Coping With the Cold Snap
In many ways it's great to be having a proper cold winter for a change! However, this cold snap is proving pretty persistent, as are many of the viruses being passed around this season. The typical symptoms seem to be a persistent and irritating cough that hangs on long after the initial fluey or head cold symptoms have subsided.
As with all herbal remedies, there is no such thing as a 'one size fits all' solution, and often resolution of unshakable symptoms will depend on improving other factors such as stress, diet and poor immunity. Having said that, there are some excellent herbs which can help.
The safest and often most effective way of taking self-medicated herbal remedies is in the form of a tea. People often assume that the efficacy of a herbal tea is less than that of tinctures or tablets, but that is really not the case, as long as you use enough of the herb to make a relatively strong infusion. For a standard sized mug, I tend to recommend a tablespoon or two of a blend of 3 or more dried herbs, and for a single herb, then a teaspoon or two will be sufficient. Obviously the physical form of the plant will influence these measures, for example something small like thyme is fine in a teaspoon, but for whole marigold heads, a teaspoon won't be much use!
A good blend to shift stubborn coughs would be plantain, thyme, elderflower and coltsfoot in equal measure. Mix the dried ingredients together and store in an airtight container if possible, though a brown paper bag is fine for a week or so. Use a couple of tablespoons per mug and infuse for 10 minutes, strain and drink 3 times a day. It may be useful to add grated fresh ginger and a bit of honey to help sooth the airways, get the blood going and improve the taste!
Always consult a qualified herbalist if symptoms persist for more than one or two weeks, if you are on any medication, or if you have any other health issues. Recurrent infection and poor immunity are issues which will not be solved with a symptomatic tea blend, but can be easily resolved with an individual treatment plan following a consultation, so please do get in touch if you have any queries about a more personalised and holistic approach.
You can always call me on the number above, or pop in to discuss the tea mentioned above, or to chat about whether you'd be better having a full consultation and treatment...I'm available between 9 and 1 on a Monday and 9 and 6 on a Thursday at the Neal's Yard Remedies shop in Princesshay in the centre of Exeter. In the mean time, stay warm!