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Sore throat, unpleasant cough or a runny nose.
An illness that can be treated, yet is still unpleasant and we’d probably all be happy if it avoided us. As prevention, it’s appropriate to consume a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, maintain hand hygiene and get some fresh-air exercise. However, if a germ still gets to you, you’ll find a great natural helper in the kitchen that you may not even have known about. It’s oregano.
Oregano is an herb known for its strong aroma and is excellent for seasoning dishes. Besides that, it also has medicinal properties. It is rich in vitamins A, C, E and K, contains calcium, manganese, niacin, iron, magnesium, lutein, acts antiseptically and also has antibacterial effects.
Oregano tea
First aid for a cold and especially for cough.
We need:
- 5 teaspoons of dried oregano leaves
- 3 glasses of water
- honey
- lemon
Method:
- Let the water come to a boil and pour it over the dried oregano.
- Let steep for 5 minutes, then strain the tea and sweeten with honey and lemon.
- For an even better effect you can combine oregano with thyme, which is also an excellent natural helper in treating respiratory problems.
Cinnamon – it will help you sleep better and clear blocked sinuses
The scent of cinnamon is like a balm for a mind tormented by stress. It can improve mood, reduce worries and stress. Additionally, inhaling this scent benefits the respiratory system and the sinuses. Besides loosening the airways, the calming effect also leads to better nighttime rest without waking up. To enjoy the scent even more, it’s good to place it near a flame. Try arranging cinnamon sticks around a candle, simply light the flame and place it in the room. Then all that’s left is to enjoy the wonderful scent and the beautiful Christmas atmosphere.
To halve a whole cinnamon stick without breaking it, simply soak it in warm water for a few hours. The cinnamon will soften and you can cut it without worry. Don’t pour out the water; use it to water plants — it’s literally an invigorator and at the same time will deal with mold and bacteria in the soil.
Caraway is excellent against coughs and the flu
Flu and colds: Add 15 g of whole caraway to 400 ml of water. Boil until there is only 100 ml of water left in the pot. Drink 20 ml of this liquid every morning and evening.
When our throat hurt and tonsillitis threatened, grandma always made us this caraway cure: just a few doses and the illness would let go of us!
We need:
- 50 g of ground caraway (you can use whole caraway if you don’t have it ground)
- 250 ml water
- For adults also 1 tablespoon of slivovice (plum brandy)
Method:
- Mix the caraway with 200 ml of water, put it on the heat and cook with the lid slightly ajar over low heat for 15 minutes.
- You should now have a thick dark mixture in the pot.
- Strain the liquid and add another 50 ml of water to it.
- Return it to the heat and bring it to a boil again.
- I don’t know about very small children, but our grandmother gave us this “vitamin” only from about age 10.
- Adults add 1 tablespoon of slivovice (plum brandy) to the final mixture.
Children take one teaspoon of the mixture twice a day and adults one tablespoon three times a day. Be careful not to drive afterward, because it contains alcohol. Use it only briefly; after a few doses we always felt relief and then only ginger and herbal teas were enough.
The rapid onset of effect can be due to caraway’s anti-inflammatory properties. However, when taking this cure, don’t forget to drink plenty of fluids, as caraway has a diuretic effect.
In moderation
Don’t overdo anything, and unless your health condition requires it, the optimal intake of caraway should not exceed more than half a tablespoon in one dish at most three times a week. If, on the other hand, you suffer from issues, it is recommended to drink caraway tea/caraway beverage up to twice a day.
Thyme is fantastic for respiratory illnesses
Thyme can easily handle almost any respiratory illness such as a cold, flu, asthma, sore throat, cough, bronchitis, laryngitis or sinus infections.
The best way for these ailments is to use it in the form of inhalations.
In case of a sore throat or tonsillitis, prepare a decoction from it and gargle several times a day.
Thyme syrup: we make this when phlegm descends to the bronchi and needs to be coughed up quickly. 200 g of sugar (I mix brown and white, or sometimes use only half and replace the other half with honey after cooking) boil for about 20 minutes with 1/4 l of water, then add a whole sachet of dried thyme (I use 14 g Kotányi), leave it to cool and strain. This produces a thicker syrup that tastes good even to children and strongly reminds me of pharmacy cough syrups — only it’s incomparably cheaper and, in my experience, more effective.
Fantastic recipe against viruses
We need:
- 250 ml water
- 1 tbsp sugar (you can omit)
- 1 onion
- 1 tbsp thyme
- 1 tbsp marjoram
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp honey (or to taste)
- 1 bag of your favorite tea
Method:
Mix the water with the sugar, thyme, marjoram and chopped onion. Boil for about 10 minutes. After cooking, strain into a mug and add a tea bag. Let steep according to the instructions. Finally add honey and lemon juice. Drink the beverage warm several times a day.
Thyme is an important herb in the fight against cough. Its main active ingredient is thymol, which has strong disinfectant effects. The medicinal effects of thyme were already known to the ancient physician Hippocrates, who recommended it for respiratory illnesses. It is a relentless fighter against viruses and bacteria, but it is also effective in treating fungi. You can also use this commonly available herb for skin diseases and acne. Fresh thyme leaves contain essential oils that will also protect you from bothersome mosquitoes. Thyme oil provides relief and reduces symptoms after a bite.
Thyme tea – for colds, coughs and digestive problems
Prepare the tea from one teaspoon of dried thyme, which you pour over with 200 to 250 ml of water. Bring this mixture to a boil and then turn off the heat. Let the tea steep for about 10–12 minutes. Then strain the tea and drink it while still warm.
Use at most 3 times a day. It is not suitable for long-term use.
Warning — thyme is not suitable for pregnant women and people with heart disorders.
