Herbal Cold Remedy

You wake up feeling a little off. Your throat is dry and a little sore. By the middle of the day you are feeling congested. Then, at night, you lie in bed, unable to sleep because you can't stop coughing as your body tries to expel the mucus in your throat and lungs. You are suffering from a cold. Along with picking up some tissue at the store, you can also pick up some herbs that will help your body to fight off this annoying illness.

Sore Throat

• The first thing you may notice to make you suspect you are coming down with a cold is a dry, scratchy sore throat. You have a few choices in herbal remedies to help you combat this cold symptom. Marshmallow root is an anti-inflammatory that can help to soothe your inflamed throat, according to herbalist Brigitte Mars. Two other herbal remedies for a sore throat, slippery elm and licorice root, are recommended by James Duke, author of "The Green Pharmacy." Slippery elm works as an antiseptic, and licorice root helps to reduce coughing, which in turn will help to reduce irritation of your throat. All three of these herbal remedies can be combined in tea form to help ease a sore throat caused by a cold.

Congestion

• Black and oolong teas are both recommended if you are feeling stuffed up. These herbal teas will help to break down mucus, helping you to breathe easier. You can also use a combination of rosemary, thyme and eucalyptus in tea form as a herbal remedy to help ease cold symptoms, including congestion. The combination of these three herbal ingredients will help to heal and fight off infection, while also breaking up congestion in the lungs.

Antioxidants

• Many herbs such as oregano, rosemary and peppermint are high in antioxidants, according to "Science Daily." Therefore, ingesting these herbs can help your body not only fight off an existing cold, but also to prevent a cold from making it past your immune system.