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What's the best tea (or teas) to drink to aid the immune system in fighting the common cold, and why?
I'm looking for anything from loose-leaf teas to bagged, to totally home-brewed recipes using raw ingredients. Sources are a MUST, as I'd like this question page to be a repository of some of the best sites to help everyone learn about the best teas to drink when you're sick.
Also, if a particular tea helps other things (like a sour stomach, for example) please note that as well.
To your health,
Mike
Also, if a particular tea helps other things (like a sour stomach, for example) please note that as well.
To your health,
Mike
answers (11)
Fresh ginger tea is great for colds and other ailments. It is considered the best home remedy for colds according to traditional Chinese medicine. It contains at least a dozen antiviral compounds. Plus, it tastes good...especially with a little honey.
It's super easy to make fresh ginger tea. All you need is fresh ginger root, hot water, and honey (which is optional). Other benefits of ginger include:
Here's a video by Kevin Rose explaining how he makes his ginger tea.
It's super easy to make fresh ginger tea. All you need is fresh ginger root, hot water, and honey (which is optional). Other benefits of ginger include:
- circulation booster
- indigestion relief
- blood sugar reduction
- increases perspiration
- soothes menstrual pain
- helps reduce sinusitis and throat soreness
Here's a video by Kevin Rose explaining how he makes his ginger tea.
source(s):
http://www.holisticonline.com/Herbal-Med/Remedies/hol_herbal-remedies-ginge...
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Ginger-Tea-or-Tisane
http://www.holisticonline.com/Herbal-Med/Remedies/hol_herbal-remedies-ginge...
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Ginger-Tea-or-Tisane
Dandelion tea. It's full of vitamins and minerals, and is also a great antioxidant. Plus, it tastes great
Echinacea and Goldenseal...
There are some great books for herbology I recommend: The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra, The Healing Herbs by Michael Castleman, and Healing Teas by Marie Antol. I use Healing Herbs all the time and it has some great recipies...
There are some great books for herbology I recommend: The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra, The Healing Herbs by Michael Castleman, and Healing Teas by Marie Antol. I use Healing Herbs all the time and it has some great recipies...
My best options:
Yogi Tea's Throat Comfort (sore throats and lungs), Cold Season (for the sinuses and aches), Breathe Deep (for congestion and also aids in asthmatic attacks), and Immune System Defense. Yogi Teas are based on the ayurvedic medicine system of India. I've been using them for about 5 years, and they really do work. You can get them at many major grocery stores--Kroger, Meijer (midwestern chain), Whole Foods. http://www.yogiteas.com .
Another Ayurvedic blend, which I just used on my daughter today before she had a 2 hour athletic practice, is honey/ginger/lemon. Squeeze the juice of a lemon into a mug. Grate a little fresh ginger into it (or if you have pre-grated, about 1/2 teaspoon); add about a teaspoon or more of raw honey, and then fill up the mug with hot water. Doctors now acknowledge that honey is more effective than commercial cough medicine; the lemon gives a boost of complete vitamin C with all its factors; the ginger aids respiration and stomach problems (if there are any problems). Honey is also known to be antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral. You can also add some raw apple cider vinegar for even more germ-killing action. Why treat the symptoms when you can go after the cause?
Something that's good to drink during a cold, but can prevent it altogether, is kombucha. It's a drink that is made from sweet tea and an added culture. It's been known in China since at least 300 A.D., and in Russia and Asia Minor for many hundreds of years. It was of such interest to both Soviet and German scientists that it is one of the most studied health food items on earth. I know that I was exposed in a serious way to strep during pregnancy, when I can usually catch anything. I had a child sitting on my lap for an hour, and his mother called me the next day to tell me that he'd been diagnosed with strep. I never had a single symptom, but I'd been drinking kombucha for months, and actually drank a glass while he sat on my lap.
Finally, the old-fashioned "beef tea" of Victorian times is excellent medicine for a cold--or chicken broth, made from bones that have been demineralized by using an acid in the soaking water. Many vitamins are catalyzed by the minerals in the bones, and when we're sick, our balance can get out of whack. So just when we need the most nutrition, our bodies can't access it. Bone broth restores that balance and adds factors that boost the immune system (i.e. the antiviral properties of chicken broth). To make it, cover uncooked bones in a pot with water, and add 1/4 c. raw vinegar. Allow to soak at least 6 hours, up to 48, in the fridge. When soaking time is up, place the pot on the stove--don't drain or you'll be dumping all those necessary minerals down the drain! Then boil for 6-12 hours. The longer you boil it, the thicker it will get. When chilled, it should have a thick layer of gelatin on the top. This is very important for the immune system.
You can freeze the broth in ice cube trays to use in recipes, or feed it directly to someone who's sick.
Yogi Tea's Throat Comfort (sore throats and lungs), Cold Season (for the sinuses and aches), Breathe Deep (for congestion and also aids in asthmatic attacks), and Immune System Defense. Yogi Teas are based on the ayurvedic medicine system of India. I've been using them for about 5 years, and they really do work. You can get them at many major grocery stores--Kroger, Meijer (midwestern chain), Whole Foods. http://www.yogiteas.com .
