Tag Archives: cough medicine

Tired of all of that coughing? Put down that bottle of cough medicine!

Let’s talk about the fact that there is something that tastes even better, and is 100% natural.  This article will explore the power of green tea, thyme, honey, and lemon.  It will present scientifically proven facts about these four delicious items.  Then a recipe will be provided introducing this flavorful remedy. The best thing about this remedy besides the natural components, this remedy is a lot cheaper to make, and consume, and works a lot better than those cough syrups, yuck!

Green Tea has brought forward lots of positive medical values.  According to a recent article “Green tea’s antioxidants, called catechins, scavenge for free radicals that can damage DNA and contribute to cancer, blood clots, and atherosclerosis. Grapes and berries, red wine, and dark chocolate also have potent antioxidants” WebMD.

Thyme has been a proud consumable herb that the Greek’s have boasted for centuries.  Rarely would a person consider thyme for anything outside of soups, stews, or roasts.  That was my opinion anyways.  That just goes to show you how totally wrong that opinion was. It wasn’t until a recent bout with sinusitis, and being plagued by symptoms of having continuous prolonged chest congestion that I started seeking other alternatives.

The secret is out! I am a Green Tea lover.  Recently I have been experimenting with different tea concoctions.  One of my close friends suggested that I try infusing thyme into my green tea.  His suggestion was that thyme has powerful anti-oxidant strength, and would help break the chest congestion.  The cough was deep in my chest, and tight.  It had gotten to the point where the cough was so persistent that not even the cough medicines would sooth the cough for long.

That night I gathered the ingredients.  I must tell you that when he first recommended this infusion it made me scrunch my face and worry, especially after smelling the thyme in the jar.  The truth is that thyme just doesn’t smell very good, that’s my story, and I am sticking to it.

This cough was persistent, and what did I have to lose anyways? That is when I started brewing a fresh pot of tea.  Then while waiting for the tea to brew I started to research the entire thyme idea on Google.  Google is the absolute best!

Completely amazed by the amount of research that was available that consistently proved what my friend had said.  Research concluded that “Thyme is so beneficial that pharmaceutical companies used thyme in their medications and mouth wash. NOTE: Do not use thyme in large doses; do not exceed recommended dose. Not for pregnant women or those with a thyroid condition” Thepowerherbs.

This research gives excellent insight into the reason why thyme is so valued.  Pouring the first cup of this brew was not disappointing.  The material research provided good confirmation from The Power Herb people, but that is a blog, and people want hardcore facts.  That is when I pulled out the PubMed card.  Whenever you have a question about the validity of something you have heard.  The first stop everyone should make is to go see what they can find on PubMed.  The research indeed confirmed that “Thyme oil demonstrated a good efficacy against antibiotics resistant strains of the tested bacteria” PubMed.

Honey should never be underestimated and should be a common household staple.  Every single house should always have a jar of honey around.  You never know when it will come in handy.  Honey breaks down inside the body faster and research indicates that “Honey has numerous medicinal properties and because it coats your throat it is a natural way to soothe sore throats. It also has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties to help fight infections from viruses, bacteria, and fungi” Huffingtonpost.

Why am I using Huffington Post as it is considered opinion at best? Well, it was an excellent article and helped explain the natural healing of honey in easy to understand words.  The next stop for validation was to research PubMed.  PubMed offers a wide range of clinically proven research studies and provides an excellent academic resource.  It presents study research that validates scientifically and offers an abundance of medical information covering a wide range of topics.  When researching Honey 5,440 peer reviewed articles were offered.  The article that was selected indicated that “Pure honey and honey-based mixtures are used primarily to treat respiratory symptoms and illnesses by both study groups” PubMed

Lemons a perfect combination that infuses the compounds of Green Tea, Thyme, and Honey and drinking it will provide the power of an inexpensive cough remedy that you make at home naturally at a fraction of the cost of that bottle of cough medicine.  The natural remedy is only common sense that points back to the obvious “Drinking tea or warm lemon water mixed with honey is a time-honored way to soothe a sore throat, But honey may be an effective cough suppressant, too” MayoClinic

In the time that it has taken me to write this article my cough has quieted and after sharing this fabulous miracle tea, I am off to dream land.  Don’t take my word for it.  Make up a pot of your own or make it for someone you love, especially if they need a good night of sleep without coughing.

Better Than Cough Medicine No Cough Green Tea Recipe:

• 2 quarts of water
• 1 packet of Lipton Green Tea
• 2 tablespoons of Honey
• 2 teaspoons of Thyme
• 2 tablespoons of Lemon

Boil 2 quarts of water, remove water from heat, combine thyme into the green tea bag and let steep for 30 minutes.  Then add lemon and honey before you drink.  This tea is best if consumed warm, or hot for best anti-cough results.  Immediate results guaranteed!

Vivian I Curl, Marketing Specialist, Health and Nutrition Research Writer, Communication Major, and Blogger at http://www.qvhealthwealthprosper.com