Top 12 Herbs and Spices to Get You Through the Flu Season

Ripe lemon hangs on tree branch in sunshine.

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6. Lemon Balm

The refreshing taste of lemon balm appeals to everyone and it has strong antiviral compounds. Lemon balm is well known for fighting and preventing the flu or the common cold and has been used since at least the Middle Ages.

Lemon balm works great with chamomile or mint tea to enhance its effects. For kids, this is a perfect solution as you could mix it with some sparkling water and have a soothing, yet powerful, lemon balm “soda”. Lemon balm is often used as an anti-stress medication so it’s perfect for calming down those stressed out sick people in your house so they can get some much needed rest. Lemon balm is also good for fever blisters and cold sores that sometimes accompany the flu.

Drink lemon balm tea or make your own by adding about 1 teaspoon of the dried herb for every cup of boiling water. Steep for about 10 to 15 minutes, then drink warm. To gain all the essential oils your body needs, leave the herbs in the cup. Don’t worry, they will simply settle to the bottom.

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One Comment

  1. Keziha Chan

    Oct 26, 2017 at 4:33 am

    My mom makes an awesome (Asian style) chicken noodle soup using cinnamon, lots of garlic, mountains of ginger and a little chilli, it’s so soothing for a cold and warms you up in winter.?
    This article really helped me understand why it’s so good, plus a few extra things I can cure or prevent a cold. ?super help full, thank you.