Herbal remedies – making and using recipes

Winter herbs and remedies

Herbal remedies can ease the discomfort of colds and flu; they may reduce the unpleasant symptoms, speed up recovery and prevent recurring infections. So let’s take a look at specific herbal tonics for common complaints.

This tip sheet is not designed to replace medical advice or contradict it. Always seek medical advice if experiencing an ongoing complaint or worsening condition.

Respiratory support

Combinations of herbs such as echinacea, mullein, hyssop, horehound, and garlic (provided there is no sensitivity) are commonly used where there is a respiratory condition. Wild cherry bark tea is useful to relieve a persistent cough that keeps you awake at night. Persistent long-term coughing, particularly when not associated with a cold or flu, should be investigated by a qualified physician.

To help build up immunity, particularly if there is a tendency for frequent colds and infections, echinacea can be a great support. In addition garlic, onion and thyme are examples of herbal foods that have anti-microbial qualities.

Simple cough/chest syrup

1 big round brown juicy onion
100ml honey* or 50 ml brown sugar

Chop the onion up into small pieces.
Pour the honey over the top
Leave overnight in the fridge.
Strain the onion off in the morning (or leave in for a stronger concoction), put in a glass jar with tight lid.
Allow a spoonful of the mix whenever necessary.

Other syrups may be made using licorice root, aniseed, thyme leaves, flaxseed, lemon and lime. Flaxseed syrup is particularly good for sore throats as well as stomach problems. Honey*, is effective in relieving the symptoms of a dry, non-productive cough.

SAFETY ALERT: DO NOT GIVE HONEY TO CHILDREN UNDER ONE YEAR OLD

Fever

A hot infusion of yarrow and boneset, particularly in the case of a fever and flu, can be very helpful; don’t forget that adding honey* will make any bitter tea sweeter. Or try adding elderflower and linden to create a more pleasant taste and have a stronger effect.

Coriander seed and ginger tea

1 tbs fresh grated ginger
1 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp broken licorice sticks(your health food shop will have these, please do not use confectionary red or black licorice)

Bring all ingredients to the boil in 40fl oz of water, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Children over two may have, on average, one cupful every two hours, sweetened with honey if required.
Dilute with half water for one-to-two year olds.
Incorporate any of the following: basil, boneset, chamomile, catnip, coriander seeds, echinacea, elderflower, hyssop, lavender, lemon balm, limeflowers, meadowsweet, peppermint, rosemary, vervain and yarrow.
colds

Turmeric at first sign of a cold or sore throat can prove a great help. Mix a teaspoon into some honey (preferably Manuka) and let the child lick a teaspoon every two hours or ¼ – ½ tsp of powder two to three times a day or dissolve in hot water and honey and drink between meals ¹⁰. For adults, drink two to three cupfuls of tea mixed with chai and honey in between meals.

Stuffy nose tea

½ oz fresh sliced ginger root
1 stick cinnamon or ½ tsp good quality ground cinnamon
2 cloves
1 tsp coriander seeds or ½ tsp good quality ground coriander

Bring all ingredients to the boil, cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes and then strain, sweeten with honey and add lemon.
Adding your choice of relevant herbs to this and drinking it while it is hot is the best way for this mix to be taken.

Hot blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) tea with elderflower is great for catarrh (runny nose), infections and fever. Fresh tea or tea bags can be obtained from most health food shops.

Blackberry (rubus fruiticos) recovery syrup

500g blackberries
60ml water
500g sugar

Place blackberries, water and half the sugar into a covered bowl and place in a saucepan of water.
Boil and then simmer for two hours.
Strain and press the liquid through some clean muslin cloth into a different pan.
Add the rest of the sugar and heat slowly until the sugar is dissolved.
Boil for 5 minutes.
Skim, cool and then pour into bottles with screw tops or corks.

This will keep, refrigerated, for up to six months.

Anxiety and stress

For anxious, stressed and upset children, lemon balm, chamomile, linden, lavender and skullcap can be helpful. Lavender and chamomile make a wonderful relaxing bath that may be used before bed to help with sleep, colic or panic attacks.

