Natural Cold Remedies for Congestion, Coughs and Sore Throat

Grow your own natural cold remedies for treating congestion, coughs and sore throat with recipes for a sore throat gargle, steam inhalation and herbal honey.

By Anne McIntyre
January 2012 Web
Homegrown Remedies
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Have you ever wanted to grow your own remedies, but wondered how you would go about it, or what equipment you would need? Now with Homegrown Remedies, you can learn how to grow herbs in pots and use your plants to create natural remedies to treat a variety of health complaints and common ailments.
Photo By Juliette Wade
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The following is excerpted from “Homegrown Remedies” by Anne McIntyre (Gaia, 2011). The excerpts are from Chapter 3: The Remedies. 

Breathe-easy inhalation

For catarrh

Inhaling the aromatic steam from a hot peppermint, thyme and nasturtium tea is a really effective way to clear the airways. Peppermint is a well-known decongestant, while thyme and nasturtium are warming and stimulating, helping to fight off infection and clear catarrh.

Ingredients
• 3 teaspoons each fresh or 2 teaspoons dried of thyme, peppermint and nasturtium
• 1/4 litres (2 1/2 pints) boiling water
Makes 1 1/4 litres (2 1/2 pints) tea 

How to make
1. Place the herbs in a teapot.
2. Pour over the boiling water and leave to stand for 15 minutes.
3. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and pour into a bowl.

How to use
Place the bowl on a firm surface, cover your head with a towel and inhale the wonderful aromas for about 10 minutes or until you feel your nose and chest clearing. Repeat 2 or 3 times a day.

Did you know?
Peppermint contains menthol oils and is a penetrating decongestant.

Growing
Line the hanging basket with moss or a similar permeable membrane to allow for drainage. Cover the lining with enough compost to reach the top of the basket. Place the peppermint in the centre, surround it with four nasturtiums alternated with the thyme. Water regularly and feed weekly.

Plants you will need
• 1 Mentha piperita [peppermint]
• 4 Tropaeolum majus [nasturtium]
• 3 Thymus vulgaris [thyme]

You could also try…
• Inhaling oils of lavender rosemary, ginger, cinnamon or chamomile, adding them to baths or massage oils for around the nose and sinuses
• Washing the sinuses by sniffing salt water
• Omitting wheat, dairy and sugar from the diet
• Drinking teas of the herbs above or of Echinacea, thyme, ginger, cinnamon, yarrow, chamomile, agrimony or meadowsweet 3-6 times daily

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