Piola

It’s that time of year. The seasons are changing. One day it’s warm and you’re out in a t-shirt and shorts, and the next day you’re sporting the winter coat again. With all the fluctuations in temperature, air conditioning, heat, and the rest, this is the prime time to get sick. The best way that I have found to battle the common cold is by taking natural herbs that have been found to help prevent sickness. My favorite is Echinacea. There have been various studies that have found that taking Echinacea as soon as you start feeling symptoms can boost your immune system and prevent your from becoming sick. One of the important things to remember is that Echinacea is most effective when taken during the early signs of sickness. Some research has also suggested that if you take it when you are already sick, it could shorten the length of the illness.

Echinacea is a type of flower from the daisy family. The herb is usually made from Echinacea root, but sometimes it’s from the whole plant or just the flower. It can be taken in capsule form, in liquid form, or infused and drunk as tea. You can often find Echinacea tea bags, but I prefer to buy the herb in bulk and make my own recipe, which is much tastier! So, if you’re feeling a bit under the weather this time of year, try out this simple recipe.

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Echinacea Ginger Tea

1 teaspoon dried Echinacea

1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

1 teaspoon lemon juice

2 teaspoons honey (or more if you like it sweeter!)

Put the Echinacea and ginger in a teapot and pour in two (2) cups of boiling water. Put the lid on the teapot and leave to steep for 10 to 15 minutes. This is an important step since many teas steep in only a few minutes, but you really need to let this one sit for a while. Once it has steeped you can add the lemon and honey and it’s ready to drink!