I'm new to tea and was wondering if there was a tea recommendation for
helping with the symptoms of a head cold. I've been taking more V. C and
Zinc, which helps during the day. But when I wake up in the am the cold
symptoms are strong. I usually have a cup of British Breakfast, decaf, in
the am.

Thanks!
Cheryl

Cheryl Rayburn-Mediacom wrote:
> I'm new to tea and was wondering if there was a tea recommendation for
> helping with the symptoms of a head cold. I've been taking more V. C and
> Zinc, which helps during the day. But when I wake up in the am the cold
> symptoms are strong. I usually have a cup of British Breakfast, decaf, in
> the am.
>
> Thanks!
> Cheryl

There is no magical tea so unfortunately the power of those little
leaves can't make you better, but it can be soothing and enjoyable
while under the weather so my best recommendation is to drink what you
enjoy. Since that isn't terribly helpful though, I will offer some
thoughts I have heard:

* I prefer to drink a nice black tea with lots of pure honey in it.

* That not adding sugar allows more benefit from the tea (I believe it
is due to the thought that the tannins bind to the sugar)

* A hot toddy. (tea, honey, lemon, whiskey, etc.) It won't help a damn
thing, but you won't care one bit.

* The ever-loving Kuding Cha. It's bitter, kind of sweet, hits like a
sledgehammer at first but is said to have positive effects for colds,
etc.

I've been feeling terrible as of late myself, and today have a nice
sore throat and headache. With all the tea I drink if there were any
miraculous benefits I wouldn't be miserable on a Monday morning along
with ya. I'm going to start off with some aged Pu'er and then probably
some spiderleg Sencha in the afternoon.

- Dominic

"Cheryl Rayburn-Mediacom" > wrote in
news:ONvPg.193694$1i1.149068@attbi_s72:

> I'm new to tea and was wondering if there was a tea recommendation for
> helping with the symptoms of a head cold. I've been taking more V. C
> and Zinc, which helps during the day. But when I wake up in the am
> the cold symptoms are strong. I usually have a cup of British
> Breakfast, decaf, in the am.

I love ginger tea when I'm feeling stuffed up. I just slice up a 1" knob
of fresh ginger and boil it in water for about 10 minutes, and strain. Add
honey and/or lemon, if I feel like it.

Dee

Dee wrote:
> "Cheryl Rayburn-Mediacom" > wrote in
> news:ONvPg.193694$1i1.149068@attbi_s72:
>
> > I'm new to tea and was wondering if there was a tea recommendation for
> > helping with the symptoms of a head cold. I've been taking more V. C
> > and Zinc, which helps during the day. But when I wake up in the am
> > the cold symptoms are strong. I usually have a cup of British
> > Breakfast, decaf, in the am.
>
> I love ginger tea when I'm feeling stuffed up. I just slice up a 1" knob
> of fresh ginger and boil it in water for about 10 minutes, and strain. Add
> honey and/or lemon, if I feel like it.
>
> Dee

Yes, I completely forgot to mention ginger. My mother is a huge fan of
ginger "tea" just as you describe above when she is sick.

FYI, in Asian/Korean markets you can find a box of instant ginger tea.
It is a little bag of pellets that are made up of ginger and honey that
dissolve in water. I like it. Here is a link to an example.. although
this is not the brand I use I can't think of it off the top of my head.
It is a yellow box that I have. http://www.asiachi.com/gingertea1.html

Another of my mother's favorite remedies is some hot chicken broth in a
mug with as much powdered cayenne pepper as you can handle and then a
dash or two more

- Dominic
Drinking: Zhong Guo Cha Aged Loose Puerh

On 2006-09-18, Dominic T. > wrote:
> There is no magical tea so unfortunately the power of those little
> leaves can't make you better, but it can be soothing and enjoyable
> while under the weather so my best recommendation is to drink what you
> enjoy.

Actually, there is some indication that tea may "prime" T cells'
immune response to bacteria because of theanine and ethylamine
content. But that's not really relevant to a cold.

Ginger and chamomile have been shown to reduce nausea (as, I would
expect, would sweetened tea). I find hot black tea extremely soothing
when I have a sore throat. However, I avoid it when I'm nauseous
because (as I've posted about here), tea increases my nausea and makes
me vomit. (This appears, from anecdotal evidence, to be an uncommon
reaction, so YMMV.)

Milk can make you feel more congested, although it doesn't (contrary
to popular wisdom) actually increase mucus production; still it can
feel like it does.

Obviously, there's no point in drinking delicate or expensive teas,
since you can't them. Might as well use up the cheap stuff. *grin*


N.

"Dominic T." > wrote in
ups.com:

> Yes, I completely forgot to mention ginger. My mother is a huge fan of
> ginger "tea" just as you describe above when she is sick.
>
> FYI, in Asian/Korean markets you can find a box of instant ginger tea.
> It is a little bag of pellets that are made up of ginger and honey
> that dissolve in water. I like it. Here is a link to an example..
> although this is not the brand I use I can't think of it off the top
> of my head. It is a yellow box that I have.
> http://www.asiachi.com/gingertea1.html

Ooo, that looks interesting! I will check it out next time I visit the
local Asian market. That would be more convenient than fresh ginger, which
I don't always have in my fridge.

> Another of my mother's favorite remedies is some hot chicken broth in
> a mug with as much powdered cayenne pepper as you can handle and then
> a dash or two more

Sounds nummy! Warm and comforting, with a small heaping of excitement ;-)

Dee