5 Herbal Cold Remedies

Learn about the five herbal cold remedies you can use for colds and flu symptoms. Herbal remedies have been used for years, and they speed the time it takes to get better. Many herbal remedies have been used like elderberries, mustard packs, ginger tea, garlic tea, peppermint tea and lemonade. The main point is to drink plenty of liquids that are good for you. Herbal teas are in this category. Gargling with salt in warm water is good for the throat and mucous membranes. So, some simple herbal remedies often give positive relief to symptoms of the common cold. Some herbs have side effects, so check with your doctor if you have serious conditions.

1. Mustard Pack. This is used to treat colds in the body. It is also known as mustard plaster. It has been use to treat a number of symptoms. You will need paper towels, dry mustard powder, white flour, dish towel and water. Mix ingredients in a small bowl to make mustard pack. In the bowl, mix one tablespoon of dry mustard powder and three to five tablespoons white flour. Add one to two tablespoons tap water until the mixture is like cream cheese. Spoon the mustard onto paper towels and put into the folded dishtowel. Heat the dishtowel with hot water bottle or heating pad for ten to fifteen minutes. Put olive oil on area you plan to treat and apply the mustard pack for at least ten minutes. It works for half an hour. Treat the chest area or any painful area that needs attention.
2. Ginger Tea. The tea has been used to fight colds and flu in India and China. It helps clear congestion and is an excellent antioxidant. There are many recipes for making ginger tea using fresh ginger root. Often, ginger tea is made by tea manufacturers in tea bags for your convenience. Drink the beverage hot when you make it. This is how it works best. You can add a drop of ginger essential oil to hot water to make a ginger tea. Ginger tea is often sold in health food stores as well as ginger essential oil. It is a blood thinner and sometimes causes an upset stomach. Use in moderation.
   
3. Peppermint Tea. This is another herbal remedy with many health benefits. One of them is that it clears congestion and coughs associated with the common cold. The tea has menthol, an oil which has a healing effect on the body. Peppermint tea can be made by using loose peppermint tea leaves and hot water or buying the tea bags. Drinking peppermint when you have a cold will help you relieve your symptoms fast.
4. Elderberry. The extract from black elderberries fights colds and respiratory viruses. Rapid recovery from colds happens when taking an elderberry extract called sambucol, available at many natural health food stores. It is a syrup, and you can make your own elderberry syrup from scratch. Elderberry bushes are easy to grow so you can buy a bush to make your own syrup. Sometimes, you can pick berries at farm markets that grow them. Simmer two cups of elderberries in four cups of water for 45 minutes to one hour. Strain through a fine mesh strainer, then mash the berries to extract as much liquid as possible. Add one and a half cups honey to the mixture and pour into empty soda bottle. Store chilled in refrigerator. Take by tablespoons like a cough syrup.
5. Licorice Root. The tasty root is known to relieve flu and cold symptoms. It even helps with coughs. It comes in extract form that you can add to tea or beverages. It is prepared in tea form where you can brew a hot cup of tea flavored with the root. It has side effects, so discuss with your doctor whether it is safe for you to use it.