There are numerous amounts of over the counter medicines that help with deal with chest congestion and many of them can be very costly. However, there are natural remedies that one can use to aid with the instant relief of the chest congestion. Here are a few of my favorite recipes that can help you during the allergy season.

Ginger Tea

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Ginger can be very effective in conditions of chest congestion. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over a 1-inch piece of peeled, grated ginger; steep for 10 minutes; and strain. Add a pinch or two of cayenne pepper to the water and drink as needed. Drink this daily in the morning on an empty stomach. If you choose, you can drink this every day.

Thyme

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Thyme is a very helpful herb in curing chest congestion. This herb can help get rid of stuck mucus in the lungs. Thyme helps in clearing the mucus and gradually clears the same from your lungs. Add 2 teaspoon of dry thyme in a cup of boiling water. Strain and drink thyme herbal tea three times in a day.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil Steam

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Eucalyptus Essential Oil can work wonders to improve or get rid of chest congestion. Add 3-4 drops of Eucalyptus Essential oil into about 6 cups of boiled water. Make a tent with a towel, and, ensuring it’s not TOO hot; inhale. The steam can provide the much needed relief from chest congestion.

Food Choices

Garlic, onions, ginger, and peppers, and parsley are all-natural decongestants. Make a steaming broth with vegetable or chicken stock and add these foods to make a soothing decongestant soup. 

A couple of cold Saturdays ago Rosanna and I visited Maltby Street, the latest thing in markets a la mode in South London. Decorated with such accolades as ‘the new Borough Market’ and nestled amongst the railway arches in Bermondsey this place is somewhere between a pop up high-street of food and drink only shops, and a rather posh farmers market.

Having now visited three times, and had three very different (though all enjoyable) experiences, the opening times of this place flummox me. Sometimes the under arch shops and cafes are there and open, other times the hatches are down and they could no more be eateries than industrial storage spaces. Sometimes the Rope Walk Market is there, sometimes it isn’t. I can’t pin the place down. Still it’s worth the gamble because the general quality of fare here is top notch.

This particular visit took Rosanna and through the Rope Walk and round to My Cup of Tea, an under-arch tea shop simply decorated with one wooden desk, several almost human sized kilner jars filled with varying teas and dried herbs and some astronomically expensive packets of the stuff for sale. We chatted for some time to the very friendly lady behind the desk who was able to advise on which teas would be best for our purposes and left with a couple of packets of loose leaf tea each – lime leaf and thyme, a little knowledge of our purchases, and considerably lighter wallets.

Onwards, onwards to the best veggie shop in the world ever. I consider the shops around where I live on Roman Road to stock a particularly good, variable stash but nothing could prepare me for the treasures and rarities here. These beautiful lettuces Pollocked with deep blood reds and purples, chicory in not one or two but three or four shades, fifteen million different varieties of mushrooms, pumpkins and squashes in every shape and size and colour you could imagine. A feast for the eyes before anything else, and worth a visit for this spectacle alone, even if you aren’t buying (this place is also expensive).

When the bitter cold became too much we retreated to the comfort of coffee and cake. Previous visits have seen this shelter take the shape of Monmouth coffee and a custard doughnut from St Johns – two experiences which should absolutely be undertaken by everyone. However, this stop off required some shelter from the elements, so into the belly of Comptoir Gourmand we headed. This bakery, like the veg and tea shops before it, is a sight to behold – with every kind of french patisserie, pie, tart, cake you could think of… plus brownies, raclette, pizza – you name it. Edible beauties executed with perfection, displayed row on row along the two long wood and counters, all candy pinks and lime greens, meringues and macaroons against the raw, bare brick backdrop of the cafe. After a long queue we found some seats in the surprisingly large dining space, and armed with pistachio and vanilla macaroons filled with real, thick globs of cream and strong, black, delicious coffee we warned off that bitter January chill.

If you make it to Maltby Street to visit just one of these places it won’t be a wasted trip. And if per chance you don’t, but instead get to one of the wine or real ale shops, or the place that sells smoked salmon, or if you try some cured meat or cheese from the market, or some sourdough instead of a doughnut from St Johns, or even if you visit the never-ending antique shop labyrinth or the shop that sells reclaimed steel girders (I think?) Maltby Street should be on your list of ‘things to do’ in London. For sure.

Here are some natural ways to prevent allergies:

1. Fortify your immune system by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially those rich in Vitamin C, such as bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, chilli peppers, guavas, herbs (such as thyme and parsley), kiwis, oranges, papayas and strawberries.

2. Drink a mixture of honey and warm water in the morning; this will help strengthen your immune system.

3. Avoid dairy products, refined flour and sugar; these propagate the formation of mucus in the body which can lead to congestion.

4. Use plenty of garlic and onions; these are natural antihistamines.

5. When outdoors, reduce the amount of pollen you inhale; cover your mouth and nose. Apply a little petroleum jelly or olive oil to your nostrils to keep dust and pollen away from your nose and throat.

If you are suffering from allergies, try these remedies:

1. Inhale chamomile oil (by smearing some on a handkerchief/tissue) or drink chamomile tea three to four times a day.

2. Inhale steam from hot water with a few drops of aromatic oil (e.g. basil, eucalyptus and lavender).

3. Drink peppermint or thyme tea; this helps relieve nasal and respiratory tract congestion. Brew the tea using one teaspoon of the dried herb with one cup of water.

