Cough And Cold Care
Simple Tips for Natural Cough and Cold Care

With the cough and cold season upon us,
it's good to know that there are lots
of simple and effective ways to get
comfort and relief for the common cold and flu.
Of course we know that there is no cure for these
annoying maladies, but we can certainly feel better
while recuperating and decrease the length of time
that we are afflicted.
There are herbs and essential oils that can help
to alleviate the aches and pains, clear
the congestion and sniffle and quiet the cough
associated with the common cold and flu.

Of course rest is probably
the most important remedy.
It takes a lot of energy to fight the battle
against the foreign invaders that have attacked
your upper respiratory tract.
With rest, your immune system has a better
chance of creating the antibodies and other
immune factors needed to combat
the invading virus and heal the damage
that they have caused.
It's important to stay home
from work or school and get plenty of sleep.
Our body repairs itself during
the deep stages of sleep.
Do your fellow employees and students a favor
by staying home rather than spreading
the infection around the office or classroom.

For that stuffy nose and congestion,
try a simple steam inhalation with eucalyptus,
peppermint, lemon and tea tree oil
(see instructions below).
These essential oils help to clear
the sinuses and slow down
the reproduction of viruses.
Aromatic inhalations can help you to breath
easy and get the rest that you need.
For an inhalation treatment on the go you can
blend essential oils in a tiny glass bottle and place
a couple of drops on a cotton ball,
tissue or handkerchief to sniff as needed.
Be careful to avoid eye contact with these oils.
They are potent!
Pine, frankincense and basil are other essential oils
that are good for clearing the upper respiratory tract.
They too can be used separately or in combinations
for steam inhalation or sniffed from a tissue,
cotton ball or hankie.

One of my favorite cough and cold remedies
can be found in your grocer's produce section.
Spicy ginger root has so may uses
in cooking and for medicine that I recommend
that you always keep some on hand.
For mild fever ginger tea is known as a diaphoretic.
It helps to promote sweating.
This is your immune system's way
of combating the viral infection.
Simply pour a cup of hot water over a teaspoonful
of finely sliced ginger root and let it steep
for at least five minutes.
Add a squeeze or two of lemon
(which helps your lymphatic system to get
cleansed and adds valuable vitamin C
to your daily intake) and a drizzle of honey
for a tasty, but effective remedy.
Cooled ginger tea can also be used
as an effective gargle for sore throat.
For those aches and pains that come
with the common cold and flu, try a ginger bath.
Slice up some ginger and put it in a muslin herb bag
to toss into a nice warm tub of water.
Ah-h-h.
Relax and enjoy this restful and healing experience
as your body does the work of healing itself.

Other herbs that can be used as tea
for coughs and colds are hyssop, horehound,
lemon balm, sage and thyme.
These herbs are easy to grow in your own healing
garden and are available at your local garden
center or plant nursery in the spring.
You may want to add them
to your garden plan for next year.
Fennel seed, caraway seed,
anise seed and elderberries
are also helpful for cough and congestion.
Look for these at your local herb shop.
You can make teas of one or a combination
of these healing herbs.
All of these herbs are considered anti-catarrhal
which means that they help to reduce
the inflammation of the mucus membranes
of the head and throat.
They help you to breathe easier and get
the rest that you need.


COUGHS
Steam Inhalation for Coughs and Colds


Source(s)
In green old gardens, hidden away
From sight of revel and sound of strife, -
Here have I leisure to breathe and move,
And to do my work in a nobler way;
To sing my songs, and to say my say;
To dream my dreams, and to love my love;
To hold my faith, and to live my life,
Making the most of its shadowy day.

IN GREEN OLD GARDENS
Violet Fane [1843-1905]
They called me a Greenwoman
From Firethorn by Sarah Micklem

GreenWitchGarden
onyxdragonflys
02062005

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