Lemon and mint tea

½ tsp chopped lemongrass
½ tsp crushed mint

Put the herbs in a teapot.
Fill with hot water, cover and steep for 10 minutes.

Tummy upsets

For mild tummy pain and discomfort chamomile, lemon balm, dill, fennel, peppermint and aniseed often work well (individually and in combinations of two or three), plus they also taste pleasant.

Constipation, of course, should be addressed at its causative level, however, if needed try the following preparations. Psyllium seeds may also be added to breakfast cereal. All health food shops carry a range of psyllium and pre-ground products are easy to use; just sprinkle a teaspoon or two over cereal or into smoothies.

Slippery elm gruel

1 tbs slippery elm powder
¾ cup water
1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)

Combine powder and water in saucepan and heat until warm, stirring the mixture to prevent clumping.
Add optional lemon juice for flavour, or you can sweeten the gruel with your child’s favorite herbal or fruit-based drink.
Drink before it cools – as gruel cools down, it thickens and the thicker it gets, the more likely your child is to give it the thumbs down.

Constipation tea

1 cup boiling water
½ teaspoon licorice root
¼ teaspoon ginger root (or fennel seeds)
¼ cup apple juice (optional)
¼ cup prune juice (optional)

Steep first 3 ingredients; strain; add juices.
Recommended intake is roughly ¼ cup every two hours for a 50 lb / 23kg child, “until a change for the better becomes apparent”.

Colic

Colic can sometimes be improved when a breastfeeding mum includes chamomile, basil, dill and fennel in her diet.

Gas and colic tea

1 tsp each fennel, cramp bark and peppermint

Boil the fennel seed and cramp bark in about 1¼ cups of water.
Simmer for 10 minutes, ensuring you keep the lid on the pot to reduce evaporation.
Add dried peppermint.
Steep for 10 minutes.
Strain and drink.

Skin

Childhood eczema may be helped by infusion of cleavers, nettles and red clover, chamomile or linden flowers. Chickweed gels can also be found in many health food shops and may be useful topically.

Nappy rash

Diluted herbal infusions of lavender, chamomile or marigold may help. Make sure baby’s skin has dried properly –- allow time out of nappies. Before popping a nappy back on, use a cream made up of chamomile, chickweed or marigold (calendula).

Cradle cap

Olive or sesame oil can be very effective. Consider adding some lavender oil (just a drop or two, it should be well diluted). Massage in and wash off in warm bath water.

Sticky eye

Put bubs in a warm bath made up with a weak infusion of chamomile, marigold, elderflower and mullein tea. Don’t forget that breastmilk has very strong antimicrobial properties; while not a herb, it’s still a natural remedy. However, colostrum has been shown to have a much more powerful effect than mature milk against various staph infections. Breastmilk is a traditional method for sticky eye, NOTE: ONLY USE FRESH BREASTMILK. Older children may have their eyes bathed in herbal infusions consisting of herbs such as chamomile, chickweed, elderflowers, eyebright and goldenseal three times a day. Pour gently over the child’s eye while they are in the bath (they can hold their head back a little) and try not to wipe off. Maybe dab with a muslin wrap. Appropriate herbal teabags (ie. chamomile) can be used: soak in boiling water, allow to cool to lukewarm and place over the eye for 5-10 minutes.

Leanne’s final word

As a nutritionist I spend my time talking about diet and how to optimise your eating habits to improve your health and vitality. You will have seen me mention ‘variety’ at least once a tip sheet. A variety of herbs and their various derivations can, and dare I say should, be part of a healthy diet. We know with certainty that plant compounds are some of the most potent health-giving aids we have and herbs, I believe, should be included in this group. Using a variety of herbs in your healthy family meals is a wonderful way of nourishing the body and soul.

For more information see Pregnancy.

Written and complied by medical herbalist Maxine White from Health Action, with commentary from nutritionist Leanne Cooper (Sneakys)

Medical Herbalist; Lecturer Medicine in the Kitchen
Dip.WH; BwHM; mNHAA; mANTA; mATMS
www.kitchenmedicine.com.au

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