Working Herbs: A Natural Cold Cure

What’s known as “the common cold” is not one but a number of ailments and viral or bacterial infections that can be treated progressively with herbal remedies for natural symptom relief. Cold symptoms created by these infections range from aches and pains in muscles and joints, fever, stuffed head and nose, runny nose, sore throat and cough -- just to name the most typical.

The most effective herbal and natural treatments, including teas, infusions and aromatherapies, focus on remedying the underlying condition while alleviating symptoms that themselves can lead to fatigue and lethargy. At the onset of a cold, it’s best to use herbs that contain natural antibiotics, Vitamin C, immune system stimulants, astringents and other characteristics designed to help the body restore balance to a disrupted system.

If your condition doesn’t improve within three days, your fever doesn’t abate, or you’re pregnant or immune deficient, call a medical doctor right away as you may have an underlying condition that requires prompt additional treatment.

Among the most effective natural cold cures is a combination of yarrow, elderflower and peppermint.

Yarrow

As a healing herb, yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – sometimes called Milfoil – is a powerful leader and a strengthening ally to other healing herbs. Legend tells how the plant’s feathery leaves played a pivotal role in the Battle of Troy as a means of staunching bleeding wounds on the field.

This lovely flowering meadow plant still grows wild in abundance today in many fields and roadsides. Despite its long history of effective healing applications, it’s largely ignored by the general public.

Yarrow’s anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic properties help reduce fevers, induce sweating, open up and dry up nasal passages and reduce upper respiratory phlegm. It contains salicylic acid, a forerunner of aspirin, as so is good for the muscle aches and headaches that often accompany a cold.

To cure a cold and ease cold and flu symptoms, prepare teas, infusions and inhalants with yarrow and its helper herbs, elderflower and peppermint.

Elderflower and Elderberry

Another wonderfully safe and potent natural cold-buster, the elder tree or bush (Sambucus nigra) has long been a source of antidote for fever (induces sweating) and is an expectorant (loosens phlegm and induces coughing.) Its berries, rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C, help ward off the germs that bring on winter colds.

Fresh and dried elderflowers, used in combination with yarrow and mint, reduce chest congestion and relieve the lungs and upper respiratory tract.

Peppermint

Peppermint (M. piperita), field mint (M. arvensis) and other garden mints are among the most versatile and useful herbs in use today. Just drop a handful of crushed leaves in boiling water, and the air is immediately freshened. As an inhalant, the remedy soothes and relieves stuffy noses.

Taken internally, especially in a tea or infusion with yarrow and elderflower, mint acts as an analgesic and promotes sweating, which helps reduce fevers.

Taking the cure

1. To prepare an infusion of this natural cold cure, bring two cups of water just to a boil.
    
2. Remove from heat and pour the hot liquid into a teapot into which you’ve placed one teaspoon each of dried elderflowers, dried yarrow and dried peppermint. (You may use a combination of the flowers, leaves and stems.)
    
3. Cover and allow to steep for about 20-30 minutes.
    
4. Strain the mixture through a strainer or cheesecloth.
    
5. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon and honey to taste.

In addition, if the cold is in progress, alternate individual cups of hot tea made with two teaspoons of dried herbs to each cup of boiling water. As always, add lemon and honey to taste.

For teas, use the herbs individually or in combination. The remedy should be effective as long as you use two teaspoons in total for each cup.

As a night-time inhalant, drop a handful of the herbs into boiling water and allow the aroma to permeate the room.

In the case of a common cold and symptoms associated with respiratory flu, this combination of herbal remedies and applications can help control the progress of the illness, and mitigate and eliminate infections without attacking the good and natural bacteria and enzymes that occur naturally in your body and digestive tract.

~Kate Sheridan Staff Editor