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Combat that common cold this winter – with your garden!

It’s that time of year again! A common cold is something most of us will get, but not all of us know how to best fight it off.

Do you grin and bear it? Perhaps you stock up on all things Lemsip and mounds of cough syrup. Alas! There is a more effective way to rid yourself of this pesky cold.

Your garden may be full of herbs that can bring relief to your cold symptoms and help to boost your immune system. This handful of common culinary herbs are brilliant remedies, they are also far kinder to you, the environment and your bank account than many over the counter cold medicines

Herbs	Benefits	How to use
Rosemary	Full of antiviral properties, rosemary stimulates your circulatory system thus encourages blood flow to your brain to relieve headaches	Steam inhalation of a handful of bruised stems and leaves
Sage	Full of antiviral and antimicrobial properties, sage soothes irritated tissues and kills bacteria. It’s great for sore throats	Drink as a tea combined with a little honey or thyme
Lemon Balm	With mild antiviral properties, lemon balm helps to sweat out a fever	Add a tablespoon of the chopped herb to boiling water
Mint	As mint contains menthol, this will thin mucus and therefore help to relieve congestion	Drink as a tea or freeze into ice cubes

Tip: If you’re not a fan of herbal teas, swap the tablespoons for handfuls and add to a hot bath instead.

You could also pour boiling water over the herbs and inhale the steam. Either way, boiling water releases the oils so you can gain all the benefits!

It’s worth noting that if you’re pregnant, you should avoid rosemary, sage and thyme.

Find out where your nearest GreenThumb branch is here.

Garden herbs to help your cold

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