Quick Remedies for Cold and Flu

Tea is one the best choices for treating cold and flu because it not only has a direct therapeutic effect, but it also rehydrates the organism and supplies the organism with minerals, helping it restore the hydroelectrolytic balance affected by the excessive perspiration. Whether they are made from one or several herbs, medicinal drinks are always a good choice when it comes to treating or relieving the symptoms of cold or flu.

White willow bark infusion

• Preparation: Add 10 g of finely cut dried plant in 250 ml of hot boiled water and let steep for 10 minutes.
• Administration: Drink 3 cups a day, as hot as possible.
• Contraindications: White willow bark is not to be consumed by those suffering from kidney insufficiency or asthma.

Seabuckthorn tea and honey

In a review published in Sikkim Manipal University Medical Journal in 2014 it can be read that “phytochemical compound “Hiporamin” extracted from seabuckthorn leaves have shown to have effective antiviral and antimicrobial activities (Kripkova et. al., 2008). […] Shipulina et. al., (2005) recorded potent inhibitory antiviral activity against Influenza and Herpes viruses from seabuckthorn fruit extracts. It also showed inhibitory effect in a HIV infection in the cell culture and antimicrobial activity (Suryakumar and Gupta, 2011).”

• Preparation: Mix 40 g (5 tablespoons) of seabuckthorn leaves and fruits powder with 20 g (1 tablespoon) of honey. Add 1 l of water and slowly boil the mixture for 30 minutes.
• Administration: Drink 3-4 cups a day, as hot as possible.

Spices liquor

• Ingredients: 3 g of cinnamon, 3 g of ground black pepper, 5 g of dried basil, and 5 g of fennel.
• Preparation: Add the mixture in 250 ml of hot boiled water and let steep for 10 minutes.
• Administration: Drink 2-3 cups a day, as hot as possible.

Six herb mixture

A study published in Clinical Nutrition in 2012 showed that “supplementation of the diet with aged garlic extract may enhance immune cell function and that this may be responsible, in part, for reduced severity of colds and flu.”

A study published in The American Journal of Chinese Medicine in 2006 showed that ginger root extract has a macrophage-mediated inhibitory effect on the growth of influenza virus.

• Ingredients: 5 garlic cloves, 1 piece of fresh ginger root (1 cm thick) or 1 teaspoon of dried ginger root powder, ½ teaspoon of hot pepper powder, 2 branches of dill, 1 medium lemon, and 1-2 teaspoons of honey.
• Preparation: Boil 500 ml of water, then add the crushed garlic and grated ginger root. After 3 minutes add the hot pepper and the dill and the juice from the lemon and let the mixture slowly boil for another 5 minutes, then sift and sweeten with the honey.
• Administration: Drink before bedtime.

Ginger and garlic potion

• Ingredients: 1 piece of fresh ginger root (2 cm thick) or 2 teaspoons of dried ginger root powder, 1 garlic clove, and ½ lemon.
• Preparation: Mix the grated ginger with the smashed garlic, then add the juice from the lemon and 2 cups of water. Boil the mixture for 20 minutes, gradually adding water to compensate for the quantity that evaporates.
• Administration: Take 20 drops in a glass of water, 2 times a day, in case of a common cold, and 40 drops in a glass of water, 2 times a day, in case of flu.

Beer yeast and garlic paste

• Preparation: Mix 1 teaspoon of fresh beer yeast with 1 smashed garlic clove.
• Administration: Consume immediately after preparation, 3 times a day.

Black currant medicinal wine

• Preparation: Add 100 g of finely cut dried black currants in 1 l of red dry wine and let it macerate for 10 days, shaking the recipient 3 times a day. Sift and store in a dark place.
• Administration: Drink it mulled with cinnamon, 3 cups a day, during a meal.

Rosemary medicinal wine

• Preparation: Add 2 tablespoons of finely cut herb in 1 l of red dry wine and let it macerate for 10 days, shaking the recipient 3 times a day. Sift and store in a dark place.
• Administration: Drink 2 glasses a day, one at lunch and one before bedtime.

Grape pomace and honey syrup

• Preparation: Mix 2 tablespoons (30 g) of dried grape pomace with 50 g of liquid honey. Add 200 ml of coltsfoot tea (if you don’t have coltsfoot, you can use seabuckthorn, rose hip, St. John’s wort or chamomile).
• Administration: Take 2 tablespoons, 3 times a day, during a meal.