In our last blog, we shared our favourite winter wellness herbs that you can grow at home to establish your own natural pharmacy. In her book, The Herb Farm founder Lynn Kirkland talks about how Arnica, Aloe Vera, Calendula, Echinacea, Chamomile, Peppermint, and Thyme form a wonderful foundation to a healing garden that can be used for many medicinal purposes. And she shared some fabulous remedies that you can make at home to help with many winter ailments. Here’s some of our favourites:
Thyme bath infusions
Wonderful for when anyone in the family has a cough, cold, or flu, or simply when you’re feeling exhausted.
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Pick two handfuls of fresh thyme (pizza or common thyme is best) or use one handful of dried thyme.
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Place in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Place a plate over the bowl to trap in the steam.
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Leave to infuse for 20 minutes, or longer. Then it’s thyme for a bath!
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Run a nice, warm bath. Hold a sieve over the bath and pour your infusion through, leaving the plant material in the sieve. The infusion has a greeny yellow tint and looks as though someone has peed in the bath!
Climb in, lean back, relax and soak in the bath. This is a herbal treatment so no need for washing. The thymol from the thyme absorbs through the skin as well as being breathed into the lungs where the antiseptic action gets busy against the germs. Dry off and go to bed and enjoy the herbal magic of thyme!
Thyme and Sage honey
Honey is a gift from nature and is ideal for infusing with herbs to create a delicious and healing remedy. This honey is a delicious way to soothe sore throats and coughs and is suitable for all ages from 1 year old.
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Harvest a large handful of thyme and 2 large sprigs of sage and put into a saucepan.
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Cover the herbs with runny honey (Manuka honey is the best but any honey can be used) and simmer softly for ten minutes.
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Turn off the heat and cover the saucepan. Leave it infusing overnight.
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Warm the honey and herbs again so it will pass through a sieve.
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Store in a jar and take a spoonful at first sign of a sore throat or to soothe coughs and colds.
Thyme & Sage Herb Tea
- Use an equal amount of sage and thyme to loosely fill a tea infuser.
- Pour boiling water over the herbs and allow to steep for 10 minutes.
- A little honey makes it easy to drink for all ages.
Suitable for 1 year onwards. Breastfeeding Mums should use thyme only as sage reduces milk supply.
So, there you have it, our favourite home remedies. Growing your own herbs and creating your own natural pharmacy is a wonderfully empowering thing to do and a spectacular way to life a happy, healthy, herby life.
Let us know how you get on, or better yet, send us your favourite home herbal remedies!