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What are the usual doctor’s orders when you have a cold? Rest, drink plenty of liquids, and use Tylenol or Ibuprofen to help with aches. In addition, this physician (me) also recommends hot tea or tisane as a wonderful natural remedy for cold and flu that helps relieve the scratchy throat while keeping you well hydrated. Herbal teas for cold and flu also have additional benefits based on the herbs and spices they contain.
Writing this blog brings back memories from childhood and also makes me smile. How I nurse my daughters when they cough or cold is much like how my mother and grandmother cared for me. An integral part of this was homemade remedies, including haldi doodh (turmeric milk) and kadha (a traditional Indian drink).
Teas For Coughs-Easing Coughs and Congestion
Discover the soothing power of herbal teas for cough relief. Explore a variety of herbal teas for sore throat, cold and flu that can help ease coughs and congestion, providing natural comfort during cold and flu seasons.
Shop Now: Golden Turmeric Latte
When I was about 7 years old, I remember finishing an art class and then feeling warm and achy. By night, I had a temperature of 103 F, sniffles, and body aches. My grandmother, the matriarch of our house, immediately made some haldi doodh or turmeric milk for me. If you have Indian roots, this is probably also a childhood memory, with every house having its unique concoction. Ours had cow’s milk, a teaspoon of ghee, a teaspoon of turmeric, and a pinch of black pepper, and if you were good, it could be sweetened with sugar; if unsweetened, you just had to close your nose and gulp the foul tasting concoction as fast as possible. I remember pretending I had sipped it all when it was down the drain.
After a couple of times, my mother caught on to my trip, and she would keep close watch until I finished. Interestingly, turmeric or golden milk for a cold and cough has been passed down to our family for generations, and I also make this herbal remedy herbal tea for colds and flu for my children. However, I promise it tastes much better than the OG recipe, and my girls can vouch! Instead of dairy, I use oat milk as I enjoy its creamy, nutty flavor. I use our Herbs & Kettles Calming or Cleansing Golden Turmeric Latte instant tea mixes and sweeten it with delicious local honey. Honey is also a wonderful demulcent that helps coat the inflamed throat and reduce the pain.
Read more: Health Benefits of Turmeric Tea
How I practice as an allopathic physician is 360 from how I parent my kids, leaning more towards traditional natural medicines and lots of nurturing. The mantra doesn’t change: rest and plenty of fluids, but I try to avoid Ibuprofen if possible and rely more on the anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric. Our golden lattes are excellent mixes with probably the purest and most potent Lakadong Turmeric and just a pinch of black pepper to help its absorption.
Unlike the original haldi doodh that was given as a cold and tea flu medicine to everyone in my family, our Calming Golden Latte has not only wonderful earthy Lakadong turmeric and black pepper, but it also has aromatic, sweet wild cinnamon and calming ashwagandha. Our Cleansing Golden Latte, on the other hand, has ginger instead of ashwagandha with other ingredients - Lakadong turmeric, black pepper, and wild cinnamon being the same. My grandmother uses ghee and milk, as fat increases turmeric absorption, but nut milk provides the same benefit.
Shop Now: Immune Booster Tea
Another thing my grandmother ensured we got was kadha, a hot liquid concoction or herbal tea based on the principles of Ayurveda made from herbs and spices. Kadha is also made in Indian homes and has been offered as a cold and flu tea medicine for many generations. Common ingredients include turmeric, ginger, holy basil, and cinnamon. Our Immune booster is based on my grandmother’s recipe, and she will be so proud of it. Not only is it delicious, but it is easy to steep in tea bags (that are plastic-free); it’s just what you need when you have flu-like symptoms such as cough, cold, sore throat, body aches, or fevers. Or a pick-me-up when you are feeling under the weather! Our Immune Booster Tea contains wonderful single origin ingredients like green tea, turmeric, giloy (tinospora cordifolia), ginger, licorice, holy basil, cinnamon, and rose petals, each with a meaningful and healthy purpose.
Having Green tea for sore throat gives back its wonderful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties; turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties; giloy (tinospora cordifolia) helps boost immunity and has antibacterial and anti-viral properties, ginger the spice known for digestive properties, also has anti-viral properties, licorice which is also found in lozenges has anti-viral properties and reduces sore throat, cinnamon also has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. At the same time, rose petals add a wonderful aroma and help you relax. This superb combination of adaptogenic herbs and spices in our Immune Booster Tea is just the tea for cold and flu you need the next time you feel sick.
Other Herbs & Kettles Teas
Other teas that I would recommend when you have flu-like symptoms are our Turmeric Green Tea for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, Ginger Lemongrass Tea with its antiviral properties, or be creative and find your concoction of homemade tea recipe for cold or flu that you think would help most. I especially like steeping our Ginger Tea with an additional teaspoon of Calming Golden Latte mix for a warm, healthy “get well soon” cup of tea. It’s not only something I drink when I am unwell, but I often have Ginger tea to ward off colds and coughs.
If you are unsure what tea you would like to or want to have a whole array to choose from or gift a loved one who is not feeling well, I recommend our Wellness Tea Combo or Wellness Tea Gift Set. With Cleansing Golden Latte, Spiced Adaptogen Latte, Golden Tranquility Tea, and Turmeric Green Tea. Adaptogenic herbal teas are a powerful tool against flu as they support the adrenal and immune system, helping the body adapt to stressors and illnesses like the flu. Cleansing Golden Latte with Lakadong turmeric, ginger, wild cinnamon, and black pepper helps reduce inflammation and enhances detoxification as ginger is a digestive. Spiced Adaptogen Latte with ghost chili, ashwagandha, black cardamom, and stevia has adaptogenic properties and helps combat fatigue, and the capsaicin from the ghost chili will also help reduce nasal blockage and sinus congestion. Golden Tranquility with turmeric, ashwagandha, and black pepper has anti-inflammatory, adaptogenic properties with calming and soothing effects reducing flu-related stress.
Finally, Turmeric Green Tea has wonderful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant health benefits. This Wellness Tea Combo with adaptogenic, immune boosting, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties is wonderful to help you relax, hydrate, and naturally heal while unwell.
Shop Now: Chamomile Loose Tea
Chamomile tea for colds and flu is also an excellent soothing remedy. Chamomile is an ideal herbal tea for sore throat and helps with symptoms like sore throat, congestion, and relaxation. While you are unwell, some of you might have difficulty falling into a deep slumber that will speed recovery, and chamomile tea might be just the solution. Steep 2-3 g of our whole single origin chamomile flowers in 6 fl-oz of water at 180 F for 1-2 minutes. Strain, pour, and enjoy. Our beautiful, high quality whole chamomile flowers can be resteeped multiple times to give you at least 3-4 delicious cups. Enjoy maximum relaxation and hydration!
Read more: The Potential Health Benefits of Tea
In summary, dear friend, teas, especially herbal tisanes, are an age-old remedy for cold and flu in many traditions, with recipes passed from generation to generation. I hope you enjoyed my childhood story of how my grandmother and mother nursed me back to health when I was sick. Rooted in good advice like rest and hydration, I hope you explore our Herbs & Kettles adaptogenic and anti-inflammatory teas for flu relief.
