If you’re ill with a type of respiratory infection, try this herbal tea remedy.
This week, several counties in our area called off school because so many kids were sick. I’m ill myself for 2 weeks now with bronchitis.
The worst parts is the cough, especially when it comes to sleeping. Once I started drinking this herbal tea before bedtime, I’ve been able to sleep better.
Anytime I’m sick I go to my apothecary cabinet, which has herbal preparations I’ve made, like tinctures. I also have on hand dried herbs so I can make herbal teas. Herbal teas can easily be made with common culinary herbs, like thyme, which I grow in my garden.
I’m not sick too often, but when I am, I get to try all the herbal remedies I’ve made. This time around I’ve discovered the power of the herb, thyme.
It’s About Thyme
Thyme is a go-to herb when it comes to infections of the throat, bronchial tubes, and lungs.
This includes any uncomplicated illness like upper respiratory infection, colds, flu, bronchitis, strep throat, and sinus issues. Any more serious or chronic illness, check with a doctor first.
The English doctor Nicholas Culpeper from the Complete Herbal,
“It is a noble strengthener of the lungs…it purges the body of phlegm and it is an excellent remedy for shortness of breath…”.
The medicinal properties of thyme includes: antibacterial, antiseptic, antispasmodic, decongestant and relaxant.
Thyme works by helping clear mucus congestion, opening up the lungs and stimulating blood flow. It is a respiratory antiseptic, which gets rid of germs and therefore the symptoms they produce.
Thyme is also a great herb for digestive issues.
Thyme can simply be made as an herbal tea and it works wonderfully this way. It is so easy and actually tastes pleasant too! So much better than drugstore cough medicine.
Lemon+Honey+Thyme Tea
- lemon wedge (1/4 of lemon)
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- honey (1tsp)
- Infuse the thyme in hot water for 5 minutes.
- Add lemon and honey to taste.
- Drink 1-3 cups daily.
The best honey will be local and/or raw. Beware cheaper grocery store honey may not be honey at all, but rice syrup. Manuka honey is supposed to be an extra healing type of honey.
If you’re using fresh thyme, use 1 tablespoon.
After drinking the tea my lungs do feel like they’re more open and I feel like my cough has decreased since starting the tea regimen.
It actually tastes pretty good and tastes more lemony than it does thyme.
Thyme is a very safe herb and said to be safe for children and pregnant women (Grow It, Heal It. Hobbs & Gardner 2013.)
Disclaimer: Anytime it comes to your health, check with your doctor and decide what is best for you or your child.
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