Ginger lemon tea

This soothing tea features pungent ginger to reduce throat inflammation, reduce nausea, expel mucus,

and boost circulation. The lemon adds a boost of vitamin C, and the raw honey is full of minerals and

anti-microbial agents.

To use: This tea can be sipped on a regular basis, but it’s especially helpful for sore throats, nausea and

upper respiratory infections.

Ingredients:

1 T. of freshly grated ginger root

½ lemon,

1 T. raw honey

1 and ½ cups filtered water

Directions:

1. In a small lidded saucepan combine the ginger and water and simmer gently for 15 minutes.

2. Strain the ginger out and add the juice from the lemon and the raw honey to taste.

3. Sip as needed to soothe the throat or reduce nausea

Licorice root tea

Licorice is a sweet herb that supports the adrenal glands to help the body cope with everyday stressors.

It’s also anti-bacterial, anti-viral, helps modulate the immune system and expel mucus. It’s used for

upper respiratory infections, adrenal fatigue, allergies, liver disorders and deficient immune systems.

Safety info: Do not use licorice if you have high blood pressure, heart failure or are taking

conventional drugs.

Ingredients:

1 tsp licorice root

1 cup filtered water

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan with a lid, combine the licorice and water. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat

down and simmer gently for 20 minutes with the lid on.

2. After the mixture has decocted for 20 minutes, allow it to rest off of the heat for another 10

minutes. Strain and drink as needed.

Olive leaf and peppermint tea

Olive leaf was my secret throughout high school and college for keeping a cold at bay. At the first sign of

a sore throat I’d take olive leaf extract capsules and within 4 hours, all symptoms were gone! You can

harness the powerful anti-viral and anti-bacterial benefits of the herb in this tea.

Peppermint is added to improve the flavor, and works as an activator, or catalyst herb, to boost the

function of the olive leaf. Peppermint is also useful for cleansing and protecting the liver and relieving

nausea, gas and other digestive issues.

To use: At the first sign of illness or a sore throat, I like to sip a cup of this tea every 2 hours. It can also

be used once sickness has set in to speed healing time.

Ingredients:

3 T. peppermint

¼ cup olive leaf

1 quart filtered water

Directions:

1. Heat the water to boiling in a small saucepan, then remove from the heat. Add the herbs to the

freshly boiled water and place the lid on the pan.

2. Let the herbs steep for 10 minutes, then strain and drink as needed throughout the day.

Cinnamon and clove sore throat tea

This deliciously fragrant tea contains clove to numb a sore throat. Cinnamon and clove are both potent

anti-microbials that help knock out a wide variety of invading viruses, fungus and bacteria. Not only do

these herbs soothe, but they help warm the body when the chill of the flu is present.

To use: Sip this tea to soothe and numb a sore throat. Can also be used as a general tonic for a cold, flu

or other infection.

Ingredients:

1 cinnamon stick

4 clove buds

2 tsps rooibos tea

1 tsp raw honey, or to taste

2 cups filtered water

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan add the cinnamon and cloves and bring to a boil with the lid on. Reduce

heat and gently simmer the herbs for 25 minutes.

2. Remove from the heat, add the rooibos and steep for

3. an another 5 minutes.

4. Strain the herbs out and drink as needed. The cinnamon stick can be rinsed off, laid out to dry,

and then re-used in your next recipe.

Breathe clear chest rub

This simple salve recipe uses eucalyptus and peppermint to help open airways and promote clear

breathing. This salve isn’t safe for very young children because of the peppermint, so keep it for those

over the age of 4.

To use: Rub a small amount on the chest to help promote clear breathing for those over age 4.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup coconut oil

½ ounce beeswax

17 drops peppermint essential oil (.5 % dilution)

69 drops eucalyptus essential oil (2% dilution)

Directions:

1. In a heat safe glass bowl combine the coconut oil and beeswax. Perch this glass bowl on top of a

saucepan filled halfway with boiling water. Heat and stir with a metal spoon just until melted.

2. Allow the mixture to cool for just a few minutes before stirring the peppermint oil in.

3. Immediately pour the salve into a metal tin or glass jar and cap to prevent the volatile oils from

evaporating.

