Now although you lucky readers who live in the northern hemisphere are heading into Summer, here in Australia winter is well and truly upon us, and with that comes sub zero temperatures, icy winds, rain, fog and snow so it stands to reason that coughs and colds are inevitable.

And as we all know, once one person in the family affected, a cold  quickly  spreads from person to person until everyone in the house is sick with running noses, temperatures, coughs, achy bodies and many other symptoms.

And what with the cost of Doctors visits  becoming more and more expensive, taking a full house off ailing patients to the doctor  can be very costly.

So we have found  a more natural approach to helping ease the symptoms of coughs, colds and  flu  which can actually be used just as well for summer colds.

I am lucky enough to have an earth mother who brews lotions and potions from natural ingredients and this tea was first introduced to me by her many years ago. The first time I used it was to help my grandfather recover from a summer cold which left him bed ridden for 5 days.  And although once a cold has taken hold the ailments often need to run their course, taking this remedy will certainly ease the symptoms.

I personally use it as a preventative measure at the beginning of winter so find I am less likely to contract a cold but if I do this tea increases the speed of my recovery.

This is what you will need:

• Teapot a strainer is not required but can be helpful

• Enough hot water to fill the teapot

• grater or microplane

Ingredients:

• 2 Large lemons

• 2 cloves of garlic

• 1 small knob of fresh ginger

• 1 small red chilli with the seeds removed

• A handful of fresh mint

• A handful of fresh lemon balm (if you grow it)

• 3-4 sultanas

• Honey to taste

Method:

• Grate the lemon zest of both lemons into small or large pieces I like to do it into small pieces.

• Peel and grate both cloves of garlic and the ginger.
• Remove the seeds from the chili and chop very finely, making sure to wash your hands very carefully afterwards to remove any residual chili oil from your fingers.
• Roughly chop the mint and lemon balm.

Put all the ingredients including the sultanas into the teapot with a big splash of honey.
Cover it with the boiling water.
Cover the tea with the teapot lid and allow to sit for 2-3 minuets.
Pour into a mug and drink it up.
Don’t throw the tea out or make a new one, when all the water is gone, just refill the teapot with more hot water and continue drinking.

I have prepared this tea many times for the family, my friends  and colleagues.  Generally  I have found that this tea helps to relieve symptoms within 2 days.

So when winter hits your place next, be prepared with my tea and thumb your nose at coughs and colds.

This article written by Ishta, a free lance writer who contributes to a number of blogs.

Nia ( as my daughter Varinia calls herself ) and her partner Shaun came to visit last night. Poor Varinia has a really bad cold similar to something I had myself recently, so I gave a cough remedy that Paula had found on the net, and that I use whenever I have a cold.

This recipe helps to break down congestion and stops the coughing

Although the recipe is from Herbally Yours by Penny C. Royal, 3rd Edition, June 1982, I have spoken to a number of people whose mothers gave them various renditions of the mixture when they were younger.

The remedy works especially well for dry hacking coughs that keep you awake at night and hang on even once the symptoms of the cold are finished.

Home Cough Remedy

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 Tablespoon honey
1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 Tablespoons water.
Mix all the ingredients together. I find a couple of tablespoons seems to work.

You will see why this remedy works once you read about the beneficial effects of the individual ingredients:

Ginger (zingiber officinale) is a natural anti-inflammatory agent that has long been used and recommended for arthritis and bursitis. Ginger is known for relieving chest congestion and is also a natural antihistamine and is used for for motion sickness and nausea.

Cayenne (capsaicin) is warming and stimulating making it an excellent addition to a cold remedy, it eases chills and reduces pain by suppressing the chemical that sends the pain message from the nerve endings to the brain.

Vinegar is another ingredient that has so many healthful uses.

Honey is soothing and is a useful ingredient for the relief from colds. Honey is known to draw pus and poisons out of wounds and it is useful for relief from colds.

The mixture is strong tasting even with water added.

I keep the mixture in the refrigerator after I make it.

Note:

• Do not give this mixture to young children not only because of the strong hot taste but a child with a persistent cough should be seen by a doctor.
• Do not give honey to children under 1 year old unless it is pasteurized or boiled for five minutes.
• Any cold that persists should be treated by a doctor.