Homemade Herbal Teas for Cold & Flu Season — Natural Remedies You’ll Love!
As soon as school begins again (in our case, homeschool co-op), we know cold and flu season is around the corner, biding its time. It’s like a lurking monster, and eventually, someone in my family topples. Then, the rest follow suit. I always have some of my favorite homemade herbal teas for cold and flu season on hand.
My kids still pick up germs, despite being homeschooled. We attend a co-op I run twice a week, which is plenty of exposure. I work at a restaurant, and my husband works out of the home as well. All the interactions throughout the week lead to someone, inevitably, getting sick.
Usually, some relaxation is all our bodies need, but herbal teas are a great way to boost our immune systems and give relief to the bothersome symptoms brought on by the cold.
Related: Herbalism for Beginners: 11 Must-Have Medicinal Herbs
I’m not a trained herbalist, nor am I a doctor. Always seek medical advice from your medical doctor and do your own research.
How Homemade Herbal Teas Help
What is an herbal tea? Well, it’s essentially an herbal infusion. When you make an Earl Grey tea bag from the store, you probably only let the bag steep for 2-5 minutes. Herbal teas should steep for 10-15 minutes. I steer towards the 15-minute mark, letting all the extracted healing benefits come from the herbs.
You aren’t brewing for flavor; you’re brewing this tea to help heal your body. Flavor is secondary.
Because I have children, I always have raw honey on hand. It’s a MUST if I want my kids to drink homemade herbal teas when they’re sick. Plus, raw honey has its own healing benefits that work wonders when we are feeling down in the dumps.
Herbs have medicinal properties, so creating an infusion allows you to reap those benefits. Plus, drinking a cup of hot tea increases mucus movement, reduces congestion, and keeps you hydrated!
8 Homemade Herbal Teas for Cold & Flu Season
None of these herbal teas needs to be followed perfectly. I adjust nearly everything, and when my kids are sick, I add peppermint and honey to everything. The combination sweetens the tea, and peppermint soothes the tummy aches that often come with too much mucus.
You also DON’T have to make blends! Try drinking JUST peppermint tea, ginger tea, or chamomile tea. Mixing herbs provides you with multiple benefits, but you may be able to find relief just from a simple herbal tea with one herb!
A Children’s Cold Tea
It’s important to note that not all herbs should be given to children. So, I always suggest some care when researching and taking advice on whatever herbs to give our little ones. If you have kids and want to explore MORE holistic care for them, I can’t recommend the Holistic Herbal Care for Kids Course by The Herbal Academy enough.
This tea is great for colds, flu, sore throats, and general acute illness. You can turn it into a sealed simmer glycerite, syrup, or tincture.
- 1 part yarrow
- 1 part elderflower
- 1 part peppermint
- 1/2 part chamomile
A General Cold & Cough Tea
This is a FAVORITE in our house. I make it in a large batch and then spoon it into tea bags as needed throughout the cold and flu season.
- 1 part thyme
- 1 part marshmallow root
- 1 part chamomile
My entire family swears that this works wonders!
Coat the Throat
Got a sore throat? That’s honestly one of the most frustrating parts about a cold. Try this tea!
- 2 parts licorice
- 1 part marshmallow root
- 1/2 part spearmint OR peppermint
Kick the Cough Tea
Here’s a great one for coughs and general respiratory system irritations.
- 1 part coltsfoot leaf
- 1 part marshmallow root
- 1 part mullein leaf
Fever Kicker
Mild fevers in children mean their immune system is responding to whatever is happening in their body. A serious, high fever should be checked by a doctor. However, for low-grade fevers, I made a fever-reducing tea, and sometimes, I make an herbal bath instead. Baths sure make bodies feel better when fevered.
- 1 part catnip leaf
- 1 part elderflower
- 1 part spearmint leaf
This can be adjusted for adults as well.
- 1 part elderflower
- 1 part peppermint
- 1 part yarrow flower and leaf
Boost Your Immune System Tea
Your immune system takes a hit when you have a cold. Most people reach for echinacea, which is fantastic for the immune system, but here is another idea!
- 1 part dried elderberries
- 1 part rosehips
- 1/4 part cinnamon chips
- 1/4 part ginger root
Hey, I never said it had to taste good. The cinnamon will ease some of the odd flavor combinations here… hopefully.
No More Nausea
Whether you’re battling a stomach bug (just happened to me!) or the mucus is making you nauseous, you need some herbal nausea tea on hand. There are dozens of recipes to try out there, but this one is definitely towards the top of my list.
- 1 part chamomile
- 1 part lemon balm
- 1 part peppermint leaf
You could toss in some ginger if you wanted to!
Headache Be Gone
My colds almost always come with a headache. My hormones also lead to a headache, but that’s a different story. Try sipping on this tea to get rid of a nagging headache.
- 1 part lemon balm
- 1 part basil leaf
- 1/4 part chamomile
- 1/4 part cinnamon chips
