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It's inevitable. Summer will fade into crunchy leaves and cozy
sweaters. Soon after that, we'll have snow and ice to contend with.
Holiday shopping lists. And the ultimate dread of winter: cold and flu
season. But while there's still a little time left to tend to your
organic garden, consider growing these medicinal herbs to use when the
sniffles finally catch up to you. Grow them either outside or indoors
for year-round use.
1. Thyme:
This culinary herb can easily grow in your kitchen or in your garden
and is most beneficial during cold and flu season. An expectorant, it
can help move coughs and lung infections out of the body quickly.
Thymol, an active compound in thyme is antimicrobial and may help to
kill off the bugs in your body. There are several uses: you can eat or
drink lots of it (your tea will taste a bit like Thanksgiving stuffing),
and you can inhale the vapors by making a nasal steam with the fresh or dried thyme leaves. Drop a big handful into the tub for a steamy soak, too.
2. Mint: Another easy kitchen herb to grow, mint is a
great soother for upset tummies—whether from the flu or too many
Christmas cookies. Fresh mint can go right into hot water for tea, or
you can dry the leaves. You can also add these to your thyme steam or
warm bath for arometherapeutic benefits.
3. Rosemary: The fragrant rosemary leaf is loaded
with antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, D, E and K. It's a powerful
antiseptic that may help reduce the length of a cold or flu and bring
relief to chest and nasal congestion. A truly hardy shrub, rosemary is a
gorgeous addition to your garden, and it will also grow well indoors in
a kitchen herb garden. Use the fresh leaves in tea, steams or tubs to
relieve symptoms. Along with thyme, you can add fresh rosemary leaves to
a veggie broth too for an added medicinal boost.
4. Echinacea: You'll benefit best from taking
Echinacea before you get sick, as that's how it seems to be most
effective. So, once you start feeling a bit more tired than normal, or
people around you are dropping like flies, you'll be happy you grew
these beautiful flowers. While it's best to start these in early summer,
if you're in a warmer climate, you'll have no problem growing the
gorgeous coneflowers now. Once they bloom, harvest the leaves and buds
and let dry by hanging outside or in a dry part of the home. Cover with
cheesecloth or a paper bag with holes in it to prevent bugs or dust
settling on the flowers. Once dried, you can brew into a tea, which will
have mild flavor. Drink 2–4 cups per day.
Written by Jill Ettinger
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