Top 3 flu busters from the garden

Your homegrown pharmacy would not be complete without these must-have mutis. Enjoy an outing to one of your local nurseries to grab these seeds and seedlings, as well as all your gardening essentials.

1). Peppermint steam

Harvest a handful of peppermint leaves and then place them in a large pot of boiled water. Cover your face and chest with a towel and then inhale the steam from the pot. You could also add other mint varieties (spearmint, apple mint, pineapple mint) to the steam pot. This home remedy is great for clearing sinuses and phlegm. After steaming, chew nasturtium leaves to soothe a sore throat.

2). Honey and onion syrup

Finely chop an onion and then place the pieces in a glass saucer. Add plenty of quality honey to the saucer, fully covering the onion. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day to treat the common cold. For body pains, add 1 spoon of organic turmeric to the mix to decrease inflammation.

3). Tonic tea

Steep some harvested ginger, mint, and lemon with a few bags of rooibos tea leaves in warm (not boiling) water (you want to extract the goodness not burn the plants). Allow the tonic to strengthen for at least an hour then pour half a cup full into a mug. Add some honey and drink for respiratory congestion. Keep refreshing the herbs and strengthening your tonic for as long as needed.

Did you know?

Many weeds are also medicinal! Try these top picks and remember to do your research on how to best use them and in what quantities.

• Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale)
• Stinging nettle (Urtica urens)
• Chickweed (Stellaria media)
• Wild garlic (Tulbachia violacea)
• Wild sorrel (Oxalis pescaprae)

Special thanks to our industry experts at Sought After Seedlings for these mighty medicinal plants and recipes. Access our free online store locator here and shop at the best SA has to offer:  https://www.lifeisagarden.co.za/category/garden-centres/

**Life is a Garden provides information about beneficial plants, not pharmaceutical advice. This content is shared for the love of our natural world and is not intended to be used as a medical prescription.

Source: Life is a Garden