Stock up on tea to shore up your immune defenses as we head into the cold and flu season. You can’t go wrong with any of the true teas (including black, green, oolong, and white teas), which all come from the Camellia sinensis plant and show proven benefits for improving your body’s resistance to infection.
Several other immune-strengthening herbs can be brewed into tea, including ginseng in any of its forms. Consider keeping echinacea on hand, since sipping this herbal tea during a cold can shorten your suffering. Brewing up the very tasty elderberry and drinking it throughout a flu episode will get you back on your feet faster. Another herb to consider stocking is mullein. If you can get over mullein’s bitter taste, it can help break up and expel mucus while soothing a sore throat and quelling a nagging cough. As added benefit, the entire process of preparing and sipping a cup of tea acts as balm for the soul.
To brew these medicinal teas: place a teaspoonful of the herb(s) into a mug or teapot then add a cup of boiling water. Cover and let steep for fifteen minutes before straining and drinking. (Note: when making mullein tea, strain it well to remove hairs from the plant that could be irritating to your throat.) Prepackaged teas make teatime even easier. The Stash Tea Company makes a lovely ‘Green Tea & Ginseng’ bagged tea that combines the immune-boosting effects of these two herbs in a slightly bracing flavor.
Victoria Dolby Toews, MPH
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