My five Essential Herbal Remedies to Survive Winter.
Not only as a herbalist but as a parent, I like to be prepared for the inevitable influx of seasonal infections, both preventatively and (if necessary) reactively. Having a Herbal Medicine “toolkit” at hand ahead of time tends to lower the potential stress of the winter months as well as shortening the duration of any bugs that manage to get into the household. I run a number of targeted workshops every year that focus on precisely this subject - click here if you are interested. For now, if you have a herb/spice rack at home, here are my five go-to herbs for the winter months.
Thyme: Is antispasmodic, carminative, antiseptic, antibacterial, decongestant… the list goes on. Meaning that thyme is not only a great flavouring for your roast dinner, it can be helpful in fighting coughs, colds and digestive upsets. Like most dried herbs, it can be used as a tea or steam inhalation. I like to use it as both a tincture and a syrup combined with licorice to sooth sore throats whilst treating the infection.
Elderberry: You can find elderberry syrup in most pharmacies or large supermarkets nowadays and I like to think of it as an example of nature providing us with what we need at just the right time. Elderberries are in season august to October (although most are gone or dried up by the end of September), just in time to make a big batch of syrup. This can be taken at a low dose daily as a preventative or in higher doses during acute infection. Elderberry is rich in vitamin C and bioflavonoids which support the immune system and inflammation levels in the body.
Garlic: Yes, this is used in herbal medicine as well as food and with good reason. Garlic is antimicrobial, immunostimulant, expectorant, digestive and carminative. It is beneficial for colds, flu, chest infections, catarrh and sinusitis. I like to add it to almost every meal during the winter (and summer for that matter) to provide a little added support as well as flavour. The trick is to crush the clove before chopping and using as this triggers the inactive compound Aliin to convert into the active Allicin and add it toward the end of cooking not at the beginning. For chesty infections try making garlic honey - this takes the edge off the harshness of the raw garlic and provides a soothing coating from the honey.
Ginger: Another pungent spice providing a lot more than flavour. Zingiber officinalis, to give its Latin binomial, does add a zingy punch to meals and drinks, but it is also a potent digestive tonic as a carminative (relieves gas), laxative, antispasmodic, analgesic and antimicrobial. These actions combined make for a great all-round remedy for any type of stomach upset, be that vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion, flatulence and colic. A simple infused tea will do the trick, or for a comforting warming bedtime drink infuse in your preferred milk with a little cinnamon. Remember that dried ginger is stronger than fresh.
Oats: Another pantry staple which can be used medicinally. Oats are incredibly nourishing and (if not gluten intolerant or coeliac) gentle on the digestive system, which is perfect when feeling unwell or run down following illness. As a herbal medicine oatstraw is a restorative nervine, used for exhaustion, nervousness, insomnia, nerve pain and skin problems. Taken as food there are still medicinal actions to be gained, including lowered cholesterol, blood sugar support, constipation relief and overall nourishment.
Although these medicines are also foods please do remember that there are limits to how much of anything our bodies can tolerate, and certain life stages including pregnancy, breastfeeding, childhood and senior years will often change the goalposts, so please do consult with a healthcare professional or medical herbalist if you are unsure about taking something.