There is no better time to prepare for a future cold THAN NOW! Nature thinks ahead, so we can harvest various herbs in the spring and summer and dry them to help us with various illnesses in the fall and winter! You don't have to know everything and be a true herbalist to make this blend. I'm no expert either, because with a lot of joy and enthusiasm you have it done in no time.
What I love about herbalism is that it slows you down. Which in today's fast paced and over-technologized world is literally a GIFT OF NATURE. Seriously, you can't make a tea blend like this in minutes. On the contrary, it can take months!
Now look:
- It all starts with studying. First of all it is necessary to find out what I need, where I can find it, what it looks like and why I want it?
- It continues with the searching and mapping of the area. Going on walks, looking for the right herbs and slowly making sure you've found the right plant.
- Then you wait. You wait for the flower, leaf or root to get into the most ideal form for harvesting.
- You harvest and dry. Thanks to modern dryers, you can have it dried quite quickly. During the drying phase, you are surrounded by herbs and all the scents at home, plus looking at dried herbs is beautifully soothing.
- Make herbal products. As for tea, that is just mixed immediately but such ointments, tinctures or herbal oils? They need extra time to macerate and age.
- Finally, you use those products. Often you can just use them as a preventative or you can use them specifically for pain, various ailments or other problems. These homemade products will comfort you in times of illness or anxiety just by the fact that you went to the effort to make them and now they can help you! 🙂
- And we start again from the beginning. Herbal products have a short shelf life and after a year, the health benefits decrease so you start all over again the next year.
What do we need to make a homemade herbal tea for cold and flu?
Herbal teas can be found today already mixed and each has its own unique composition. I like to keep my ingredients down to earth, so this blend contains only the basics. However, you can enthusiastically add whatever you can think of and you may already have some experience with it!
It is best to harvest the herbs in the evening on a dry sunny day so they don't get wet and so you don't have to fight with the bees on blossoms. It is also generally known that they should not be picked by the roadside, but instead in the most pure countryside possible.
It is therefore a good idea to look around whenever you go for a walk somewhere, as such a linden tree, elder flower or chamomile may peek out at you behind any stone or log. 🙂 We also don't leave the harvested herbs sealed in bags for a long time and dry them immediately at home.
So let's take a look at what herbs are best for a tea blend for colds and flu. More detailed informations are from the books Světem bylin s Romanem Pavelou.
- Linden blossom - a sturdy tree that is one of the most important honey plants can also help us with its blossoms. Linden has the most beautiful and sweet scent thanks to its essential oil.
It is best to harvest the flowers as soon as the first blossom blooms and start drying them as soon as possible. Linden tea is a well-known remedy for flu and respiratory ailments. It helps to reduce fever and has a strong antipyretic effect. It also helps with coughs because it reduces phlegm in the throat.
- Elderflower - The most common use of the blossoms is for elderflower cordial, which smells and tastes amazing, but its traditional preparation is in the form of tea. Hot elderflower tea has a strong diuretic effect, dissolves phlegm and stimulates sweating.
- Peppermint - a very well-known herb for its essential oil that helps fight off nausea and lack of appetite. Inhalation of peppermint is used for respiratory tract inflammations and in the form of tea it also has anti-inflammatory effects..
- Chamomile - one of the most famous and oldest (or oldest used) herbs is almost a CURE FOR EVERYTHING. Growing chamomile is also very easy and you can grow it in your garden or in a flowerpot. You will have a remedy for everything at your home.
Chamomile relieves tension and has a strong anti-inflammatory effect. It relieves pain and is used to intensify sweating during colds. It is most often used in the form of tea or decoctions and is also very suitable for children and babies.
What other herbs can be added to the tea blend for colds and flu?
By mixing the above herbs, a simple mixture was created, which in the form of tea promotes sweating, reduces fever, reduces phlegm in the throat, has anti-inflammatory effect and boosts mood! But according to your preference, you can also mix in herbs from the following list!
- Thyme - makes coughing easier. But it is most commonly used as a gargle and mouth rinse for colds and respiratory ailments.
- Mullein blossom - the combination with linden blossom and elderflower in the form of a tea, or the combination with plantain in the form of a syrup is very common. However, the mullein blossom has very fine hairs, which can be irritating, so the tea must always be passed through a very fine sieve after straining.
- Plantago lanceolate - one of the best known herbs for respiratory ailments, severe phlegm and coughs. It helps to dissolve and loosen phlegm and has disinfectant effects (oral cavity, oesophagus).
- Sage (salvia) - used mainly for its anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial properties, as well as thyme, most commonly in the form of gargles and mouth rinses
- Fennel seed - drinking fennel tea helps relieve coughs, also used as a gargle for inflammation and sore throats, can also be used for mouth rinses long term (as a mouthwash)
How to make homemade tea blend for colds and flu?
The dried herbs need to be checked to make sure they are perfectly dried and then just mix them in a large bowl. If you like the coarser texture of the tea, just grind it between your fingers and if necessary tear it (linden blossom) into pieces. If you prefer a finer texture, you can blend the mixture into smaller pieces with a blender.
As for the amount of herbs used, follow the famous "recipe", i.e. a little of each. Larger flowers such as linden blossom will remain large even after drying, while elderflower will reduce its volume. Therefore, use your intuition when mixing the mixture and put in the amount you think is appropriate.
How to prepare herbal tea for colds and flu?
Pour hot water over a teaspoon of the herbal mixture and leave to infuse for 10 minutes. Afterwards, strain the tea through a fine sieve and add a teaspoon of honey after it has cooled slightly.
Recipe
Homemade herbal tea for cold and flu
Ingredients:
- linden blossom
- elderflower
- peppermint
- chamomile
Instructions:
Mix the dried herbs in a large bowl.
- If you like the coarser texture of the tea, just grind it between your fingers and if necessary tear it (linden blossom) into pieces.
- If you prefer a finer texture, you can blend the mixture into smaller pieces with a blender.
As for the amount of herbs used, follow the famous "recipe", i.e. a little of each. Larger flowers such as linden blossom will remain large even after drying,
To make 1 cup of tea, pour about 1 teaspoon of the herbal tea blend with boiling water and let it infuse for about 10 minutes. Then strain the tea and serve with a drizzle of honey.
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