I have been inspired by my recent reoccurring bout of sickness to share with you some home tea remedies that can aid with your symptoms and above all, make you feel a little brighter in those dark, dark times (yes being sick can even make us all a little dramatic). If you are anything like me, going to the doctor is always my last resort, but sometimes it is unavoidable and our bodies need a little extra help. But throughout all, to soothe your symptoms can be as simple and delicious as knowing what to brew for your specific illness. Below I have compiled some simple ingredients that you (hopefully) already have in your kitchen, or can be easily found outdoors (hopefully again) by someone other than yourself. Drinking tea and taking some time to rest sounds pretty darn nice, so go ahead and do just that, by giving your body the adequate rest and abundance of tea it needs to get better.
Honey
Known for being an anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant, and an antibacterial, this is what makes honey the number one go to when you are sick. It works by lowering inflammation in the throat helping to reduce swelling and soothe the pain, whilst also suppressing coughs by coating the receptors in your mouth that become irritated. Honey is also said to loosen and lower the amount of mucous your body produces which can therefore limit the urge to cough. Simply spoon some honey into warm water or into your tea and enjoy its naturally sweet flavour.
Lemon
My Mum always told me to mix lemon and honey together when I was sick, and I think that is proof that our mum’s are always right. Lemon on its own contains antioxidants and high levels of vitamin C. It is known that vitamin C helps to boost your immune system and helps to protect against cold and flu symptoms. Lemon also acts as a natural anaesthetic, helping to numb sore throats to relieve of any pain. It is also very good at breaking down mucous, enabling you to clear it from your throat more easily. Hot lemon water on its own may be too sour to drink for some, but add a tablespoon of honey to your water or tea, and you have a double action flu-fighting combo.
Ginger
An all-time favourite used by many cultures; Ginger is a powerful home remedy that can help with a variety of sickness. Known foremostly as an anti-nausea relief, ginger’s natural compounds help to increase your digestive responsiveness to speed up the process of emptying your stomach- reducing nausea. The anti-inflammatory properties in ginger can help to improve digestion and support regulating hormones to calm your body from feelings of nausea. These anti-inflammatory properties combined with ginger’s antioxidants can also help to soothe a dry sore throat, and reduce coughing by relaxing the airway muscles in the throat. Brew your own fresh ginger in water and bring to a boil, or use a pre-made ginger tea. Feel free to add other flu combatting ingredients to your ginger tea to give your immune system a boost.
Cayenne Pepper
Before you turn your nose up at this remedy, let me assure you that it seriously helps in providing a much-needed cough relief. I once had a cough that I could not get rid of, then upon trying cayenne pepper, my cough was instantly suppressed. It works by breaking down the congestion in your chest, helping to subdue your need to cough. Studies have also shown that the active ingredient in cayenne pepper, capsaicin, has promising antibacterial effects which can help fight bacterial infections such as strep throat. And if you are suffering from nasal congestion brought on from the common cold, capsaicin can help to shrink dilated blood vessels in the nose and throat, relieving congestion. Add a ¼ of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper to your hot honey and lemon tea, or mix in with ginger tea, where you can also add a splash of apple cider vinegar to really knock your sickness on its head.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is one of those all-round miracle workers that has a helping hand in almost everything it touches. It is no different when it comes to matters of the health, containing antimicrobial properties and antioxidants that help to ease cold symptoms. Adding apple cider vinegar to your pre-made tea can help to soothe the throat, ease coughing, and loosen mucous to help you feel better faster. You can add apple cider vinegar to honey and lemon, ginger, cayenne pepper, turmeric, cinnamon, and green tea.
Peppermint Tea
If you have some peppermint tea laying around, then put on the kettle and get brewing! Peppermint leaves contain menthol which have antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties that help to soothe your throat, subdue your cough, and fight off bacteria. Menthol can have a slight anaesthetic effect which helps to numb the pain from your sore throat and aid in keeping your cough at bay. Peppermint tea also helps to clear blocked sinuses, making the ability of breathing a little easier. Battling a cold does not have to be so miserable with a mug of peppermint tea by your side.
Turmeric
Turmeric is another powerhouse that we want on our side when we are sick. Containing the powerful active compound curcumin, which is proven to have many benefits on our health, acts as a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial. Ingesting turmeric on a regular basis helps to build up our immune system to prevent us from falling sick. But if you are already sick fret not, turmeric can also help with cold and flu symptoms. As an effective anti-inflammatory, turmeric aids in relieving discomfort of the throat and nose from coughing and sneezing. The best way to consume turmeric is to maximise its full benefits by mixing it with a small amount of black pepper. This is because black pepper enhances the absorption of turmeric’s active compound curcumin, by 2000 percent! Indulge in a hot turmeric milk tea (with a sprinkle of black pepper), or ditch the milk and mix it with your honey and ginger tea instead.
Cinnamon
Whoever loves the smell of cinnamon is in luck with this home remedy. Not only does cinnamon smell and taste amazing, it can also aid in soothing a sore throat and breaking down mucous. Studies have shown that cinnamon has anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and antibacterial properties which can assist with the common cold and flu. Furthermore, combining honey and cinnamon together creates a natural, yet delicious, and healthy tonic. Especially on those cooler days, having a delicious cup of hot honey and cinnamon may even help you forget you are sick.
Chamomile Tea
This one is perfect if you already have a box of chamomile tea in your pantry. Preferably taken before bedtime, as chamomile tea has calming effects that can help you drift off to sleep easier. This is especially welcomed when we know how hard sleep can be when sick, and getting the adequate amount of rest also helps to speed up our recovery. Not only is chamomile soothing for sleep, it acts as a strong anti-inflammatory which helps to reduce swelling from a sore throat caused by cough, cold, or flu.
Green Tea
I think we all know the numerous benefits of green tea by now, but how could I not put it on the list! Green tea contains powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral properties which are the things we are looking for when it comes to fighting cold and flu. Drinking green tea can help reduce inflammation in the throat and reduce its pain. Its powerful antioxidants also aid in protecting our immune systems against getting sick. Using green tea as a base for adding any of the above ingredients is my top pick, as you are increasing the amount of healing properties needed to get you feeling fighting fit and back on your feet.
Elderberry Tea
Lastly, you cannot look past elderberry tea when wanting to reduce the duration of your sickness. Similarly to green tea, elderberry tea contains polyphenols which are rich in antioxidants that help to keep you healthy. Studies showed that drinking elderberry tea reduced the duration and severity of cold and flu symptoms including, cough, pain, fever, and congestion. Now that doesn’t sound bad at all. Look out for elderberry tea at your health food shop or your supermarkets natural food aisle, and brew yourself a mug.
