Years ago, when I used to live in the mountains of San Diego, I liked to gaze out my window and watch a momma blue jay sit on her eggs. No matter what the weather was like, she would sit on them and tend them, keeping them nestled and warm beneath her.  One day a storm came, angry and blustering, and despite how windy it was, this momma blue jay would sink lower and face into it, brave and determined.

When I start getting sick, I feel a lot like her. Despite the constant battering of flu-shot infomercials, germs flying everywhere, and friends, family, and even people I don’t even know trying to cram meds down my throat, I try my best to protect and clutch onto what health I’ve got when a cold comes rolling in.

It’s funny how so many people think that taking a handful of pills will kick colds, but the truth of the matter is, suppressing your symptoms is not the answer! And anyways, our bodies are pretty smart. And herbs, ah HERBS! They’re kind of like super heroes.  So mix those two together, and you’ve got good things happening.

You might be wondering how this is possible, but believe me it is! A single herb can contain 100 different chemicals that pack a powerful punch against viruses. Better than the singular chemicals extracted to make cold medicines, wouldn’t ya say?

So to get to the point, what I want to say is Elderberry is one of those heroes. It contains all sorts of chemical constituents that fight against no less than 8 strains of flu. It also cuts the duration of a cold by half, even more depending on how good you are about taking it. Elderberry is definitely in my top 10 most useful herbs list.

What’s fun about Elderberry is it can be customized endlessly. If you live in a cold, damp place add some ginger to the tea to warm you up and loosen phlegm or maybe even a pinch of cinnamon. Live where it’s dry? Try adding mullein, slippery elm, or marshmallow (though it might get kinda slippery…blech!).

Cold Bustin’ Elderberry Tea Recipe

This tea is super easy!

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• 1TB dried elderberries
• 3 thin slices of ginger
• A small dash of cinnamon
• 1 crushed cardamom pod (optional)
• Raw honey to taste (optional)

Loving Preparation – Elderberry Tea

• Throw the ginger slices into your mug with a dash of cinnamon and a small spoonful of raw honey
• Crush the cardamom pod and add it to an infusion ball with the elderberries
• Place the ball into the mug and pour boiling spring water over everything
• Place a small plate over the mug while infusing to trap in the ginger’s volatile oils
• Steep for 10 minutes
• Drink comfortably hot 2-3 times a day at the first sign of a cold (or anytime you like!) until all signs of sickness are gone

You can learn more about elderberry HERE. You can buy high quality elderberries and flowers HERE.

Also be sure to check out these other cold and flu remedies:

Learn how to make elderberry syrup.
The Best Natural Remedies for Sore Throat
The Best Remedies You can Buy for Cold and Flu
My Top 5 Preventative Cold and Flu Remedies

 

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