Catching the flu during this time can cause panic because of the pandemic happening now. However, in case you feel under the weather and caught a common cold, all you have to do is pick out something from your herb garden that can help you to stay stronger and feel better.
Flu season is over but we’re fighting a virus that has been affecting more than a hundred thousand people all around the world, which is the COVID-19. Staying away from people and keeping yourself healthy is very important.
Learn what herbs you can use from your garden and how to use them in case you catch the flu.
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How to Make the Most Out of Your Herb Garden to Fight Off Flu
Garden Herbs You Can Use To Fight Off Flu
Remember, these herbs you can find in your garden can be used to fight off the flu and not the coronavirus. These garden goodies are packed with vitamins to keep your immune system in top shape during these times.
1. Rosemary
I love rosemaries especially when I use it for cooking. I roasted a chicken recently, coated it with rosemary, and it was very scrumptious.
However, did you know this herb can help you fight off sickness especially during the early stages of the flu? Its beneficial properties include vitamins A and C, it is anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antibacterial, antiseptic, and is known to fight off infection.
How to Use It to Fight Off Flu:
Make a rosemary tea. Here’s how to do it:
- Use one cup of hot water then add two teaspoons of fresh rosemary leaves in a teabag and diffuse it in the water for about 5 minutes.
- You can also use a teaspoon of dried rosemary.
Another idea is making rosemary steam. It can help clear off a clogged nose and at the same time be a flu remedy. What you need to do is:
- Get a medium-sized bowl and fill it with hot water.
- Fill the top with rosemary leaves then cover your head and the bowl so you can inhale the steam.
2. Oregano
The oil of oregano to be exact. This herb is traditionally used to cure fever and respiratory problems, which are both related to flu.
Just like the other herbs in this list, oregano contains anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral properties that can fight off colds and flu. It contains carvacrol, thymol, and terpinene that help the immune system to be stronger.
How to Use It to Fight Off Flu:
Use an oregano essential oil to fight off sickness. It can be ingested and mixed in food or inhaled through an essential oil diffuser.
When used as a spray, research proved it can cure sore throat faster than other remedies such as ingestion of warm water.
3. Peppermint
Because of the minty flavor of this herb, it can help soothe clogged nose, fight off flu, fever, and even headaches. Other benefits include fighting an upset stomach.
It can provide coolness, can soothe skin, and help refresh yourself. In fighting fever, it opens up the pores of your skin letting the heat from your body out.
How to Use It to Fight Off Flu:
Just like the rosemary, you can make a peppermint tea or steam.
To make a peppermint tea:
- Add two teaspoons of fresh leaves or one teaspoon of dried leaves to a cup of hot water.
- Steep for 10 minutes before straining.
For the steam:
- Get a medium-sized bowl and fill it with hot water.
- Fill the top with peppermint leaves then cover your head and the bowl so you can inhale the steam.
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4. Thyme
Aside from battling flu, thyme can act as a relaxant and can be used to relieve pain. It can also be a remedy for headaches, muscle soreness, and cramps.
It is also used to congest mucus buildup in the lungs and can treat dry cough.
How to Use It to Fight Off Flu:
Fight off flu by making a thyme tea. How to do it:
- Add two teaspoons of fresh leaves or one teaspoon of dried leaves to a cup of hot water.
- Steep for 10 minutes before straining.
5. Sage
Aside from the great benefits of fighting off the flu, sage is a great treatment for building one’s memory. It’s not called a “Thinker’s Tea” for nothing, after all.
It is also rich in vitamins A, C, and K, and a great antiseptic as well. With that being said, it is a great remedy for sore throats and swollen tissues.
How to Use It to Fight Off Flu:
Make a sage tea and drink it regularly when you’re feeling under the weather. Do this by:
- Add two teaspoons of fresh leaves or one teaspoon of dried leaves to a cup of hot water.
- Steep for 10 minutes before straining.
Bonus: Garlic
Well, garlic is more of a root or a bulb but is also considered an herb. It is easy to plant and can be grown inside your kitchen or if you have an indoor garden of your own.
Garlic, and at the same time the onion family, is full of minerals and vitamins, which is the same reason they are so tasteful. It has anti-inflammatory properties and helps make your immune system get stronger to fight off the flu and the common colds.
How to Use It to Fight Off Flu:
Take it raw or cooked. Whichever way you like to. Despite its strong smell, it has lots of benefits.
Watch this video from Simply Quinoa for using tonic recipes from your herb garden as cold and flu remedies:
We need to be healthier to fight off the coronavirus that has been spreading very quickly. These garden herbs can help fight off flu and need to be taken regularly to be more effective. Remember, always be safe and stay healthy all the time. As much as possible, stay inside your house.
Were you able to try these garden herbs to help fight off the flu? Share your experiences in the comment section provided below!
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