Fire cider

This potent blend is packed with circulation boosting, immune boosting, anti-bacterial and anti-viral

components. You can control the level of spiciness by adjusting the cayenne pepper used in this recipe,

but keep in mind that the spiciness is what gets your blood moving for improved healing. There are

plenty of versions of fire cider out there, but this one is what my family uses regularly throughout the

winter months with much success.

To use: Sip liberally at the first sign of sickness and throughout a cold or flu. I like to drink 1-2 quarts

throughout the day if I’m feeling under the weather.

Ingredients:

1 inch piece of ginger root, cut into thin slices

2 garlic cloves, crushed

½ tsp cayenne pepper

3 T. apple cider vinegar

3 T. raw honey, or to taste

1 lemon

Directions:

1. Juice the lemon into a quart size mason jar, then throw the lemon halves in. Add the rest of the

ingredients to the jar and stir or shake well to combine.

2. Fill the jar to the top with filtered water and let the mixture steep for at least an hour before

drinking.

Easiest soothing throat syrup

I whipped some of this up out of desperation when I was too exhausted from a round of the flu to spend

time making an herbal syrup. It’s so delicious, you may have a hard time not just eating it by the

spoonful! Since this recipe uses essential oils though, try to stick to the recommended dosages.

To use: To soothe the throat and calm coughing, adults take 1 tsp as needed, up to 4 times a day. For

children over the age of 1, omit the essential oils and use ½ tsp of raw honey as needed. For children

over the age of 5, use sweet orange essential oil instead of ginger as noted in the ingredients

Ingredients:

½ cup raw honey (the really thick kind works best for this)

24 drop lemon essential oil (12 drops if for children over the age of 5)

12 drops ginger essential oil (or 6 drops sweet orange if for children over age 5)

Directions:

1. In a small glass jar stir together all of the ingredients.

2. This recipe yields 24 servings

Fruity echinacea gelatin

In can be hard to get kids (and some adults!) to actually take herbal remedies. These tasty immune

boosting tart squares are the perfect way to enjoy your herbs during cold and flu season.

To use: Two squares gives 1 adult dose of echinacea and you can have up to 8 squares a day, children

can have 1 square, for a total of 4 a day. Echinacea shouldn’t be used for more than 2 consecutive

weeks, and is most effective at the very first signs of an illness, not as a prevention.

Ingredients:

3 cups liquid

¼ cup lemon juice

1/3 cup raw honey

2 and ½ cups filtered water

¼ cup grassfed gelatin

2 and ½ T. echinacea

1 T hibiscus

2 T rose hips

Directions:

1. Heat 2 cups of filtered water in a saucepan to boiling. Turn the heat off, add the herbs, cover

with a lid and let steep for 10 minutes.

2. Strain the herbs from the infusion, and add the herbal tea back to a clean saucepan. Sprinkle the

gelatin over the top and allow it to dissolve for 4 minutes.

3. Whisk in the lemon juice and raw honey until there are no more lumps. You may need to gently

heat the mixture over very low heat while slowly whisking to combine.

4. Pour the gelatin into an 8x8 square pan and chill until firm. Cut into 16 even squares. 2 square is

1 adult dose.

Immune boost adaptogen tincture

Astragalus is one of my favorite adaptogens. It helps the body cope with everyday stressors and is

helpful for boosting immune system function. It’s anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and supports and

protects the kidneys and liver.

To use: Take 30-60 drops mixed in water or juice 1-4 times daily for an immune boost.

Ingredients:

7 T astragalus root

2 cups vodka or apple cider vinegar (vodka will yield a more effective product)

Directions:

1. In a glass jar combine the astragalus and vodka or vinegar. Cap tightly and shake well to

combine.

2. Let the blend sit in a dark, cool place for 4-6 weeks, shaking daily.

3. Strain the herb out with a piece of cheesecloth and pour into dark colored tincture bottles. Label

and use as needed.