Another Ayurvedic blend, which I just used on my daughter today before she had a 2 hour athletic practice, is honey/ginger/lemon. Squeeze the juice of a lemon into a mug. Grate a little fresh ginger into it (or if you have pre-grated, about 1/2 teaspoon); add about a teaspoon or more of raw honey, and then fill up the mug with hot water. Doctors now acknowledge that honey is more effective than commercial cough medicine; the lemon gives a boost of complete vitamin C with all its factors; the ginger aids respiration and stomach problems (if there are any problems). Honey is also known to be antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral. You can also add some raw apple cider vinegar for even more germ-killing action. Why treat the symptoms when you can go after the cause?
Something that's good to drink during a cold, but can prevent it altogether, is kombucha. It's a drink that is made from sweet tea and an added culture. It's been known in China since at least 300 A.D., and in Russia and Asia Minor for many hundreds of years. It was of such interest to both Soviet and German scientists that it is one of the most studied health food items on earth. I know that I was exposed in a serious way to strep during pregnancy, when I can usually catch anything. I had a child sitting on my lap for an hour, and his mother called me the next day to tell me that he'd been diagnosed with strep. I never had a single symptom, but I'd been drinking kombucha for months, and actually drank a glass while he sat on my lap.
Finally, the old-fashioned "beef tea" of Victorian times is excellent medicine for a cold--or chicken broth, made from bones that have been demineralized by using an acid in the soaking water. Many vitamins are catalyzed by the minerals in the bones, and when we're sick, our balance can get out of whack. So just when we need the most nutrition, our bodies can't access it. Bone broth restores that balance and adds factors that boost the immune system (i.e. the antiviral properties of chicken broth). To make it, cover uncooked bones in a pot with water, and add 1/4 c. raw vinegar. Allow to soak at least 6 hours, up to 48, in the fridge. When soaking time is up, place the pot on the stove--don't drain or you'll be dumping all those necessary minerals down the drain! Then boil for 6-12 hours. The longer you boil it, the thicker it will get. When chilled, it should have a thick layer of gelatin on the top. This is very important for the immune system.
You can freeze the broth in ice cube trays to use in recipes, or feed it directly to someone who's sick.
source(s):
http://www.yogiteas.com
http://www.kombu.de/english.htm
http://www.westonaprice.org/foodfeatures/broth.html
www.westonaprice.org
http://www.yogiteas.com
http://www.kombu.de/english.htm
http://www.westonaprice.org/foodfeatures/broth.html
www.westonaprice.org
My favorite pick will be Chamomile tea. Its active ingredients are volatile oils - also known as essential oils and Flavonoids. Flavonoids are anti-oxidant that can assist with relieving the aches and ills that come with a cold.
Chamomile also acts as muscle relaxer and mild sedative that helps with sleeping disorders; and a soothing solution for upset stomachs, heartburn and indigestion.
Since the strongest tea may contain a small percentage of volatile oils, you should steep your tea in a covered container. You may also try eating the chamomile flowers after you've brewed your tea for better results.
Chamomile is safe and does not pose any serious effect to your health when used long term.
source(s):
http://health.learninginfo.org/benefits-of-chamomile.htm
http://www.ehow.com/how_2119580_use-chamomile-treat-cold.html
http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-chamomile.html
http://health.learninginfo.org/benefits-of-chamomile.htm
http://www.ehow.com/how_2119580_use-chamomile-treat-cold.html
http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-chamomile.html
I would recommend to look up Rooibos tea, also called the african red bush tea. I drink it a lot and it is great. I will brew it with a bit of lemon for a great taste. However I do not like the flavored Rooibos tea, I stay with the straight up non flavored, for me that is the best.
source(s):
http://www.africantea.com/Rooibos-Health/rooibos-health.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooibos
http://www.phytochemicals.info/plants/rooibos.php
http://www.africantea.com/Rooibos-Health/rooibos-health.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooibos
http://www.phytochemicals.info/plants/rooibos.php
The reason that the common cold is so 'common' is that it's so hard to get rid of. Any of the above answers would probably make you feel better and less congested and mostly boils down to which one tastes the best.
Ginger tea works great when your cold turns into a sore throat. It really soothes the throat.
I believe pick one that you'd like and enjoy drinking, stay hydrated, don't expose yourself to cold weather, and hopefully you'll kick the cold sooner.
Ginger tea works great when your cold turns into a sore throat. It really soothes the throat.
I believe pick one that you'd like and enjoy drinking, stay hydrated, don't expose yourself to cold weather, and hopefully you'll kick the cold sooner.
Not tea..your body needs acid to boost immune system to fight colds..
Som old remedies are to drink small portions of pickle juice for its acid content
Som old remedies are to drink small portions of pickle juice for its acid content
I don't think that any type of tea in particular is going to help rid you of the common cold, but whichever tea you choose, drink it when it's very warm (but don't burn your tongue!) as this will help unclog your sinuses.
