Demulcents

The Answer To Winter Dryness

Those of us in northern climates know the troubles of wintertime dryness. The heating systems which allow us to make it through the frigid winters, can wreak havoc on the mucus membranes of our sinuses, throats, and lungs. I struggled each winter, with nosebleeds, and a constant dry cough. To soothe irritated sinuses, your body creates mucus. This mucus then drips down the back of your throat causing irritation, and a constant cough.

When I learned about demulcent herbs, it was amazing. I felt as though I had died and gone to heaven. Now when my sinuses are dry, I enjoy a delicious cup of demulcent tea, and the dryness goes away. An added benefit is that I seem to get far fewer wintertime colds.

Some common demulcent herbs are Mullein (Verbascum thapsus);, Common Mallow (Malva neglecta), Marshmallow (Althea officinalis), Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra), and Plantain (Plantago major). Along with being demulcent, Plantain also contains Aucubin. Studies have shown that Aucubin stops virulent microbes from replicating, drastically shortening the duration of an infection. This can be handy during cold and flu season.

These plants can be used alone, or in any combination that works for you. The ones I use most often are Mullein, Common mallow, and Plantain. I harvest my plants during the summer and dry them for use during the winter. When I need some relief, I simply brew a cup of tea, and before long my sinuses are soothed. To make my favorite tea, add 1 tsp each of dried mullein, dried mallow, and dried plantain to a mug, and then fill the mug with boiling water. Allow this to sit and steep for 10 minutes, and then strain and enjoy. I like to sweeten mine with a little local honey.

If you find you are making tea every day, you can speed the process by making and storing a decoction in your refrigerator.

I boil my decoctions for at least 20 minutes. My family loves this brew, so I make a gallon at a time. Start by placing a gallon of water into a large pot. Next, stir in 1/3 cup of each of your demulcent herbs. Bring the pot to a boil, reduce heat to medium, cover and boil for 20 minutes. Allow to sit for an additional 10 minutes, and then strain through cheese cloth. You can store this decoction in your refrigerator for up to a week. If you want to make a quart of decoction, you can follow this link.