We might just call this newsletter the cold and flu edition!
Herbalists need to be good at multi-tasking and planning, like a juggler with three or four balls in the air. As we transition into fall, we simultaneously pick calendula flower heads daily and set them to dry, wildcraft the last of the mugwort before it goes completely to flower and seed, and decant whatever tinctures and oils we started earlier in the summer. Don't forget to keep an eye on the elderberries! There is only a small window when the berry clusters turn dark purpley black and droop heavily on the stem. This cycle of planting, harvesting, and medicine-making beautifully connects us to earth's seasonal rhythms.
Elderberry season, changing leaves, drops in temperatures, and pumpkin pie-everything are signs of fall - it's time to prepare our apothecaries for the cold and flu season ahead! In this newsletter, you will find a number of resources for building up your herbal medicine cabinet, from tips to herbs to recipes. Let's start with a simple grocery list!
Home Remedies for Colds & Flu Shopping List:
Garlic - anti-viral, antibiotic, and antiseptic.
Onion - great for coughs and raw onion keeps the respiratory tract open.
Ginger - antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. In addition to treating cold/flu, ginger is excellent for nausea and vomiting.
Sage - carminative, antiseptic, and astringent - the mouth and throat plant. Used for sore throats and cough. Also used for sinus congestion. Sage should not be used when pregnant or breast feeding.
Thyme - antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, expectorant, and astringent. Thyme is great for respiratory infections and coughs. It is also good for the stomach and relieves gas.
Cayenne powder - stimulant, anti-microbial, analgesic, carminative, diaphoretic, and expectorant. Cayenne can help prevent a cold or flu as well as shorten the duration of a cold or flu. It brings heat to the body, which can help dispel coldness.
Honey - raw, local honey should ideally be purchased either at a farmer's market or at Whole Foods or Trader Joes. Honey is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiseptic. Do not give honey to children under 1 year old.
Lemon - high in vitamin C, lemon may helpdecrease the strength of the cold and flu virus in the body and reduce phlegm. Many folks use lemons to build resistance to cold and flu, and speed up healing.
Prepare for Fall with an Herbal Transition Kit:
Fire cider, elderberry syrup, sore muscle balm and calming tea... these herbal remedies are great ones to have on hand as we transition into fall!Get the tutorials and recipes in this article.
http://herbalacademyofne.com/2015/08/prepare-for-fall-with-an-herbal-transition-kit/
8 Herbal Remedies for Colds & Flu:
The herbal home remedies in this article are meant to be simple to make using ingredients that are readily available. The best thing about these recipes is that they can be customized to the individual and many of the herbs can be used to address a variety of illnesses.
Kitchen Medicine Cold and Flu Remedy:
Fresh ginger helps stimulate the immune system to fight bacterial and viral infections, thins mucous and supports expectoration, and warms the body.
10 Homemade Herbal Teas for Cold and Flu Season:
In the heat of the moment, it's nice to have a simple, easy to make remedy that can help give some relief while recovering from a cold or the flu. Medicinal herbal infusions, also known as herbal tea, may provide a lot of relief for many cold and flu symptoms and some herbs may even help boost your immune system to help you kick your illness to the curb faster.
Licorice and Ginger: Herbal Decongestants: Creating a single herbal decoction can help us to resolve both nasal and chest congestion in one fell swoop. We can do this when we combine ginger and licorice powders and take it as a tea. http://herbalacademyofne.com/2013/08/licorice-and-ginger-herbal-decongestants/
Looking for Natural Flu Remedies? Woad Works!:
Isatis is a comprehensive antiviral that is useful against all forms of influenza, SARS, all respiratory virus infections, viral pneumonia, meningitis, pseudomonas lung infections, scarlet fever, sore throat, laryngitis, tonsillitis, eye infections, leukemia, chicken pox, and shingles. It is strongly active against measles, mumps, and rubella, as well as hepatitis B and hemorrhagic fevers. It is being used in China for viral hepatitis. And it is being used in veterinary medicine against canine distemper, rinderpest, parvovirus, and Newcastle disease in poultry.
Yarrow as a Natural Remedy for Cold and Flu:
It seems rather innocuous, this lovely white flower, but yarrow has earned many expressive titles: staunchwort, wound wort, nosebleed, knight's milfoil...most of these names are crediting yarrow's remarkable ability to stop a wound from bleeding while reducing pain and infection. These are great uses that can't be ignored, but there are so many different aspects of the power of yarrow that I could fill many pages, so we'll focus on using this fine plant as a powerful natural remedy for fever and flu.
An Ayurvedic Approach To Staying Balanced in Autumn:
Ayurveda provides guidelines for how to stay in synch with Nature's biorhythms, and in doing so, we are better equipped to keep Vata from accumulating in excess. Strengthen your immunity as we head into the new season!
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