Winter Colds and Seasonal Viruses
I am definitely a proponent of drinking a soothing cup of hot tea during the cold winter months, for pleasure and for health. Almost any tea - black, white, green, red, or tisane - will do wonders for internal feelings of cold and the miseries and challenges of staying well. I have a couple of favorites.
Try to notice the first sign of decline as soon as possible. You know, that little message that comes with a cough or a sneeze that signals more than a cursory event…Oh, no, I don’t want to catch this!
I have had very good results with Lemon Soothe tea in just this situation. I like to add a big squeeze from a fresh organic lemon. This boosts the vitamin C, and acts a bit antibiotic with the mucosal lining of mouth and throat. If the throat and cough are “ticklish” I recommend the addition of honey, another natural wonder. This wonderfully warming brew will hydrate, and hopefully keep congestion loose. Lemon balm, lemongrass, lemon verbena and lemon peel….with a squeeze of lemon! Sort of a fabulous herbal hot lemonade. It tastes very good.
Classic Peppermint tea works well in this circumstance, too. It feels good and it smells wonderful. Take deep inhaling breaths from the steaming cup between sips. This is very soothing., and especially good when there is stomach upset or queasiness. Children like this one, but don’t brew it overly-strong for them.
A fine blend of essential oils makes a great rub for chest and upper back. It smells good, feels good, and can help ease those spasmodic coughs.
In our culture, we tend to keep right on working or going to school, rather than taking ourselves out of the game to rest, restore, and keep from spreading our colds. Anything we can do to assuage the onslaught of colds and seasonal viruses is desirable. There are flower essences for this circumstance that can help early on, or for those times when overcoming these winter maladies seems to drag on. We have choices, and these are not secrets.
Let common sense dictate when it’s time to see a physician, but don’t be afraid to take steps on your own behalf. Some of us are sick of pills, and really don’t want to use antibiotics unless it’s absolutely necessary. The body really does have a natural ability to heal itself.