health food store. Herbal tea is one of the best remedies for this purpose. My favorite is Base Echinacea Tea. There are a lot of companies on the market that sell their own proprietary blends of this popular cold remedy, but I like to make my own from scratch.

This is my personal recipe for Base Echinacea Tea. By itself, it is an excellent tea for keeping the immune system strong during cold and flu season. Add Slippery Elm (ulmus fulva) to sooth a sore throat or a bit of Plantain (plantago lanceolata) to ease coughing and clear phlegm out of the lungs. If you're suffering from the aches and pains commonly associated with the flu, add Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)and Elder Flowers (Sambucus nigra) to the mix. A little White Willow (Salix alba) will help to bring down fever.

Matt's Base Echinacea Blend

½ Tsp Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)

½ Tsp Peppermint Leaf (menthe piperita)

½ Tsp Eucalyptus Leaf (eucalyptus globules)

½ Tsp Fresh Lemon Zest

Put a heaping tablespoon full of the mixture into a 16 ounce soup cup and pour boiling water over it. Let it steep for about five minutes, strain and sip while still hot. Drink the tea twice daily with a little honey to sweeten if necessary.

Keep in mind that the viruses that cause colds and flu can live for hours on everyday household surfaces. Be sure to clean and sanitize everything that the sick person might come in contact with to prevent the spread of the virus. As always, no natural remedy should ever take the place of professional medical guidance. If not cared for properly, common colds and the flu can quickly progress into life threatening illnesses. Although herbs work wonders for many different illnesses, there are several herbs that can not be mixed with doctor prescribed medication or over the counter remedies. Be sure to let your doctor or pharmacist know if you are currently on any herbal supplements before mixing the two.