The search for the cure for the common cold still eludes us. It is a constant battle between the virus and us, one that we seem to be losing due to the ever increasing immunity of viruses to modern drugs. Mother Nature has provided us with a powerful antibiotics in herbs and essential oils. Unlike synthetic antibiotics that are powerless against viruses and funguses, essential oils such as oregano, tea tree and thyme are effective against these pathogens too. Be preprepared for the cold and flu season by stocking your herbal medicine chest with a ready supply of herbs that are antiseptic, as well as those that help reduce fevers, ease breathing and break up congestion, quiet coughs, and soothe aches and pains. Cold care is one area where herbs really shine because of the many helpful properties these healing plants have. When the first colonists came to the shores of North America, they brought their favorite cold and cough remedies with them, Angelica, vervain, and Pleurisy Root, to name a few. These hardy folk adopted the herbs the Native Americans used, such as linden for colds, fevers and nervous headaches - much the same purposes as modern herbalists do today. Boneset contains phytochemicals that support the immune system's white blood cells against viruses and other microorganisms, explaining its longtime use against colds and flu. Native Americans and colonial settlers used it to treat a variety of fever causing afflictions.⁴ Meadowsweet's salicylic acid content make it useful in treating influenza, respiratory tract infections,colds, flu and fevers. ⁶ White Willow, natural aspirin, can be used to help break a low grade fever, and to relieve the body aches that accompany colds.An old fashioned cordial of Elder flowers and berries combined with yarrow and mint are specific for the treatment of colds and flu, and is a warming winter drink even if you don't have the sniffles.

Herbs fight infections and energize the immune system, but do not contribute to the endless cycle of pharmaceutical antibiotics creating come more virulent and resistant strains of bacteria. And what better way to take your medicine than with a hot cup tea, that heals and warms the body, and spirit.

Mints: Catnip, peppermint, and spearmint all relieve colds and fevers by inducting perspiration and calming the spirit, and easing breathing. ¹¹⁰⁴Hot tea made of Lemon balm are sweat inducing, ease congested breathing, antibacterial, and relaxing, all things useful for treating colds and flu.

Using Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy for colds: During cold and flu season use an aromatherapy diffuse to vaporize antiseptic essential oils. This can be very effective in waiting rooms and office spaces. Anise essential oil can be diffused to ease the breath of a cold sufferer, or blended in massage oils to ease chest congestion. The seeds make a tasty tea that has the same properties. In any condition where there is coldness of the body, a common cold, a cold stomach, influenza - indicates the use of camphor. Lavender oil is an effective antiseptic. A lavender massage on the chest and lymph nodes is relaxing and helps kill germs.

Herbs Used for Colds

Andrographis * Angelica * Anise Seed * Astragalus * Bay Rum * Black Pepper * Boneset * Borage * Butterbur * Cajeput * Calamus * Camphor * Catnip * Cinnamon * Colt's Foot * Dandelion * Echinacea * Elder * Eucalyptus * Forsythia Fruit * Garlic * Ginger * Goldenseal * Holy Basil * Horehound * Juniper * Lavender * Lemon Balm * Licorice * Linden * Marjoram,Sweet * Meadowsweet * Niaouli * Peppermint * Poke Root * Rosemary * Soapwort * Vervain * White Peony * White Willow * Wild Cherry * Yarrow *

Andrographis For: Upper respiratory tract infection
Profile	Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata) seems to be an up-and-coming cold season herb. A 2004 research review of seven double-blind, controlled studies concluded that andrographis “may be a safe and efficacious treatment for the relief of symptoms of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection,” though the authors called for further research. A Russian study in children found that Kan Jang (andrographis leaf extract and eleuthero root, i.e., Siberian ginseng) was more effective than an echinacea extract in reducing the severity and duration of common cold symptoms.PMID: 14750201 White,Linda B. M.D.. Natural, Effective Remedies for Colds and Flu. (2007-11-16), motherearthnews.com

Andrographis For: Colds, antibiotics
Profile	Andrographis has many promising medicinal properties, significant antimicrobial activity and shows promise as an herb that can lessen the severity and frequency of colds and reduce the over-prescription of antibiotics. . PMID: 15095142. (), Pubmed NIH

Angelica For: Coughs, expectorant
Profile	It is generally used as a stimulating expectorant - and a useful agent in feverish conditions. Angelica is a good remedy for colds, coughs, pleurisy. Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Vol 1 (1931)

Anise essential oil For: Influenza, sinusitis, Congestion, ease breath
Profile	Influenza, sinusitis, and other respiratory ailments. The essential oil in anise seeds stimulates secretions from the linings of the throat and lungs. They both contain creosol and alpha-pinene, which help to loosen bronchial secretions. Anise essential oil can be diffused to ease the breath of a cold sufferer, or blended in massage oils to ease chest congestion. Anise seeds make a tasty tea that are particularly appropriate in cases of unproductive cough. Used as a cough suppressant, anise is an ingredient in many cough medicines and lozenges. As an expectorant, anise helps to loosen and get rid of phlegm in the respiratory tract. Phyllis A. Balch, Prescription for Herbal Healing (2002)

Astragulas For: Cold prevention
Profile	Unlike echinacea, astragalus may be taken long-term during cold and flu season. Chinese studies have found it to be an effective preventive against the common cold Linda B. White, M.D., The Herbal Drugstore (2003)

Bayberry For: Colds, fever
Profile	Myricitrin, the active antibiotic, encourages sweating, which can help break a fever. James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Benzoin For: Asthma, bronchitis
Profile	Benzoin may be used with benefit in all cold conditions related to the lungs, such as colds, influenza, coughs, asthma, bronchitis. Robert B Tisserand, The Art of Aromatherapy (1977)

