Make use of readily available herbal teas to ease the discomforts of a cold or flu, relax or stay mentally alert. Chamomile tea and peppermint tea are inexpensive, easy-to-find herbal teas. They are available at most grocery stores and specialty tea shops.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is one of the most popular and well-known herbal teas. It has a sweet taste reminiscent of apples. It is readily available in grocery stores where it is sold in tea bags from companies such as Celestial Seasonings and Bigelow. Chamomile tea can also be found at specialty tea stores where it is often sold as loose tea. It’s a good introductory herbal tea because of its light flavor and it is an easy tea to give to children during an illness.
The Learning Herbs website states that chamomile tea is an effective remedy for nausea and stomach upset. It also helps remedy the discomfort of headaches. Emotionally, chamomile helps with relaxation and eases emotional distress.
According to The Reader’s Digest Home Handbook: Herbs, chamomile tea can be used in the bath to relieve sunburn and windburn. The Learning Herbs website further states that, topically, chamomile is an anti-inflammatory and can help bring relief for acne and other skin irritations. It is also a good herb to help with eye irritations such as pink eye.
Warm chamomile tea is comforting for adults and children during an illness or times of stress. Chamomile tea can also be frozen into popsicles as a cool, summertime treat for children. Some children find chamomile popsicles soothing when they are sick.
Peppermint Tea
Like chamomile tea, peppermint tea is readily available in most grocery stores.
Avoid peppermint tea that is artificially flavored. Stick to familiar brands like Bigelow and Celestial Seasonings and read the label to be sure the herbal tea is, in fact, peppermint.
Most people find the mint smell and flavor enjoyable. Children may find peppermint tea too spicy, but a solution is to make a very weak cup of tea or to put both a peppermint tea bag and a chamomile tea bag in the same mug to soften the taste.
The Reader’s Digest Home Handbook says that peppermint tea is used medicinally to help digestion, colds and influenza. Learning Herbs confirms this and further says that peppermint can help ease gas as well as help prevent diseases associated with aging.
Peppermint tea is comforting during a cold or flu and can also be used to increase concentration. It’s a good tea to drink when you need to feel mentally alert.
Herbal teas that can be found in the grocery store are useful remedies to keep stocked in the kitchen. Ease the discomforts of mild illnesses, relax and enjoy a cup of chamomile or peppermint tea.
Sources:
RD Home Handbooks: Herbs; Lesley Bremness, Contributing Editor; The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.; Pleasantville, NY, 1990.
Learning Herbs website; Herbalpedia, accessed November 7, 2009.
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