Garden Herbs for Summer Colds
Oregano, bee balm, thyme, and sage are traditional remedies for colds, sinus and lung congestion, coughing, and feeling under the weather. While they are commonly used in cooking, to offer a savory flavor that enhances the taste of meat and beans and aid digestion, you might not have thought of them as being medicinal herbs.
Oregano, bee balm, sage, thyme are from the mint family of herbs. This botanical family boasts many highly aromatic and medicinal herbs. Let’s look at just these four herbs for now.
Oregano is a antimicrobial and decongestant. It helps with coughing and promotes perspiration which aids the body in removing toxins. It should NOT be used in large amounts during pregnancy as it can stimulate the uterus.
Bee Balm or Monarda, a native North American plant, has similar qualities as the European oregano and thyme. It is a pretty flower and is hardy to zone 2, making it a useful medicinal plant in colder areas outside of oregano’s zone. Both the red flowered and purple flowered varieties can be used interchangeably, with slightly different flavors.
Thyme, like oregano, has antimicrobial, decongestant , expectorant qualities, and helps calm unproductive coughing. It also promotes sweating, which helps the body get rid of toxins as well as bringing on the healing phase of an illness.
Sage is another antimicrobial that helps with sinus congestion, sore throat, and feeling under the weather. It promotes sweating, and stops unprodutive coughing. It is also anti-inflammatory and eases sore muscles and sore throats. It shouldn’t be used in large amounts during pregnancy or breast feeding as it can stimulate the uterus and dry up breast milk, in some people.
Gather these herbs fresh and infuse in tea anytime during the growing season, when you are at home near your own organic garden. But if you are away from home the dried herbs are a useful remedy to have on hand.
Tea for coughs and colds
This is a useful tea to take on your travels, especially if you are travelling by air. Adapt it to your personal needs and the availability of herbs in your own area. Many of these herbs are readily available in the fresh produce section of the grocery store, too. You can easily mix up this tea using fresh leaves if you are on the go.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoons thyme, dried
1 tablespoons bee balm, monarda, or oregano, dried
1 tablespoons sage, dried
Directions:
Combine herbs in a bowl. Mix well and crush if necessary, with a muddler, so that the herbs are well mixed and uniform. Do not crush them to powder though. They should be the consistency of tea leaves.
Spoon 1 tablespoon into a small press and seal tea bag. Seal with an iron set on the “cotton” setting. Continue until all the tea is in tea bags. Store in a lidded tin for ease of travel. Label and date.
To use:
Place one tea bag in a mug. Pour boiling water over the tea bag in the mug. Cover the mug to retain the volatile oils. Allow to steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Sweeten with honey to taste. Drink freely.
Variation for pregnant or nursing women
Sage can be omitted from this recipe and additional monarda or oregano used, for pregnant and nursing mothers.
What other herbs work?
You aren’t limited to these culinary and medicinal herbs for relief from colds and flu symptoms. If you are away from home and need a remedy quickly you can find the following herbs in most grocery stores either fresh or dried. If you are camping and have standard kitchen equipment with you, choose fresh. If you are in a hotel room and only have access to a tea kettle or coffee maker, dried will do in a pinch.
- Rosemary
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Turmeric
- Cinnamon
- Elderberry