Ear infection oil

Garlic offers a wide spectrum of anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal benefits. Since the vast majority

of ear infections are viral, anti-biotic prescription drugs can actually make the problem much worse,

leading to recurrent infections, and often ending to tubes in the ears. Mullein is also an age old remedy

for ear infections.

To use: Lay the affected person on their side, and place 1-2 drops of the ear oil into the ear drum.

Massage the area of the neck under the ear lobe with downward strokes to move the oil through. After

10 minutes, have them lay on the other side and repeat. Since ear infections can easily spread to both

ears, it’s always best to treat both, even if there are only symptoms in one ear.

Ingredients:

1 clove of garlic

1 T olive oil

1 tsp mullein

Directions:

1. Add all of the ingredients to a heat safe glass bowl. Place the bowl on top of a saucepan that’s

half-full of boiling water.

2. Infuse the herbs in the oil for 30 minutes to 1 hour, refilling the saucepan with water as needed.

3. Carefully strain the herbs out with a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. Strain the mixture again

through a coffee filer, gently squeezing it through. You want to make sure that all of the plant

matter is out of the oil before putting it into the ears.

Achy stuffy bath blend

Nobody likes that unpleasant achy all over feeling that can come along with sickness. A bath is the

perfect way to relax those sore muscles, and adding the right botanicals amplifies the effects. Epsom

salts provide the muscles with relaxing and nourishing magnesium, while lavender calms and soothes

and eucalyptus opens up the airways and soothes achy muscles. The lemon supports detoxification.

To use: Dump 1 cup of this blend into warm running water. Be sure to relax and soak for 30 minutes for

best results.

Ingredients:

2 cups Epsom salts

1 T sweet almond oil

5 drops eucalyptus essential oil

5 drops lavender essential oil

5 drops lemon essential oil

Directions:

1. Combine all of the ingredients into a large glass jar and shake well to combine. A quart sized

mason jar works well for this.

Detox bath blend

This bath blend is great to use on a regular basis to support the body’s detox process, but it’s also great

for when you want to kick a cold. The hydrogen peroxide helps to oxygenate the body, the ginger raises

body temperature to sweat out toxins, and the baking soda raises the body’s ph levels.

To use: Soak for 30 minutes. Recipe yields enough for 1 bath.

Ingredients:

2 inch piece of ginger root, grated (you can also use 2 T. dried and powdered ginger)

2 cups hydrogen peroxide

½ cup baking soda

5 drops wild orange or lemon essential oil

Directions:

1. Use a fork to mash the essential oils into the baking soda to combine.

2. Dump all of the ingredients into warm, running water.

Ingredients and resources

The Bulk Herb store

I like to buy my herbs, cheesecloth, raw honey, beeswax and other natural remedy making materials

from the Bulk Herb Store. They have high quality, organic items for a very reasonable price. You can

even find capsules, glycerin, tincture bottles and metal tins to name a few more things.

Browse The Bulk Herb Store here

Amazon

I usually don’t buy my herbs from Amazon since it can be hit or miss on quality, but I do buy organic and

unrefined coconut oil in bulk from them. You can also find containers for your herbal creations on here.

They’re usually more economical if you’re buying a dozen at a time though.

Find my favorite organic, non-gmo, unrefined and affordable coconut oil here.

Herbal and essential oil education

If you want more herbal remedies and essential oil recipes, then you can find a lot of DIY recipes on my

site The Herbal Spoon. I also highly recommend the courses over at Vintage Remedies. They’re evidence

based so they combine the traditional herbal wisdom passed down through the centuries with current

scientific research. This way you know that you’re getting information that’s both safe and effective!

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation out there, especially when it comes to essential oils, so I

like learning from a group of educators who are highly qualified in their fields.

Check out the herbalism and essential oil courses at Vintage Remedies here.

About me

I’m an herbalist and essential oil enthusiast. Ever since I

accidentally cured myself of the flu in just 12 hours at age 13,

I’ve been hooked on natural remedies. You’ll often find me

reading a natural health book and sipping on some herbal

tea, when I’m not writing articles, or whipping up some diy

skincare that is.

You can read more about me here, or check out my shop This

& That Herbal for organic and all natural plant based bodycare

items for the whole family.