Gluten Free & God Seeking: Summer is a Great Time to Dry Herbs & Make a Cold, Cough, & Flu Tea for the Fall!

How I Got Into Making My Own Tea

This is an update of something I posted a few years ago. I have added about twelve more herbs to this tea, and so I wanted to let anyone else know what they can do with those beautiful medicinal herbs and spices that they are growing!

Over twenty years ago I lived next door to a horticulturist who had a flower shop in downtown Seattle. Eventually she made both her front and backyards into different types of flower gardens. When her fight with a brain tumor was almost at an end, she told me I could dig up any of the plants I wanted. Besides some beautiful perennial plants, I chose some lemon balm, peppermint, feverfew, sweet woodruff, and a daisy.

A few years after planting them, I wondered couldn't I dry this peppermint and make my own tea?! So that began a summer hobby that I've had for many years. Every year I'd pick a few more to research and start drying. It was fun researching about the plants that I had gotten from her and from the nursery. It's surprising that many of them had medicinal benefits. It was also interesting to find out that many of the herbs I grow for spices like oregano, sage, thyme, rosemary, and marjoram are great for fighting the common cold and soothing a cough.

About ten years ago a dear friend named Rose, whose Chinese recipes I've shared on this blog, gave me some rose bushes when she moved to Illinois. I was really surprised to find out that certain roses can be dried and some of them have both antibacterial and antiviral properties. I grow organically and so a few years ago I thought let me check and see if there's anything in the strawberry and raspberry leaves in my garden, and I was surprised to find they contain a wealth of botanical compounds great for maintaining health.

So because in the Northwest we have a pretty rugged winter, I began putting together all the herbs that treat colds, coughs, and flu and I put them in jars and made labels for them. Over the years I've given them to my family and friends as gifts. Every summer I enjoy cutting and drying herbs so I can mix up a fresh batch of this tea.

HERBS & FLOWERS FOR COLD, COUGH & FLU TEA

Click on the link below on how to dry herbs for more details but basically herbs are placed on racks, cardboard, or paper towels or plates for about two weeks. They should be dry to the touch and easy to rub off into a jar or bowl.

(1) Calendula: Reduces a fever, soothes a sore throat, stimulates the immune system, flavonoids prevent infection and inflammation.

(2) Daisy: Colds, cough, bronchitis and reduces a fever.

(3) Dandelion leaf: Antibacterial and antiviral properties. Make sure you pick these in the woods or a clearing where there are no pesticides.

(4) Feverfew: Use for wheezing and coughs. Also an energizing herb. Pain reliever; helps with asthma, fever, and sinus congestion. I usually dry it in vases.

(5) Lavender: Helps relieve headaches and nervous exhaustion common when ill.

(6) Lemon Balm: The tannins and polyphenols in lemon balm extracts have antibacterial & antiviral effects. Used in treatment of colds, flu, and cold sores. Contains eugenol a natural pain reliever.

(7) Nettle: Colds, bronchitis, stimulates the lymphatic system. (I pick these from a nearby forest.)

(8) Rose: Antibacterial and antiviral, clears lungs, flushes toxins and soothes a sore throat.

(9) Yarrow: Contains antiseptic qualities that fight bacteria. Good for colds, flu, and fever. Helps detoxify the body Good for soothing a sore throat.

Update July 15, 2023 - Over the past few years I have continued to research herbs that are good for colds, cough, and flu. Yesterday I was putting together a batch of herbs that I dried and I had about 22 of them! Besides the 9 listed here, you can also dry on racks or cardboard the following herbs that I've learned in recent years also help tackle colds and coughs:

1. Peppermint - antibacterial/viral

2. Raspberry leaves - an immune system booster

3. Sweet woodruff - antibacterial/viral/fungal

4. Lavender - good for the common cold and coughs

5. Sage - antibacterial/viral/fungal

6. Oregano - antibacterial/viral/fungal and an immune system booster!

7. Hyssop - for the common cold, bronchitis, and a fever reducer

8. Catnip Mint - antibacterial/viral and good for coughs

9. Rosemary - Good for respiratory problems and an immune system booster!

10. Chamomile - good for the common cold

11. Bronze Fennel - Good for congestion

12. Red clover blossoms - Good for a bad cough

13. Marjoram - Antimicrobial, good for common cold and coughs

14. English ivy - Congestion and bronchitis

Have fun doing some of your own research and make your own brew! The strong flavor of peppermint and lavender generally masks the stronger tones of oregano and sage.

Many of these herbs can also be steeped in extra virgin olive oil, grapeseed oil, or almond oil and made into an infused oil. Check some of the links below for things I've made and go online and check other websites! Have fun!!