Personally, I like White Tea:
http://chinesefood.about.com/od/chineseteaandliquor/a/whitetea.htm
White tea is made from the same plant as Green Tea, but picked at a younger age. Quoting from the source:
"People who have tried both note that white tea lacks the “grassy” aftertaste so often associated with green tea. Furthermore, studies indicate that white tea is better for you. Leaving tea leaves so close to their natural state means that white tea contains more polyphenols, the powerful anti-oxidant that fights and kills cancer-causing cells, than any other type of tea.
Need another reason to drink white tea? A 2004 study at Pace University concluded that white tea can help your body’s immune system fight off viruses and dangerous infection-causing bacteria. The same study concluded that fluoride-rich white tea helps prevent the growth of dental plaque, the chief cause of tooth decay."
As for stomach ailments and other health problems:
Sho-saiko-to is....tea, sort of. It's more of a tea-like herbal supplement. I'd recommend it to anyone, the health benefits are no less than amazing, especially for your liver. But I will be honest - it doesn't taste good at all, and it's somewhat expensive.
Sho-saiko-to:
http://www.shosaikoto.com/
This is given to hepatitis patients in Japan - doctors recommend it to patients in Japan, with over 1.5 million prescriptions written. It's good for your liver, but also for overall digestive health.
I bought it for my boyfriend tried a bit myself. This stuff works. He went from feeling fatigued all of the time, no appetite, and severely oversleeping, to waking up at 8 on the dot every morning, having a hearty breakfast, and going to work and the gym, good as new! The directions say "3 packets a day" but he only used 2 a day and still got great results.
This is where we buy it: http://www.willner.com/shopping_cart_1.aspx?pid=44723
Personally, I like White Tea:
http://chinesefood.about.com/od/chineseteaandliquor/a/whitetea.htm
White tea is made from the same plant as Green Tea, but picked at a younger age. Quoting from the source:
"People who have tried both note that white tea lacks the “grassy” aftertaste so often associated with green tea. Furthermore, studies indicate that white tea is better for you. Leaving tea leaves so close to their natural state means that white tea contains more polyphenols, the powerful anti-oxidant that fights and kills cancer-causing cells, than any other type of tea.
Need another reason to drink white tea? A 2004 study at Pace University concluded that white tea can help your body’s immune system fight off viruses and dangerous infection-causing bacteria. The same study concluded that fluoride-rich white tea helps prevent the growth of dental plaque, the chief cause of tooth decay."
As for stomach ailments and other health problems:
Sho-saiko-to is....tea, sort of. It's more of a tea-like herbal supplement. I'd recommend it to anyone, the health benefits are no less than amazing, especially for your liver. But I will be honest - it doesn't taste good at all, and it's somewhat expensive.
Sho-saiko-to:
http://www.shosaikoto.com/
This is given to hepatitis patients in Japan - doctors recommend it to patients in Japan, with over 1.5 million prescriptions written. It's good for your liver, but also for overall digestive health.
I bought it for my boyfriend tried a bit myself. This stuff works. He went from feeling fatigued all of the time, no appetite, and severely oversleeping, to waking up at 8 on the dot every morning, having a hearty breakfast, and going to work and the gym, good as new! The directions say "3 packets a day" but he only used 2 a day and still got great results.
This is where we buy it: http://www.willner.com/shopping_cart_1.aspx?pid=44723
For the immune system Green tea or White tea is better than any other Herb Tea.
[1][2]Green Tea contains antioxidant agents called polyphenols, EGCG
(epigallocatechin gallate) is one of the most potent antioxidants and
is the one that most contributes to the health benefits of tea.
According to the numerous studies polyphenols in tea may help protect
the body from cancer by destroying free radicals, protect the heart by
lowering cholesterol and improving lipid metabolism, boost the immune
system and have significant anti-bacterial effects.
Now some in-vitro studies suggest that Green tea may prevent HIV infection
[3]"The research team did test tube experiments on a green tea flavonoid
called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and showed that it binds with
CD4 immune system T-cell receptors and stops HIV from doing the same"
I know that in-vivo testing may not give same results as in-vitro testing nonetheless I think it does a good job in showing how beneficial Green tea is for our immune system.
[1][2]Green Tea contains antioxidant agents called polyphenols, EGCG
(epigallocatechin gallate) is one of the most potent antioxidants and
is the one that most contributes to the health benefits of tea.
According to the numerous studies polyphenols in tea may help protect
the body from cancer by destroying free radicals, protect the heart by
lowering cholesterol and improving lipid metabolism, boost the immune
system and have significant anti-bacterial effects.
Now some in-vitro studies suggest that Green tea may prevent HIV infection
[3]"The research team did test tube experiments on a green tea flavonoid
called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and showed that it binds with
CD4 immune system T-cell receptors and stops HIV from doing the same"
I know that in-vivo testing may not give same results as in-vitro testing nonetheless I think it does a good job in showing how beneficial Green tea is for our immune system.
source(s):
1http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18232634
2http://smilajkov.com/salima/2008/11/the-7-wonders-of-tea
3http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66540.php
1http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18232634
2http://smilajkov.com/salima/2008/11/the-7-wonders-of-tea
3http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66540.php
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