4. Sip a mixture of one-eighth of a cup of apple cider vinegar in two cups of water.

5. Drink a concoction of turmeric powder and water three times a day; make the mixture by adding a teaspoon of turmeric to a glass of water.

– Sadia Tariq

First published in the Health Advertiser Section of The DAWN National Weekend Advertiser on April 8, 2012.

Thyme is a delicate herb which is both pungent and hot with a penetrating fragrance. It is also a fabulous herb for healing a large number of ailments. It is known to increase the flow of urine and to help in menstruation. It helps in the delivery process and prevents miscarriages; in fact, it cleanses all the organs of the body. The Abbess Hildegard von Bingen used thyme for nervous disorders, leprosy and paralysis.

The Abbess Hildegard von Bingen stated, “He who drinks a cup of thyme tea instead of coffee in the morning will soon feel the beneficial effect: enlivened spirits, great comfort in the stomach, no coughing in the morning and an overall well-being.”

Thyme grows in sunny areas next to ant-hills. You can find thyme in dried up lawns, as it must have lots of sun and heat. Thyme came from the Mediterranean in the 11th century and is found in many gardens. Most people know the thyme plant as Garden Thyme (thymus vulgaris) or as Mother Thyme.

Thyme benefits

Thyme cures styes and aids pink eye. It cleans scrapes and cuts immediately with its antiseptic and disinfectant properties. Thyme treats women with menstrual cramps and PMS symptoms also. Thyme is a common remedy for stomach ailments, lung congestion, coughing ailments and overall flu conditions. It is even used to remove nightmares from children. Thyme is used for sprains, rheumatism, muscular atrophy, stroke, multiple sclerosis and paralysis. Thyme is a good overall herb to keep in the kitchen.

How to make an herb pillow

An herb pillow is made of chamomile, thyme and yarrow, which is picked in the sun and dried. These herbs are placed in an herb pillow and used for facial neuralgia. Two cups of thyme tea is sipped through the day also. With cramps, one should place club moss in the pillow with the other herbs. The herb pillow may be heated in a pan or microwave and placed on the stomach to aide in the relief of discomfort. The pillow is also good for contusions and inflammations.

How to make thyme tea

Boil a pot of water and then add the leaves of the plant. Let the tea sit for an additional two minutes before drinking.

Uses for the thyme tea include an old home remedy for respiratory passages, which uses the plantain. Make a tea using equal amounts of thyme and plantain, with the juice of a half of a lemon and some sugar. This natural remedy is good for bronchial asthma, whooping cough and phlegm in the lungs. This tea should be used four or five times a day. If the patient has pneumonia, then the tea should be sipped every hour.

Drinking of thyme tea is also recommended for alcoholism. The alcoholic is given one tablespoon every 15 minutes. The tea causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, increased urine and much perspiration. The appetite is increased and the patient becomes very thirsty. It is evident that this procedure should be done several times, as relapse is inevitable in the beginning. For people with epilepsy, two cups of tea should be drunk daily. This tea should be drunk for 2-3 weeks; then, one should wait for ten days to two weeks and then begin the protocol again.

How to make the tincture

Fill a bottle loosely with herbs which were picked in the midday. Add in some whiskey or vodka and then placed in the sun for fourteen days.

Uses for the tincture include the strengthening of limbs of children who are weak, especially those suffering from Multiple Sclerosis.

How to make a thyme bath

Place 200 grams of thyme in a bath.

Someone who is suffering from over stimulation or depression would use this remedy. The thyme bath brings immediate relief and brings on restful sleep.

How to make thyme syrup

Place some raw sugar and thyme in a jar, alternating the layers. Press down each layer firmly. Leave this mixture in the sun for approximately three weeks. After three weeks, strain the liquid and add some water to the syrup. The syrup is then heated slightly and used.

Thyme syrup is mainly used for colds and the relief of the flu symptoms. Take the syrup before your meal.

How to make thyme oil – fill a glass bottle half way up with thyme leaves and then fill the rest of the bottle with olive oil. Place in the sun for 14 days and then strain the oil. Discard the leaves and place the oil in a dark cabinet.

Uses for the thyme oil are many. The oil is used to help with memory and concentration. It is used also for brain fog, migraines, lung ailments and bronchitis, as a cough syrup and to remove mucous from the lungs.

There are over 60 varieties of thyme, which include orange thyme, silver thyme, lemon thyme, and the common French thyme. The Egyptians, in ancient times, used thyme as an embalming agent on their deceased pharaohs. In Greece, thyme was burned in incense in their sacred temples. It was traditional for women to give their knight before he went into battle a scarf, which had a sprig of thyme attached. This herb was associated with bravery.

Thyme is a food herb commonly confused with oregano, as they are similar in looks and taste. Thyme, like oregano, is an herbal medicine and a food herb. Thyme (also known as Thymus Vulgaris) has its medicinal properties from its essential oil.

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You can read more of this article at Natural News.

Barbi Trejo is a natural hygiene foodist and she has just released her first eBook: Everything You Would Ever Want to Know About Black Seeds (Nigella sativa).