Herbs to fight the winter viruses

[Jewlz]

Hello!
Since you all seem to know your herbs, could you sugest one that helps fight those horrible winter colds and flus that manifest during winter?
Its heading into Winter here (in New Zealand) And I'm one of those people that always seems to be sick during winter. Its a major problem this year because I have to have a 70% course attendants to sit my exams.
I have a balanced diet and am take Echinacea herbal pills to help fight the winter bugs, But I want a herb or oil I can grow/buy in natural form to help fight the Winter Bugs.

Thanks heaps for any ideas!!

Jewlz

[Earth Walker]

Merry Meet & Welcome Jewlz :sunny:
I'll look and see what can be found. :)

For those who love, time is eternal....

[Emy]

well, when I feel a cold coming up I take echinacea and also I make a little brew on linden flowers (are they called that? you know the flowers from the Linden tree), that I pick from my brothers garden in the summer... I also use some pepparmynt from my mothers garden in the brew... works rather nicely for me anyways... =)

Blessing the herbs before you make the brew of course make it more efficient. Visualizing your immune system working, "fighting" the viruses can be an idea aswell, and taking showers where you visualize that the cold is getting rinsed off might also work...

However I guess the trick is never to get ill in the first place, wash your hands often, avoid getting to close to people who are already ill and tell yourself that you are not receptive of any nasty cold viruses are rather good ideas aswell. =)

Blessed be

[Lavender]

Hi Jewlz & welcome!

Here's a great tea you can make...

1 tablespoon of the following dried herbs:

Elderflower
peppermint
yarrow
feverfew
ginger
hyssop
anise seeds
and 10-12 rose hips, grounded up as fine as you can.

Mix the herbs together. Use 1 tsp of herbs to 1 cup boiling water. Let steep about 15-20 mins. Add honey to taste. Drink about 2-3 cups a day.

For an additional boost, as you're mixing the herbs together, picture in your mind the image of you healthy again. Wake the energies of the herbs to help your body heal & be healthy again. Do the same again as your tea is steeping. :)

[Celtic_Angel]

Merry meet Jewlz! :sunny:

Echinacea works well against colds if taken regularly before being exposed to any viruses or bugs. Peppermint, the only mint this works with, helps sooth stomach problems. Emy was dead on with those. For headaches, white willow bark is what aspirin is made out of and the herb feverfew is good. I'll do some research and see what I can come up with.

[Jewlz]

Thanx for the recipe! Looks like I'll have to head down and buy some dried herbs form the Health Food Shop. Mmmm! Now I have an excuse for more Peppermint! Thanx for all the help and fast replies you've been really helpful.

Hopefully Healthy,
Jewlz

[Emy]

Originally posted by Celtic_Angel
Merry meet Jewlz! :sunny:

Peppermint, the only mint this works with, helps sooth stomach problems. Emy was dead on with those. For headaches, white willow bark is what aspirin is made out of and the herb feverfew is good. I'll do some research and see what I can come up with.

Well, actually I only put pepparmint in my brew because it makes it taste better (Linden flowers don't taste that great) and it feels refreshing =)
Also I agree, Echinacea is really great with colds... just remeber to start using it before you the cold breaks out.... start taking it when you feel the first symptoms...

Blessings

[Jewlz]

Oh well, I went and got a stoke up on Echinacea and those Tea ingredients. Anyone know what the Echinacea is like to grow and cultivate? I really must get some reference books on herbs! Any suggestions for good ones?You guys are so helpfull!

Thanx,

Jewlz

[Silver Venus]

Merry Meet Jewlz :D
Echinacea is brilliant and Ive also heard (put never tried) that basil tes is brilliant for your immune system and for flushing out the cold or bug.

[Kaylara]

Well, for one, Echinacea likes well drained soil, in a sunny location... It's common name is Purple Coneflower (echinacea purpea?) The part of the plant that you use is the root. To use it, the plant has to be three years old to get the plant at it's peak. (You will be taking this plants life, make sure to consult the plant for permission first, and honor and replace the plant afterwards.) These plants are endangered in the wild, so do not disturb these plants in the wild.

Also, you shouldn't take echinacea for more than 3 weeks at a time. I like to do the 2 weeks on, two weeks off thing.

Hope that this helps...
Kaylara

[Methanespirit]

I remember years ago. a fellow employee for weeks on end, always had colds and flu-like symptoms during the cool and extremely dry winter days of southern Arizona. After questioning her, it was found that she, upon returning home in the evenings, would take a very hot shower. Apparently, she would stay in the shower and increase the temperature until her body would become accustomed to the extreme hot. It was recommended that she turn down the hot water and shower in more reasonable water temperatures. This solved the problem!

[Jewlz]

Wow! Thats really interesting with the shower thing! (I dont think its me though!) Someone that's been to New Zealand! What did you think of the weather? We just had Snow a week ago and its Autumn! Brrrr! Anyway, I dont think I'll grow one because I'd feel horrible growing a plant for three years than having to kill it after all that caring and watching it grow. I'd be far too attached to it!

Thankyou everyone, and you should come back to Dunedin sometime!

Jewlz

[EasternPriest]

Hi jewlz = I'd love to make it back to Dunedin some day:) I was there a week and loved it. Must be my Scottish blood:) I was there in August, just as the flowers were getting ready to pop.

[idusty88]

Originally posted by Kaylara
These plants are endangered in the wild, so do not disturb these plants in the wild.

Also, you shouldn't take echinacea for more than 3 weeks at a time. I like to do the 2 weeks on, two weeks off thing.

Good points Kaylara. I too have read that echinachea should not be taken perpetually as the effectiveness wears off over time. Then again it takes a couple weeks of being in the system before it's effectiveness kicks in.