A tea to warm the belly and kick sluggish digestion from a long lingering winter into gear.

When the colder, darker months envelop us and colds and ’flus start going around, fire cider is a wonderful remedy to have on hand. Fire cider is a warming, immune-stimulating, virus-fighting blend of herbs extracted into an apple cider vinegar base.

There are alternate names and closely related tonics, too, like cyclone cider and thieves’ vinegar. And fire cider itself morphs from herbalist to herbalist and season to season, adding and subtracting ingredients depending on availability and taste. This allows for tons of creativity!

Studies show that the specific bioflavonoids in organic elderberry extract may actually help to stop viruses from entering our cells. Combined with all the other beneficial biochemicals in elderberry, the elder tree gives us berries that are not only antiviral, but also nutritive, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory.

Stinging Nettle is Much More Than Just a Prickly Plant

I personally love stinging nettle, but know many people who don’t because of its sting. If you have mixed feelings about it, give stinging nettle a closer look. It is nutrient dense, medicinal, and makes gorgeous fiber. It grows from 3 to 8 feet ,stinging nettle is a perennial that dies back in the winter. The soft, green leaves are usually oval in shape and range from 1 to 4 inches in length. Occasionally the leaves

Flowers and young leaves are edible raw. Older leaves taste better cooked with other greens or in soups. leaves are mucilaginous and are good for thickening stews. Note that the roots are not eaten and may cause nausea and/or vomiting.

Cleavers is rich in vitamins and minerals, and contains flavonoids, coumarins and various alkaloids. It has strong affinities to the lymphatics, kidneys and nervous system.  Cleavers is a gift to the lymphatic system, supporting the movement of lymph fluids and easing congestion of swollen glands. It is an excellent herb to reach for when getting a cold and for elimination support and skin issues of all varieties.

Chives have a beautiful mild onion like flavor.Chives stimulate appetite, ease digestion and help relieve gas.Fresh chives are easy to grow. They require full sun or partial shade and a well drained soil with moderate watering. They tolerate frost and once established they grow and grow and grow.

Lilac flowers have astringent, aromatic, and perhaps a little bitter qualities. Astringents tighten, draw, and dry tissues such as skin. So a wonderful application would be a cold or warm infusion to use as a toner on the face. Or using the same method but apply to rashes, cuts, and other skin ailments.

A member of the Snapdragon family, mullein reduces the formation of mucus and is also a potent expectorant. It is a valued herb that can be helpful with  treating bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema.

Resinous and aromatic, rosemary sprigs can be bound together with other herbal companions in fragrant smoke bundles for cleansing and purification.

All parts of the nasturtium plant are edible: flowers, leaves, stems and young seed pods (mature seed pods have a very hard, unpleasant seed inside). All of these parts have a distinct peppery flavor similar to radishes. That bite is strongest in the seeds and lightest in the flowers. The leaves can sometimes have a very slight bitter taste that isn't present in the rest of the plant.

While the whole nasturtium plant is edible, each part has various uses, like using the stems in place of chives or large leaves as wraps.

Elderberry: One of the Most Important Herbs You Can Use During the Cold & Flu Season

Sambucus nigra (Blue or Black Elderberry) is one of my favorite antiviral herbal remedies to have on hand. I personally keep it with me 24/7 and take it whenever I travel or if I feel as though I’m becoming sick. Not only does this powerful botanical help to reduce the length and severity of illness, it also can help protect you from getting the flu in the first place. It’s safe for use by children and the ripe berries can be made into a tincture, syrup, wine, or cordial.