Herbs to Help Ease Cold and Flu Symptoms

When the cold and flu seasons come around it is really hard to avoid them. You can go get the flu shot, but who knows what side effects you may get from it in the long run. You can bulk up on vitamin C and zinc, but that does not always work. You can even wash your hands, sanitize anything that is "community" property in your home and office, and still end up succumbing to one of these sicknesses. If you are ready to try something new to beat all of these nasty side effects that colds and the flu give you then try the following herbal remedies.

If your throat is feeling scratchy try a sage gargle. The herb sage is said to have antimicrobial effects which can help battle the microorganism that are making your poor throat all red and raw and sore. Boil some sage in water for about twenty minutes then strain and let cool. Use as a gargle as often as needed until symptoms subside.

Garlic can help enhance your immune system and fight off both the cold and the flu. If you take (or eat) garlic prior to getting a cold it can also help as a preventative measure, keeping you from getting sick in the first place. Using fresh garlic for treatment is much better than using garlic in pill form. For prevention eat about three cloves a week, and once you have a cold take two cloves each day.

Remember those old fashioned horehound candies that your grandparents swore by? Well, they are made from an herb that helps to loosen the mucus build-up from a cold and works as an expectorant. Instead of buying an OTC expectorant just boil one teaspoon of dried horehound flowers in water, cool, and drink three cups a day until symptoms subside.

Thyme is thought to be one of the best antimicrobial agents in the herbal world. It is used against respiratory tract infections like tonsillitis and laryngitis, as well as for colds and the flu. Boil some dried thyme leaves (about one teaspoon) in water to make an infusion. Drink up to three cups of it a day. You can drink it warm like a tea.

There are other remedies that can help you battle the cold and flu season, but these for are sure to get you on your way to feeling better in no time.

Sources:

The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs (2009), Reader's Digest. New York.

Skidmore-Roth, L. (2010). Mosby's Handbook of Herbs & Natural Supplements. Mosby Elsevier. St. Louis, Missouri.