Colds & Flu with Green, Yellow, or Bloody Mucus

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝘂𝘀 - 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻, 𝘆𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄, 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘆, 𝗳𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿

Sage - antibacterial, antifungal, diaphoretic, antispasmodic, antiviral, drying = good for excessive secretions, a head cold that goes into a sinus infection, staph infection, opens the Lungs relieving Heat and inflammation = anti-inflammatory, sore throat

Pleurisy - antispasmodic, expectorant, diaphoretic, lowers fever, an herb used for when it hurts to breathe, coughing so much it hurts, draws out phlegm from the system, opens up membranes surrounding heart and lungs

Honeysuckle flower- alterative, cools the Blood, antibacterial, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, upper respiratory tract infection, flu, sore throat, pneumonia, fever, disperses Heat and toxic matter

Ground ivy - antiviral, expectorant, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory activities, upper respiratory tract infection, diaphoretic, sinusitis, viral pneumonia, bronchitis, ear infections, cough

Usnea- antibacterial, antifungal, antispasmodic, expectorant, clears Heat toxins, upper respiratory infections, strep throat, staph, pneumonia, bronchitis, colds, flu

𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄, 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻, 𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘆, 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 - 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗱𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵

Horehound -slightly cool and slightly moist, Lung inflammation (anti-inflammatory), Lung congestion = expectorant, transforms Phlegm -Heat, non-productive & spasmodic coughs, dry sticky mucus, bronchitis, sinusitis, bronchial asthma, laryngitis, hoarseness

Red clover flower - alterative, expectorant, antispasmodic, clears Heat toxins, cools the Blood, fever, inflamed Lungs, whooping cough, hot dry irritable cough, lymphatic congestion, moistening

Ophiopogon - antibacterial, antitussive (relieves cough), diaphoretic, tonifies Yin, dry throat & mouth, dry cough with thick or Bloody mucus, fever

Pseudostellaria - energetically neutral, Lung tonic, augments Qi & Yin, generates fluids (can be used with white mucus that is hard to expectorate as well), demulcent, per David Winston: Best Lung tonic - good for weak Lungs

***As always, ask your Dr. or a qualified herbalist about contraindications and interactions***

Colds & Flu With Clear to White Mucus

I’m often asked, “what can I take for my cold/flu,” and I always answer, “it depends.” Cold/flu symptoms change quickly, which means the herb(s) you use should too. We want symptoms to change for the better; however, a quick change can be for the worse if the wrong herb is used.

One part of a cold and the flu is mucus. Here are some helpful herbs to include in a well-balanced formula for a cold or the flu based on the color and texture of your mucus.

Today I’m sharing herbs primarily for clear to white mucus that is either profuse or little amounts and/or difficult to expectorate.

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝘂𝘀 = 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 + 𝘄𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵

Thyme - antiviral, diaphoretic, expectorant, antiseptic, antifungal, drys sinuses, rich in essential oil thymol = antibacterial

Ginger- anti-inflammatory, expectorant, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, transforms Phlegm

Purple Perilla Seed - anti-inflammatory, antitussive, antiseptic, transforms Cold-Phlegm

Osha- antibacterial, expectorant, antiviral, diaphoretic as well as a bronchodilator, transforms Phlegm, stops cough, and clears toxins ** this is a very drying herb

Orange Peel - drying, and has a pleasant flavor

Angelica arc. - diaphoretic, expectorant, anxiolytic, analgesic, releases the exterior, warms and transforms Phlegm

Yerba Santa - expectorant, antispasmodic, transforms Cold Phlegm, stops cough

𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝘂𝘀 (𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲) + 𝗱𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵

Licorice- neutral in property it may be used Cold or Heat type colds, with or without Phlegm, anti-inflammatory, demulcent, antispasmodic, antitussive, dispels Phlegm, relieves soreness, swelling, and pain in the throat, harmonizes other herbs in a formula, excellent for a dry cough

Slippery Elm - expectorant, antitussive, inflammation of all mucous membranes, clears Heat toxins, dry throat, dry cough, slippery elm gruel is excellent as a nutritive when there is upset stomach and it is difficult to keep food down.

Spikenard Root - fresh root - expectorant, antibacterial, antiviral, alterative, antiseptic, warming and moistening, for tough, stringy mucus (David Winston)

Lily Bulb - slightly cool but moistening, antitussive, expectorant, demulcent; I often put lily bulb in my drinking water when I have a dry throat

Solomon Seal - tonifies without stagnating, moistens the Lungs, good for non-productive dry cough, or dry cough with sticky sputum, and dry mouth and throat.

Tips:

• Ginger and orange peel mix great together and children find that taste appealing.

• From Micheal and Lesley Tierra: slippery elm gruel:

  Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of boiling water to 1 tablespoon of powdered slippery elm bark in a small bowl. slowly stir to make a paste. Add honey or maple syrup and a pinch of cinnamon for flavor.

9 Things to Know About Sage - Garden Sage - Salvia Officinalis

• Native to the Mediterranean with over 900 species it belongs to the mint family of herbs.

• Contains many anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds including cineole, camphor, camphene, borneol, and bornyl acetate.

• Contains thujone which has antiseptic and antibiotic properties that helps the body fight off viruses and bacteria.

• A natural source of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds possessing strong antioxidant, radical-scavenging, and antibacterial activities. 

• Contains many nutrients including vitamins A and K, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, folate, and beta-carotene.

• There have been studies done on its anti-inflammatory abilities, its effect on cognition and memory, as well as its ability to lower cholesterol and blood glucose levels. This is exciting news for those with diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and high cholesterol.

• It has been looked at for use against obesity in studies due to its active components on the pancreatic lipase activity and lipid digestion. 

• Traditionally been used for the treatment of digestive and circulatory disturbances, bronchitis, cough, asthma, angina, mouth and throat inflammations, depression, excessive sweating, hot flashes, skin diseases, muscle tension, worms, colds, and flu, etc. 

• Used to dry breast milk production.
  

Sage tea: 

Bring 1 quart of water to a boil

Add 1 ounce of fresh sage leaves,  honey to taste, 1-2 lemons cut into wedges

Turn off heat, cover pot, and let sit for 30 minutes, strain and drink. May also use as a gargle for a sore throat.

Sage can interfere with certain medications or health conditions. Those that are dry or experiencing Yin deficiency should consult a qualified herbalist.  Sage should be avoided by those women who are pregnant or nursing.  If you are unsure if sage is right for you - let me know,  I am happy to work with you to see if it is a fit. 

• Christensen KB, Jorgenson M, Kotowska D, Peterson RK, Kristiansen K, Christensen LP. Activation of the nuclear receptor PPARγ by metabolites isolated from sage (Salvia officinalis L.) J Ethnopharmacol. 2010;132:127–33.

• Baranauskiene R, Dambrauskiene E, Venskutonis P. Influence of harvesting time on the yield and chemical composition of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) Foodbalt. 2011:105–9.

• Yurtseven S, Cetin M, Sengiil T, Sogut B. Effect of sage extract (Salvia officinalis) on growth performance, blood parameters, oxidative stress and DNA damage in partridges. S Afr J Anim Sci. 2008;38:145–52

• Yadav S, Mukundan U. In vitro antioxidant properties of Salvia coccinea Buc’hoz ex etl. and Salvia officinalis L. Indian J Fundam Appl Life Sci. 2011;1:232–8

• Ninomiya K, Matsuda H, Shimoda H, Nishida N, Kasajima N, Youshino T, et al. Carnosic acid, a new class of lipid absorption inhibitor from sage. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2004;14:1943–6