Forums HomeGrown Herbalist Student Forum Medicinal Herbs Newbie, help with viral infection/congestion

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    • #48671
      Michele Crawford
      Student

        Hi all, I am new to this course and also new to herbalism, I had cancer in 2023 and it led me to herbalism. I am currently battling congestion from a viral infection and I need to recover quickly!! My sweet grand baby was due on Sunday and I am suppose to be in the labor and delivery room with my son & daughter for this miraculous occasion but I won’t be permitted if I have any lingering symptoms. Thankfully, I am on day 5 and mostly just experiencing congestion. Is there a quick, herbal remedy to help with sinus congestion? I appreciate any and all suggestions. Thank you all.

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      • #48673
        Greg Boggs
        Student

          Here is something that has worked well for me in the past. Mince up a clove of garlic, pour raw honey on it, and then sprinkle some cayenne on it. The garlic and honey will help kill that bad stuff in you, stimulate your immunity, and the cayenne will open up your sinuses great

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        • #48676
          Rebecca Dobes
          Student

            Congratulations on the new grandbaby! One of my favorite remedies for congestion is a blend of horehound and elecampane. I always mix up a batch of syrup with those herbs whenever someone in the house starts coming down with a cold. Horehound and elecampane both help ease coughing and get rid of mucus. Elecampane is also soothing to inflamed mucus membranes and has antimicrobial properties. I understand that you may not have these herbs on hand. If you’re interested in giving them a try, I’d check your local health food store. They may carry them as a tincture or even have the dried herbs in stock. You could probably find the tinctures on Amazon too. I’ve purchased the Herb Pharm brand on Amazon when I needed something quickly and have always been pleased with their products.

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            • #48678
              Michele Crawford
              Student
              Topic Author

                Thank you, do you have a recipe for the syrup? I do have a local herbal shop that I can try to get the herbs from.

                • #48684
                  Rebecca Dobes
                  Student

                    Horehound and Elecampane Cough Syrup

                    Ingredients:

                    32 oz  spring or filtered water

                    1 oz dried horehound

                    1 oz dried elecampane root

                    4 cups honey

                    1. Make horehound tea. Bring 16 oz water just to a boil. Pour over horehound. Cover and let steep for at least 20 minutes.
                    2. Make an elecampane decoction. Place 16 oz of water in a pot, add elecampane root to the pot. Cover, bring to a simmer for 20 minutes.
                    3. Strain the tea and decoction into separate containers.
                    4. Mix 1 cup of horehound tea with 1 cup of elecampane decoction.
                    5. Stir in 4 cups of honey while the liquids are warm.
                    6. Pour the syrup into clean jars. Store in the refrigerator for the longest shelf life.

                    The dosage I use for an adult is 1 tsp. every four hours. Once the congestion starts to clear up, I just use it as needed. Store in the fridge for the longest shelf life.

                    This recipe makes a large batch. I have 5 kids and we go through a ton of this syrup when we’re sick! You’ll probably want to cut the amounts in 1/2 or maybe even 1/4. I usually freeze any leftover tea and decoction in ice cube trays for future use.

                     

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                    • #48698
                      Michele Crawford
                      Student
                      Topic Author

                        I actually have some elecampane on hand, so I am going to head to the herbal store tomorrow to see if they have any horehound so I can make this😊

                        • #48707
                          Rebecca Dobes
                          Student

                            You can make it with just the elecampane. You just want to aim for a 1:2 tea to honey ratio in the finished syrup.

                  • #48677
                    Herb Thyme
                    Student

                      Add some cayenne pepper to your water.  If you have a cayenne tincture that would be good too.  Garlic, echinacea, elderberry should help.

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                      • #48695
                        Michele Crawford
                        Student
                        Topic Author

                          thank you sooooo much, this is amazing! I am going to give it a try😊

                      • #48680
                        dragonflyinthenet@gmail.com
                        Student

                          Cayenne pepper in some juice, just a pinch will do for congestion. hope this helps.

                           

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                        • #48685
                          Dan Flowers
                          Student

                            I would do what the Bog’s said and also use Yarrow tincture max dose  3-4 times daily until your big day.  Yarrow is astounding when I’m sick or have a flu.

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                            • #48696
                              Michele Crawford
                              Student
                              Topic Author

                                thank you, I have a yarrow infused oil already prepared would that work? I don’t have a finished alcohol tincture.

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