The 10 best infusions for the cold

Some plants and herbs that are easily found around the house or in herbal stores have been proven useful in combating discomfort and reducing symptoms associated with the common cold.

The common cold or catarrh does not normally require medical intervention, although we must be vigilant and monitor that the symptoms improve and the affectation does not increase. In this sense, there are different plants that have shown positive results in improving the state of health, one or the other being more appropriate depending on the most notable symptoms or discomfort of each subject.

In this article We will talk about the types of infusions for colds that can help for better health recovery.

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What do we mean by cold?

The common cold, or also known as catarrh, shows nasal congestion as its main symptoms, that is, an increase in mucus and sneezing. Although we can also identify other symptoms, such as headache and sore throat or cough, among others.

The causes of the appearance of this pathology can be different, the most frequent being rhinovirus infection, which consists of inhaling viruses through the mouth, nose or eyes. We find these viruses in the air, it is the means of transmission, being expelled by another person who is infected, thus being the mode of contagion.

The severity of the symptoms is not usually very intense, relieving the discomfort in a week or 10 days if we follow a healthy routine and take care of our health. Does not usually require medical intervention since with rest the symptoms usually go away relatively quickly, but if you want to reduce more discomfort quickly, taking pharmacy products that do not require a prescription help mitigate this disturbance. Even so, if you see that the symptoms do not improve after 10 days or that they worsen, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

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The best teas to soothe cold symptoms

Now that we know better what the symptoms related to the common cold are, we will go on to mention some remedies in the form of infusions for colds that we can use to relieve symptoms and improve our state of health, always keeping in mind what If we do not see improvement, we should go to a professional to carry out a more precise intervention..

And it is that one of the most used remedies to try to reduce the discomfort related to the cold are infusions, understood as a type of drink that is prepared with hot water and some type of herb or part of a plant such as the flower, root, leaves or Cortex. This drink can be taken simply because we like its flavor or for the purpose of strengthening our health, for medicinal purposes.

Let's see, then, what types of infusions are recommended to prepare when we show symptoms of a cold.

1. thyme infusions

Thyme is a plant used for both cooking and medicinal use. This type of aromatic herb shows many beneficial properties for improving our state of health. It is antibacterial and antiviral, thus helping to fight and eliminate pathogens, anti-inflammatory, reducing inflammation and neck pain, expectorant and mucolytic, facilitating the decongestion of the respiratory tract and analgesic, thus calming the pain.

There are different ways to take thyme: prepare an infusion and drink it, you can add a little honey if you want to enhance the calming effects; gargle with the infusion, to clean and calm the area or make vapors with hot water and thyme, thus helping to decongest the respiratory tract and be able to breathe better.

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2. elderberry infusions

The elderberry has shown properties for the improvement of health, and both its leaves and its flowers are used as its stem. It has different benefits such as: expectorant, helping to remove mucus; antioxidant, increasing vitamin C; and anti-inflammatory. It also reduces fever, cough and muscle pain.

Normally, the most used part of the plant are the flowers. Infusions are made with dried elder flowers combining it with other plants such as licorice or eucalyptus to reduce irritation of the respiratory tract.

3. ginger infusion

Ginger also has many favorable properties for the good state of our health. It is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, thus relieving neck pain and reinforcing the state of our immune system. It also shows antibacterial properties, helping to disinfect. Other uses have been noted as a remedy to reduce nausea and vomiting.

We can take ginger as an infusion, boiling a few pieces and enhancing its benefits by adding a little lemon juice and, if you want to sweeten it a little, honey.

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4. mallow infusion

Malva infusions have also proven their benefits in relieving cold symptoms. It provides vitamins A, B and C as well as mineral salts. This product helps to reduce nasal congestion, itching and irritation of the throat and cough.. Likewise, it shows expectorant, disinfectant and anti-inflammatory and relaxing properties, helping to reduce muscle tension and pain.

After adding the mallow in hot water we must let it rest for approximately 5 to 10 minutes so that the water takes its proportions.

5. sage infusion

Sage is a plant also used as a natural remedy. They have different properties such as: anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect; decrease in the sensation of sore throat thanks to its analgesic effect; Y has expectorant function, helping to decongest and reduce cough. In short, it is considered a natural antibiotic.

After letting the herb sage for about 3-5 minutes we will let it rest for about 10 minutes before straining the infusion. If we want to sweeten or enhance its benefits to relieve cold symptoms, we can add honey, cinnamon or a little lemon juice.

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6. oregano infusion

Although we are used to using oregano as a dressing, it can also be useful to take it as an infusion given its properties as a natural remedy. Oregano has been found useful as: anti-inflammatory, expectorant and balsamic, helping to expel mucus, reduce irritation and dryness caused by colds. It is also a natural antibiotic, and helps neutralize or reduce the effects of pathogens and also acts as an antihistamine.

To prepare the infusion we must add the oregano to hot water and let it rest for about 10 minutes, if we want modify its flavor, make it sweeter, we can add some natural sweetener such as honey.

7. Echinacea infusion

Echinacea is one of the herbs that has the most research to prove its effectiveness. It has been shown to have positive effects on the immune system, enhancing the functioning of white blood cells that act as the body's first defense. In the same way, it allows to fight viruses and bacteria, thus making us more resistant to possible infections. That is, we observe a preventive utility.

In a complementary way to echinacea, propolis is often used, which has been shown to be effective in treating colds, since it acts as an antibiotic and antiviral. Helps keep the vocal cords and throat in good condition, reducing irritation and inflammation.

The way to use is as follows: mix about half a tablespoon of echinacea with boiling water and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Later, we can add a few drops of propolis to achieve a greater and better effect against cold symptoms.

8. eucalyptus infusion

Eucalyptus has shown positive effects to restore good health when we have colds. Favorable results have been observed especially in improving the state of our respiratory tract thanks to its anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties, which help expel mucus and decongest so you can breathe better. Of course, be very careful when regulating its quantity, because this plant can intoxicate relatively easily.

Eucalyptus can be taken as an infusion by letting the mixture of eucalyptus and boiling water stand for about 10 minutes or making vapors to help better decongest the nasal passages.

9. fennel infusion

Fennel also acts as an antiviral, thus being useful to fight infections such as the common cold. A) Yes, has shown usefulness to decongest and expel mucus and help reduce cough, reducing the irritation and sore throat associated with this action.

It is recommended to take fennel infusions after meals, as this promotes better digestion. Likewise, although fennel is not linked to any type of contraindication, it is recommended not to take more than three daily infusions, since a high daily consumption of fennel can lead to a higher risk of arrhythmias and seizures.

10. margarita infusion

The flowers and leaves of the daisy also show useful properties to combat cold symptoms. This plant acts as an antitussive, which means that it helps reduce coughing and thus neck irritation. It has also shown favorable results to expel mucus and possible toxins, thus reducing the possibility of infection.

The infusion can be prepared with dried or fresh flowers, adding water and boiling for about 3 minutes. Then we turn off the heat and let stand for another 3 minutes before straining and drinking the infusion.