Cold and Flu Tea
When I was a little girl, my mother gave me honey when I had a cough. My husband remembered drinking tea with lemon and honey when he was sick. We all probably have some story to tell how home remedies were used to nurse the sick back to health. Recently, I found a tea recipe that is suppose to prevent or help with symptoms of a cold or flu. I first tried it on my daughter who came home from college on a weekend and proceeded to get sick the very next day. Having just read about this, she was willing to try this tea cocktail. The taste was flavorful she said as she drank it all down. Shortly, thereafter, she said she was feeling a little better. Now maybe it was coincidence, but within a matter of a few hours, she was out of bed, stiring around and eating food.
Another story to share is one from work. One of the folks I work with started with a cold. This particular person is VERY skeptical about anything that not purchased at a drug store. I offered to make the tea, and because of the cold that was upon them, agreed to try it. At first, this person wasn't in favor of the tea's taste, but after the first couple of sips stated it was, in fact, good.
Amazingly, after drinking a few sips of the tea, the report was "Something happened, the stuff in the back of my troat is gone and I can breathe better." For the rest of the day, this person felt pretty good. The next day, there was disappointment that I didn't bring anymore tea. I think the tea may help reduce the effects of the cold or flu and maybe even shorten the duration. This is not a cure, but can help with symptoms.
Personally, I find the flavors quite good, but I like tea anyway. There are a lot of different spices in this one. I have to admit, the cayenne pepper scared me a little! Be careful not to use too much, a little goes a long way.
I placed the spices in a coffee filter and steeped it that way in the hot water. I purchased the metal tea steeps, but the spices are so small, they go through. I don't like floaters in my drinks, so I opted for the coffee filter. If you have fresh herbs, then the metal tea steeps will work fine.
Here is the recipe straight out of "Be Your Own Doctor" by Rachel Weaver.
Cold and Flu Tea
1 whole clove
1/2 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp sage
1/2 cinnamon stick
1 tsp honey juice for half a lemon
Place spices together. Add honey and lemon juice in the cup. Let spices steep for several minutes and drink.
Health-bite: drink natural teas for cold and flu
