18 Best Teas for Cold Relief: Natural Remedies to Soothe Symptoms and Boost Immunity

Under the weather lately? Well, don’t beat yourself up for accidentally drinking cold water while you were sweating or for that one ice cream you just couldn’t resist. Happens to the best of us! And so does the common cold and flu. Did you know every year, over 1 billion cases of common cold are reported in the US alone? (1)

One can not always work their way around it. Allergies, pollen grains, irritants, temperature differences, viruses, bacteria, fungi, and pollution in general leave us prone to developing a flu. While prevention may not always be possible, one can definitely cure the cold and treat it. 

In this article, we are going to be looking at some comfy cozy herbal teas that feel warm in your palms and chest. 

But, before you brew that cup of tea, be sure that you’re dealing with a cold and not something else that feels similar. How to be sure? Read on!

Before we discuss the symptoms of the common cold and flu, it’s important to acknowledge that the common cold is not flu. Yes, they are both used interchangeably, but there is a slight difference, flu refers to influenza, caused particularly by influenza viruses. 

On the other hand, a common cold can be caused by a plethora of different viruses like parainfluenza, and coronavirus, to name a few. This being said a common cold is actually not that severe. You’re likely to not end up in a hospital because of it, provided you treat it well in time. Flu spreads suddenly and may have even fewer symptoms at the start, which makes it so hard to detect and differentiate. 

Once the flu has spread out, it has more serious and harder-to-handle symptoms. If left untreated, flu can lead to more serious problems like pneumonia and bacterial infections on top of the viral. (2)

So, it is important to look at both of these conditions separately in terms of symptoms: 

These are some of the most common symptoms you would have probably observed when suffering from the flu:

• Difficult breathing
• Swelling in eyelids, under eyes, and face overall due to activated sinusitis
• Fever and body aches
• A sudden drop in energy
• Chills around the body, feeling cold 
• Painful throat
• Headache

Common cold may also have the above symptoms, but, milder. For instance, fever and chills are rare. You may have a headache, but, it’s easily manageable and will be done on its own in a few hours. 

The Common cold has more sneezing, and a runny or blocked nose, which makes it more treatable because your body is actively trying to expel the cough. 

Flu has symptoms that explode suddenly, while the common cold builds up gradually. 

In case you’re not sure whether it’s a common cold or flu, it’s best to get checked by your doctor. It could also be something more serious like COVID-19, you can always get a laboratory test done to be doubly sure. After all, a stitch in time saves nine! 

Most symptoms of the common cold will subside within a week. For some people, symptoms like cough and swollen sinuses may take a longer time, but, you should improve within a week. If the situation doesn’t get better, it may be time to get your tests done. 

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when we say a warm cup of tea? The warmth, right? It feels comforting like a warm hug. When you’re down and feeling low, you definitely need the warmth. Warm drinks will certainly help when you’re feeling cold, but, on top of that, most of the teas we’ll tell you about in this article are known for their mental health benefits. They can regulate your serotonin and cortisol, helping you feel better, relaxed, and easier to rest. Your body needs to feel good from the inside to recover, right?

Herbs have healing properties. They will strengthen your body while it's under attack. In that moment of weakness, your guards are busy fighting the viral infection. A lot of your immunity is distracted there, which makes it easier for the other pathogens around you to make you really sick. The common cold that develops into the flu can complicate things further. To make sure, the symptoms don’t worsen and that your body has the added support it needs to fight all the infections targeting it, keep herbs next to you. 

Herbal teas have what it takes to cure a common cold. You will learn how in the next part! However, what’s more interesting is they have what it takes to prevent the problem as well. They boost your overall respiratory system and make it more resilient to attacks. Consider them your hedge against diseases! 

What we love about herbal solutions is that they do no harm to your body. The side effects are negligent. Very rarely would you read about an instance where chamomile or mullein didn’t go well with someone. Even in those off cases, it’s a mild allergy. 

It’s good to check what your body doesn’t allow, but when it comes to herbs, you’ll be less likely to have a serious problem. On the other hand, pharmaceutical drugs – pills, syrups and capsules, all come with a warning. Moreover, the higher your body’s exposure to these chemicals, the less effective they get. 

With natural remedies, it’s the other way around because the more you rely on them, the deeper the solution to the problem. They work by fixing your body. 

Herbal teas like liquorice and thyme are particularly beneficial for your throat. When most of us are down with a common cold, we also observe a sore throat, which can make basic tasks like eating, speaking, or even laughing painful. This is worsened if you suffer from tonsillitis. Herbal teas can reduce inflammation in the damaged throat membranes and help them repair faster. 

When you are suffering from a common cold, you want your body to do 2 things: Remove the infection and heal. To remove the infection, the congested mucus in our lungs and respiratory system which we call cough needs to come out as soon as possible. That is where all the virus is trapped. To do that, you need a decongestant, and once the mucus is out, you need to rejuvenate your lungs, which is what anti-oxidants are for. They reverse the ageing and wear-and-tear that these infections cause. Would you be surprised if we told you herbs come with decongestants and antioxidants both? No, you would not because you know we wouldn’t be writing this article otherwise. 

So, herbal teas are great. There’s one for every problem. From stress management to indigestion to lung detox, herbal teas can offer the solution. But, when we speak about cold in particular, what are the teas that can help?

Here are the 18 best herbal teas for when you’re down with common cold or flu:

Need a tea that comes with healing properties, especially for your lungs. Look no further! The common mullein is a common remedy for cold, but, don’t mistake the “common” word for ordinary. The Mullein tea is a good remedy for bad throat and blocked nose since it is a natural expectorant and it expels cough. So, if you’re stuck with a stubborn cold, head over here to get your hands on the warmest, most delicious cup of Mullein with our

 Gordolobo tea. 

