My Herbal Kitchen

About three months ago, I gave up medicine. 

No more asprin or pain killers for my headaches. 

I decided to go the all natural route when it comes to my health. 

Since then, my kitchen has sprouted with herbs and medicinal plants.

Making a tincture of Thyme for skin problems.

My vegetable garden, now moved into their new home in the back yard.

I've also put together an herbal first aid kit.

Vitamins, rubs, and oils.

Homemade ointments.

And my favorite herbs in capsule form.

I have been headache free for a very long time.

Headaches were a thing I would deal with nearly every day.

Which meant, taking medicine, every day.

One day, I decided to quit. 

Just quit.

The first 2 weeks were awful.

Lots of rebound headaches...

But, after that, I've felt great. 

Plus, I personally believe my house smells pretty great. 

(Minus Valerian, that stuff smells like feet!) 

Herbal Remedies

Today, I'm sharing with you,

the perfect remedy for a sore throat and a stuffy nose.

I woke up on Christmas morning with my cold back in full force.
I went about my day trying to make the best of it,
but my brother in law showed me the herb comfrey,
that would help me lots and lots.
So, I went home and tried it myself adding a few things for even more benefit.

I've always loved herbs.
I have a silver box full of herbs for teas, skin care, and other little remedies.
And I always love learning about new ones.

Comfrey and Chamomile

Comfrey is a sweet, cooling herb with expectorant, astringent, soothing and healing effects. It reduces inflammation and controls bleeding.It contains allantoin as well as high amounts of mucilage and also contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N-oxides (intermedine, symphytine and echimidine), as well as tannins, triterpenes and organic acids (including rosmarinic acid).

In other words.. it helps your nose be much less stuffy. 

Chamomile is one of the most widely used herbs. It is a carminative, remedial tonic, which also has anti-inflammatory properties and is used to encourage digestion and boost the immune system.

In other words.. it is very calming, and boosts your immune system.

Next, get a pretty little tea cup like mine. 

Mine has a removable strainer, and a little lit to help it steep.

You could also use:

A tea strainer

A bamboo strainer 

A bombilla (like the ones used for Mate)

Or a tea bag.

Anything to strain the herbs, so you get mostly tea.

Next, heat your water up. 

Don't bring it to a boil, or let the tea pot whistle. 

This will make your tea bitter.

Instead wait until you can hear small bubbles forming, right before it starts to boil.

While your water is getting nice and hot fill up your strainer with the herbs.

I used equal parts of Comfrey and Chamomile.

Add your water.

This part is optional. 

You can either leave it to steep and get nice and strong, like I did with the lid..

Or 

You can hold the cup under your nose so you breath in the steam.

That is good when you have a really bad stuffy nose.

Let the tea seep for about 3-5 minutes,

or until it starts to cool off enough for you to drink it.

Remove the strainer, or tea bag or whatever you choose to use.

Add a spoon full or two of honey, and stir.

 Then drink it!

Be careful.. it will be hot.

If it's not sweet enough, add more honey. 

The honey will help your throat.

And if you choose to use a cup like mine, 

don't be surprised to see a lot of the herbs at the bottom..

Learn to read tea leaves! 

(That's next on my list.)

 And when you are done, 

wait a few minutes then blow your nose. 

The comfrey will make all that stuffiness in your nose want to come out. 

All at once.


Gross, but at least you will be able to breath.