Herbs That Soothe When You're Sick: Stumbling Through the Yard Searching for Relief

Monday morning, I woke up feeling a dismal tightness in my chest. No, it wasn't my heart chakra trying to tell me something, to my dismay it was a nasty virus invading. I went out in the yard, and picked some mullein and hyssop. I made a strong infusion and sipped it throughout the day. 

Then the second day hit. I was coughing, had a sore throat, my spine hurt, my hips hurt. I was really unwell. But something was calling to me and you guessed it, my herbs! At this point I wasn't fully sound of mind, and literally stumbling, but I made my way to my raised beds, and greenhouse grabbing a solid handful of my plant allies. 

Here's what I decided to pick and why:

• Mullein, for its capabilities to loosen the phlegm in my chest. 
• Hyssop, as an antiviral  and to help soothe my lungs.
• Yarrow, a diaphoretic (to produce or cause sweating) to help me cook out some of my microbes. 
• Nettles, full of minerals and a useful antihistamine; also just because it is one of my allies and makes me feel cared for. 
• Lemon Balm, a really powerful antiviral that tastes delicious; also supportive for your nervous system, because getting sick is stressful! 
• Mint, as an antispasmodic in case I really got to coughing. 
• Calendula, to drain my puffy lymph nodes and for it's antibacterial properties. 

I brought all of this up to a simmer and then removed it from the heat, letting it steep 2 hours. I wanted it to be strong. I normally don't advise applying that much heat to fresh leaves, but sometimes you have to change your concepts and follow your intuition.  

Some of you may be asking, "But Kirstie, why didn't you just brew some of your own Scratchy Throat Tea Blend that you sell online?" My thoughts exactly as I was stumbling around the yard. The answer is: I am only blessed half of the year with these fresh herbs, and I am always called to use fresh if I can!