Peppermint smells good, we use it as a freshener. And though it has a cooling effect, the same ingredient that cools – Menthol is also responsible for loosening the mucus that’s blocking the windpipe and causing cough. So, head over to peppermint for not just a clear nasal passage but also a tea that’s delicious and soothing! 

Chamomile has long been used to soothe our minds, helping us with anxiety, stress, and more issues we face. If you are feeling low during cold, this will come in handy. But, did you know, chamomile has the same soothing effect on your throat as well? Plus, it can help you sleep, even with a blocked nose. 

Beautiful Purple Echinacea flowers! They sure are a pretty sight, and with beauty, nature has blessed them with benefits also. It is capable of reducing the chances of catching a cold by 58%! Not just a tea that keeps your throat soothed and warm, a tea that that prevents the problem from happening in the first place. A study has also shown that when mixed with elderberries, echinacea extracts have the capability to reduce the duration as well as the intensity of the common cold and flu symptoms. 

 Ginger is a superfood. You need immunity, you need ginger. Why? Blame it on its gingerols and shogaols. These two compounds make for a hot cup of tea, which will ease all the inflammation that the cold-causing virus has caused in your lungs and nasal tract. This is why, in our Gordolobo tea, we combine the goodness of ginger to alleviate the irritation resulting from cold. (3)

While eating elderberries raw isn’t good for you, it is safe to have elderberry tea. In its ripe form, elderberry’s various nutrients such as Vitamin A and C, Iron, and Calcium, among others are harder to absorb. However, the tea with its extracts expedites nutrient absorption because it breaks the fibre barrier. These nutrients are then more helpful in fighting common cold and flu. A study revealed that elderberry extracts can even cut short the duration of the cold. 

The catechins and glycoproteins found in green tea particularly work on cough. A study has found out that even gargling with green tea can help reduce the symptoms of cough and cold. On top of that, you get anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory relief from green tea as well. 

These red blooms are all-rounders. Did you know Hibiscus flowers and leaves can be used to brew a tea, bursting with Vitamin C, iron, and antioxidants? All these ingredients make for a power tea, you can safely rely on when you’re down with cold. 

When life gives you lemons, say thank you because that’s life handing you a superfood. Lemons are good for your skin, your hair, and your immunity. Vitamin C is a core ingredient here. They are not low on antioxidants either. The king of citrus fruits, lemon contains more Vitamin C than other fruits of this family, and Vitamin C is the one thing you need if you are going to fight an infection. So, seriously, thank the universe for all the lemons.

 Whenever you are ill, you are probably told by your Mom, “Have a glass of hot milk with some turmeric”. Turmeric fights infections like no other – anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal. Moreover, a compound called Curcumin is found in turmeric, which lessens the inflammation caused due to coughing. 

Yarrow has been used in medicine for centuries, especially in the old European cultures. Now, it is scientifically proven that like Chamomile contains soothing flavonoids, Yarrow does, too. Another tea that will help clear collected mucus and open your airways! Bonus point: It tastes good too. 

You have probably heard your dentist advising you to pop a clove when in pain, just keep on chewing it and you’ll feel better. Cloves are particularly administered to relieve gum pain, broken tooth aches, or even throat aches. This is because clove has anti-inflammatory pain-relieving characteristics, which help your body feel at ease. Moreover, the eugenol found in clove is good for your throat as it clears out the windpipe. 

Valerenic acid and valerenol help regulate our nervous system. This means that the body’s energy is regulated during cold, you are going to sleep better, have fewer headaches, and more energy to ward off the infection. 

Native to the North Americas continent, this herb has leaves that look ordinary, but once brewed into a tea, they do work much extra-ordinary! Mucilage, a chemical found in slippery elm, is quite the protective coating an irritated throat and dry mouth needs during cold. When heated with water, this mucilage converts to a gel, and when you drink it, the warm gel envelopes the damaged areas, providing them with a protective cushion to regenerate.  

Licorice isn’t just a mouth freshener, it’s more! Glycyrrhizin, a compound found in Licorice, helps naturally cleanse your lungs of any microbes sneaking in. Glycyrrhizin packs in a double punch as it not just removes infections, but, also loosens mucus.  

Earl Grey contains an oil called Bergamot, which is the key factor behind why even a doctor would recommend a cup of Earl Grey tea during cold and fever. It helps the body regulate temperatures, sleep, and blood flow. All 3 are crucial when fighting cold!

Lemon, we already know, comes abundant in Vitamin C, which is good for immunity and body’s rejuvenating abilities. So, are we just adding the honey for taste? Nope, there’s more. Did you know natural honey never expires? Even microbes can’t seem to tamper with its purity. So, when Vitamin C and honey’s super dose of antioxidants and anti-ageing compounds combine, we get a tea that can heal, strengthen, and keep intact. 

Research proves that cinnamon is among the strongest antioxidants in the spice family. Of the 26 spices sampled in that study, cinnamon came third, right after cloves and oregano. Cinnamon’s polyphenol oxidants increase the body’s immunity against attacks from viruses and bacteria among other pathogens. 

Common colds and flu vary in the severity of symptoms. It is good to know the distinction as flu is often abrupt and spreads suddenly. We recommend you head over to our cold and flu section, by clicking right here, to learn more about these issues. 

Herbal teas are a good way to not just alleviate the symptoms of the common cold and flu, but, they are also a great way to improve your immunity and prevent the diseases from happening in the first place. Plus, there are no side effects. Safer than over-the-counter medication and 100% natural, one warm cup of tea a day might just keep the doctor away!