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Spice Rack: Thyme Fights Respiratory Infections

Charla — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:39:52 +0000

Not only does thyme add flavor to foods, but it is also great for fighting respiratory infections. The oils in thyme fight viral, bacterial and fungal growth in the body. Make thyme tea to relieve the following:

* Asthma
* Bronchitis
* Congestion
* Cough
* Hay fever
* Sore throat

Cooking with thyme:

Thyme is great for cooking. I like to use parsley, thyme and rosemary in soups, stews and some chicken dishes for added flavor and nutrition. It’s also good with bay leaf to season things as well.

Interesting Facts:

Thyme contains thymol which is found in Listerine and Vicks VapoRub and is used because of its antibacterial properties. Thyme tea can also be used as a soak for Athlete’s Foot.

How to Make Thyme Tea:

Using either fresh (2 twigs) or dried thyme (2 teaspoons) per cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 20 minutes. There are various ways you can do this, either by using an infuser (as pictured above), placing tea in a piece of cheesecloth and using a twist tie to secure the top, or using tea filters which you can buy.

Sweeten with Stevia (which is what I use), honey, or agave nector.

* I’ve read that pregnant women and those trying to get pregnant should not use large amounts of thyme, but it’s OK in food.

Spice-Rack: Cinnamon for Congestion, Diarrhea, & Nausea

Charla — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:50:14 +0000

Cinnamon is good for so many things besides making Snickerdoodle Cookies, etc. If you have the sniffles, it can help to relieve congestion.

Make cinnamon tea to help relieve the following:

* Congestion
* Diarrhea
* Nausea
* Runny nose
* Metabolize fats

How to make cinnamon tea:

All you have to do is make the tea with one cinnamon stick or one teaspoon ground cinnamon (or more to taste), one cup boiling water, and let steep for 15 minutes. Stir well. Sweeten with Stevia (this is what I use), honey, agave nector, or your sweetener of choice.

* However, women who are pregnant should not use large amounts of cinnamon, but it’s OK in foods.

Spice-Rack: Ginger Helps Nausea

Charla — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:17:04 +0000

Do you ever feel nauseated from sinus drainage or maybe from taking medicine or a vitamin? Sometimes I will feel nauseated from taking a vitamin B or when I have sinus drainage. For some people, motion sickness is a real problem when they travel. And for the expectant mommy-to-be, morning sickness can be a regular daily experience. Well, just look in your spice rack and grab the ginger. I’ve read you can make tea with it using 1 tsp. of ginger with 1 cup boiling water, steep for 10 minutes, strain, and then drink. (I would need sweetener.) I have not tried the tea, but we do keep Ginger Snaps around most of the time. I can eat a couple of those and it really helps my nausea go away.