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| Herbs for Cough Chasing |
This particular cold seems to start with a slight sore throat and immediately moves into the lungs. Even people with strong, normally healthy lungs are complaining that they have a major cough: the phrase I’m hearing is that “ it feels like I’m trying to cough up a lung”.
People also notice the usual over the counter cough remedies aren’t helping much. The other issue is that this virus seems to linger much longer that the usual 7-10 days: many people are reporting this virus is hanging on for three to four weeks.
This is not influenza; most people do not have a fever or achy muscles/joints which are two key symptoms of the flu. However the nasty cough is obnoxious and really interferes with sleep, energy and people’s quality of life.
So here is a great herbal remedy that I’ve been recommending; several people I know and work with have tried it and are getting great results. One friend remarked that her cough cleared 24 hours after using this remedy.
Cold/Cough Chaser tea
• take one fresh lemon and squeeze out the juice, putting in a sauce pan
• take one thumb-size piece of fresh ginger and grate into the juice
• take 3 cloves of garlic and mince or press into the juice.
• Add two cups of water to the juice/pan.
• Add honey to taste
Bring this mix to a boil, then reduce the heat and let simmer for 20 minutes so the ginger and garlic is well extracted. Then cool the tea enough to be drinkable and drink it down. A word of warning: it doesn’t taste very good. But it works!
If you are concerned that the virus is moving into a bacterial bronchitis or pneumonia, you could also add:
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon sage
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon rosemary
Though these will not improve the flavor, they are great antimicrobial herbs.
Now just a reminder: if you develop a persistent high fever, chest pain or shortness of breath, seek medical attention. Herbs can only go so far.
Janet
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