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Soothe cold symptoms and support your immune system
When winter bugs strike, it’s handy to have a few natural remedies up your sleeve. From soothing herbal teas to warming, spicy tonics, there are plenty of traditional ways to support your body through cold and flu season using herbs and ingredients you may already have at home.
In an episode of the Natural Health with CNM podcast on herbs for immune health, Peter Jackson-Main, CNM’s Head of Herbal Medicine, shares two of his favourite homemade herbal remedies for common seasonal ailments.
Got a health issue you want to resolve? Ready to take charge of your family’s health or explore a career change?
Peppermint, Yarrow & Elderflower Tea
This comforting herbal tea combines peppermint, yarrow and elderflower, three herbs traditionally used at the first signs of a cold or fever. Known as diaphoretics, these herbs are used in herbal medicine to encourage gentle sweating, which is one of the body’s natural ways of regulating temperature during a fever.
Ingredients
- Dried peppermint
- Dried yarrow
- Dried elderflower
- A 1-inch piece of fresh ginger root, grated
Method
- Combine equal parts dried peppermint, yarrow and elderflower.
- Add 2 tablespoons of the herbal mixture to a large teapot (approximately 2-litre capacity).
- Add the freshly grated ginger and pour over freshly boiled water.
- Leave to infuse for 10 minutes, then strain.
- Serve warm and enjoy while resting comfortably.
Fire Cider – A Warming Winter Tonic
This traditional winter tonic combines garlic, ginger, onion, horseradish and cayenne in apple cider vinegar to create a warming, tangy mixture. Sometimes called the ‘Plague Tonic’, fire cider has long been used as a popular folk remedy during the colder months.
Ingredients
- Fresh garlic bulbs
- Fresh cayenne chillies
- Fresh ginger root
- Onion
- Fresh horseradish root
- Organic apple cider vinegar
Use equal parts by weight of the five fresh ingredients.
Method
- Finely chop the garlic, cayenne, ginger, onion and horseradish.
- Place everything into a clean glass jar.
- Pour over enough organic apple cider vinegar to cover the ingredients completely.
- Seal and shake daily for two weeks, keeping the ingredients submerged.
- Strain and transfer the liquid into a clean glass bottle.
- Label, date and store appropriately.
Fire cider can be enjoyed in small amounts, around ½ to 1 teaspoon at a time. However, its strong, pungent ingredients and acidity may irritate sensitive digestion or aggravate acid reflux. It may also interact with certain medications, so it’s not suitable for everyone.
Herbs for Immune Health Podcast
Listen to Peter Jackson-Main’s podcast episode where he shares his favourite winter herbs, practical advice for common ailments and ways to build stronger immune resilience.
Want to learn how to make your own herbal remedies?
Gain the knowledge and confidence to use herbs at with CNM’s Herbs for Everyday Living course. Learn about the therapeutic properties of common herbs, how to prepare herbal remedies and practical ways to support your health and that of your family naturally.
Turn your passion for herbs into a career
Love the idea of helping others improve their health through herbal medicine? CNM’s Herbal Medicine Diploma combines in-depth herbal knowledge with practical training and clinical experience, giving you the skills to become a qualified Herbalist.
