Natural cold remedies, like lemon and honey tea, echinacea tea, and elderberry tea, can help to relieve both cold and flu symptoms. These teas contain analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce the symptoms of an upper respiratory virus, like a runny nose, sneezing and headache.
In addition to these teas, other home remedies can also be used, like placing a hot water bottle over sore muscles or taking a lukewarm shower to decrease fever. Check-out other ways to get rid of a cold quickly.
Although most cold and flu cases will improve without any specific treatment, it is important to see your doctor if your symptoms persist and are not manageable with home remedies and over-the-counter medication. None of these recommended teas should substitute a medical opinion or prescribed treatment.
Natural tea remedies
The following teas are prepared with herbs with contain medicinal properties that strengthen the immune system. Learn more about how to make them below:
1. Lemon and honey tea
An excellent natural remedy for the cold and flu is lemon tea with honey, as this helps to relieve nose and throat congestion and improves breathing.
Ingredients
- Juice squeezed from one lemon
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 1 cup of boiling water
How to prepare
Add the honey to the hot water and until it is well-combined in a homogenous mixture, and then add the juice of one lemon. You should drink this tea as soon as it is prepared, so that the vitamin C from the fruit does not evaporate.
In addition, when treating a respiratory virus, you should drink this tea 2 to 3 times per day (for example, for breakfast, in the afternoon, and before going to bed).
2. Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea has naturally anti-inflammatory properties, making it a great option for relieving cold flu symptoms, such as coughing, hoarseness and a stuffy nose. Learn more about the benefits of chamomile tea.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers
- 1 cup of water
How to prepare
Boil the water in a pot or kettle, then remove from heat and add the chamomile flowers. Covering the infusion and allow to steep for 5 minutes. Then strain and drink. You can drink 2 to 4 cups of this tea per day.
3. Ginger tea
Ginger is effective in treating the cold and flu because it contains analgesic, antipyretic, and antibacterial properties, which are heightened by the honey and lemon. This helps to decrease cold and flu symptoms more quickly.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1 cup of boiling water
- Lemon, to taste
How to prepare
Cut up one tablespoon of fresh ginger and add the boiling water to it. Let this soak for 10 minutes, then strain with a mesh sieve. Add 1 tablespoon of honey and squeeze in some lemon juice.
4. Anise tea
Anise contains shikimic acid, which has antiviral properties and promotes elimination of the flu virus from the body.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of ground star anise
- 250 mL (about 1 cup) of boiling water
How to prepare
Add the star anise to the boiling water and allow to soak for about 10 minutes. Then strain, and drink once cool. You can drink up to 2 or 3 cups per day.
5. Echinacea tea
Another good home remedy for treating the cold or flu is to drink echinacea tea. This tea stimulates the immune system and triggers sweat glands, which helps with sweating and treating a fever.
Read more about the benefits of echinacea and how it can be used.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of boiling water
- 1 tablespoon of dry echinacea leaves
How to prepare
Place the echinacea in the boiling water and let it soak for 10 minutes. Then strain through a mesh sieve and drink immediately after.
It is also possible to take echinacea capsules 3 times per day, or as directed by your doctor or naturopath. These capsules can be found in pharmacies, in natural health stores or on the internet.
6. Garlic tea
Drinking garlic tea is an excellent natural treatment for the cold or flu. It contains antimicrobial, analgesic, expectorant and antiflu properties, and is a lung antiseptic. All of these properties are due to the allicin and allin found in garlic.
Ingredients
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1 spoon of honey
- 1/2 a lemon
- 1 cup of water
How to prepare
Smash the garlic cloves and add to a pot with the water. Allow this to boil for about 5 minutes, then add the juice of half of a lemon and the honey. Drink this immediately after, while it is still warm.
Also recommended: 7 Garlic Benefits for Your Health (plus Nutritional Info, Recipes & More) tuasaude.com/en/garlic-benefits7. Eucalyptus tea
Eucalyptus tea is another great remedies for treating the cold or flu because it contains flavonoids and volatile oils, such as cineole and terpineol. These are substances with naturally antiseptic, decongestant and antimicrobial action that can relieve symptoms such a productive cough and a plugged nose.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of chopped eucalyptus leaves
- 1 cup of water.
How to prepare:
Boil the water in a pot, then heat and add the chopped eucalyptus leaves. Cover the pot and steep for 5 minutes. Then strain and drink. You can drink one cup of this tea, 2 to 3 times a day.
Also recommended: Eucalyptus: 9 Health Benefits, How to Use & Side Effects tuasaude.com/en/eucalyptus8. Orange peel tea
Orange peel tea is rich in hesperidin, nobiletin and naringenin, which are antioxidants that boost the functioning of immune system cells.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of fresh or dehydrated orange peel (without the white part);
- 1 cup (tea) of water.
How to prepare
Boil the water in a kettle or pot. Then remove from heat and add the orange peels. Cover the pot and let them soak for 5 to 10 minutes, then drink.
9. Guaco tea
Guaco tea contains analgesic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant and soothing properties, making it a great natural cold remedy to relieve symptoms like a productive cough and a sore throat.
Ingredients
- 3g (1 tablespoon) dried guaco leaves
- 1 cup of water
How to prepare
Boil the water in a pot or kettle. Remove from heat, add the guaco leaves in the water and cover the pot. Steep for 5 to 10 minutes, then strain and drink 2 to 3 cups a day.
10. Mint tea
Mint tea contains anti-inflammatory, antiviral, analgesic, decongestant and expectorant properties that can relieve coughs, headaches and nasal congestion.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of mint leaves;
- 1 teacup of water.
How to prepare
Boil the water in a pot, then remove from heat and add the mint leaves. Cover the pot and let it steep for 5 minutes. Strain and drink immediately. It is recommended to drink a maximum of 4 cups of this tea per day.
11. Dandelion tea
Dandelion contains antiviral properties that help to combat the cold or flu virus. This plant is rich in vitamin A, and in B, C and D complex. It also contains some minerals like iron, potassium and zinc, which help to improve the immune system and increase the body's natural defenses.
Read more about the benefits of dandelion tea and what it can be prepared for.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of crushed dandelion roots
- 200 mL (about 1 cup) of water
How to prepare
To prepare this tea, you should place the crushed roots in boiling water and let it soak for 10 minutes. Strain through a mesh sieve and drink while warm up to 3 times per day. If you have gastrointestinal problems, you should drink this tea before meals.
Dandelion leaves can also be added to salads, which is another way to consume this plant.
12. Elderberry tea
Elderberry tea with linden can help to strengthen the body, while linden specifically triggers sweating to treat fevers, just like echinacea.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of elderberry
- 1 teaspoon of linden
- 1 cup of boiling water
How to prepare
To prepare this tea, add the elderberry and linden to the cup of boiling water and allow it to soak for 10 minutes (covered). Then strain through a mesh sieve and drink.