Boneset For: Colds,flu, fever
Profile	The phytochemicals in boneset help rev up the immune system's white blood cells against viruses and other microorganisms, explaining its longtime use against colds and flu. Native Americans and colonial settlers used it to treat a variety of fever causing afflictions. James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Camphor For: Colds
Profile	In any condition where there is coldness of the body, a common cold, a cold stomach, influenza - indicates the use of camphor. Robert B Tisserand, The Art of Aromatherapy (1977)

Catnip tea For: Colds , Headaches, Fever
Profile	Catnip relieves colds and fevers by inducting perspiration and helps the body to regain it's balance by its calming effect. Catnip tea is good for curing headaches. Adele Dawson, Herbs: Partners in Life (2000)

Echinacea For: Immune stimulant, viruses
Profile	Echinacea is a very potent immune system stimulant, a decent fighter of inflammation and viruses, and a mild antiseptic. James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Echinacea For: Colds, cold sores, herpes
Profile	Echinacea is another herb that inhibits herpes viruses, echinacea also produces a numbing sensation that may offer relief from cold-sore pain. Linda B. White, M.D., The Herbal Drugstore (2003)

Elder flowers and berries For: Coughs & colds
Profile	Combined with yarrow and mint elder flowers and berries are specific for the treatment of colds and flu. The berries are mildly laxative and sweat-inducing, and simmered with sugar, make a winter cordial for coughs and colds. Richard Mabey, The New Age Herbalist (1988)

Eucalyptus oil For: Encourages breathing
Profile	Eucalyptus opens the lungs and encourages breathing by increasing oxygen in the cells. Eucalyptol, found in many over-the-counter remedies, loosens phlegm in the chest and helps to open clogged nasal passages. It also kills several types of bacteria and viruses, including Bacillus subtilis and several strains of Streptococcus Phyllis A. Balch, Prescription for Herbal Healing (2002)

ginger For: Colds, depurative, coughs
Profile	Sheng-jiang (fresh ginger) is used to dispel pathogens via its ability to induce sweating, for colds due to wind and cold, coughs, vomiting. Steven Foster and Yue chongxi, Herbal Emissaries (1992)

Juniper berries For: Colds, coughs and excessive phlegm
Profile	Steam inhalations of the berries are an excellent treatment for colds, coughs and excessive phlegm. Richard Mabey, The New Age Herbalist (1988)

Lavender oil For: Colds, chest rub
Profile	Lavender oil is an effective antiseptic. A lavender massage on the chest and lymph nodes is relaxing and helps kill germs.

Lemon balm - Melissa For: Colds and Flu
Profile	Hot infusions of lemon balm are sweat inducing, useful for treating colds and flu. Richard Mabey, The New Age Herbalist (1988)

Linden For: Break a fever
Profile	Linden is useful for colds - induces perspiration to break a fever, calming stomach and nerves.

Meadowsweet For: Fever
Profile	Meadowsweet's salicylic acid content make it useful in treating influenza, respiratory tract infections, arthritis, rheumatism, and fevers. Adele Dawson, Herbs: Partners in Life (2000)

Pleurisy root For: Chest Congestion
Profile	Pleurisy root acts as an expectorant and relieves pain and congestion in the lungs.

Schisandra For: Chronic Coughs and wheezing
Profile	Medicinally TCM doctors use the tonic and astringent actions of Schisandra berries to treat chronic cough and wheezing due to lung deficiency, Alan Keith Tillotson, Nai-Shing Hu Tillotson, Robert Abel. The one Earth herbal sourcebook: . (2001),

Soapwort For: Upper respiratory infection
Profile	The primary use of soapwort today is treat stuffy nose and clogged throat caused by upper respiratory infection. The herb irritates the linings of airways just enough to encourage coughing and sneezing to clear them. It also encourages sweating that was once thought to "sweat out" a cold. Moutain Rose Herbs. Learn Soapwort. (2007-12-16),

Vervain For: Colds, congestion
Profile	A warm infusion of either root, leaves or flowers is helpful for colds fevers, throat and chest congestion and headache. Adele Dawson, Herbs: Partners in Life (2000)

White Willow For: Colds, fever
Profile	White willow can be used to help break a low grade fever, and to relieve the body aches that accompany colds and flu.

Yarrow For: Childrens Colds
Profile	Yarrow opens the pores freely and purifies the blood, and is recommended in the early stages of children's colds, and in measles and other eruptive diseases. Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Volume 2 (1931)

Colds Information

• Bronchitis :
  Herbs for bronchitis that help expand lung passages and inhibit bronchospasms. Common home remedies that soothe sore throats, are expectorant, anti-inflammatory, and directly antiviral..
• Cough :
  Herbal cough remedies that work better than commercial brands. Learn how to make at home yourself.
• Influenza :
  Fight colds and flu and swine flue with these free home remedies.
• Sinusitis :
  Simple herbal home remedies and alternative treatments for sinus infections and colds
• Congestion/Chest & Sinus :
  Herbs with expectorant properties help the body clear mucus from the airways and help you breathe easier. Drinking soothing herbal teas can provide natural relief from sinus and chest congestion.
• Sore Throat/Laryngitis :
  A warm herbal infusion of soothing herbs will help comfort a sore throat. Honey and lemon not only add to the taste but to the healing process as well. You can also apply the healing power of herbs directly by herbal gargles and steam inhalations.