Today, I want to talk about why I have chosen herbs for wellness support (or why they have chosen me to be more exact), and why I expressly believe we should all be utilizing their healing and nourishing qualities as powerful natural cold remedies.

Since the beginning, humankind has had a close, symbiotic relationship with plants. Their roots run deep, interlaced and entwined into the very thread that connects every culture on earth. They thrive harmoniously in the kitchen of every household, bringing nourishment and healing (known or otherwise) into our homes, and upon using their time tested remedial qualities, I think you'll find yourself hooked and swooning like I was 11 years ago!

Catching a Cold Sucks

My relationship with herbs started in the deep of winter while living in the Midwest. Everything outside was blanketed in several feet of snow and icicles as long as my arm adorned every awning. I lay sick in bed coughing and unable to sleep. I had come down with what turned out to be the worst case of bronchitis in my life, and if you have asthma like I do, then you know just how frightening a case of bronchitis can be. I was literally suffocating in phlegm and crying because I couldn't breath normally. I honestly feared that I was going to suffocate to death.

There wasn't any over the counter cold medicine to be found, no cough drops, and no vapor rub as I weakly rummaged through the medicine cabinet. Feeling distressed because it would be stupid to go out in my condition (honestly I should have had someone take me to the ER), so I began looking online for homemade remedies as a last resort.

Thyme - A Natural Cold Remedy in Disguise

I scrounged around online and found one article that said to use dried thyme as a strong tea when bronchial complaints turned acute by boiling a few tablespoons in water for about 5 minutes. I have to say though, this tea does NOT taste very good, and so pinning my nose, I drank it down with what can only be described as a strangled gasp.

The best medicine never tastes good does it?

A friend of mine who's really into herbalism called soon after and I told her about the article and my bronchitis. She said that without a doubt the thyme would work and gave me advice on dosage and frequency, and I have to say, I was a little skeptical.

How could thyme REALLY have the power to heal something as awful as this?

Needless to say, within half an hour to my great surprise, my coughs became more productive and I could finally get in a full breath. Not gonna lie, it was the nastiest thing I've ever had to go through, but well worth it in the end.

Who would have thought that a kitchen spice could pack such a punch!? I was dumbstruck! Thyme has become my go to natural cold remedy if and when I ever catch bronchitis again... which hopefully won't be anytime soon! Using thyme for coughs has been so effective, I hardly use anything else. It's been the best natural cold remedy I've come across for colds that have settled deep in the lungs with roots that won't budge.

So, the next time you wonder "What is thyme good for?", just make a drink with this humble and unassuming kitchen herb as a strong tea and feel the healing benefits of thyme for cold and flu.

To learn more about the amazing properties of thyme and drying your own herbs click on the links below:

The Properties of Thyme
How and Why to Dry Your Own Herbs
Thyme Serum for Acne Free Skin

For more cold and flu articles, look below:

Cold Bustin’ Elderberry Tea
Natural Cold Remedies- Part 1
My Top 5 Preventative Cold and Flu Remedies
The Best Remedies You can Buy for Cold and Flu

My favorite natural cold medicines include:

Elderberry Syrup 
Wild Cherry Bark Syrup
Oscillococcinum

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