Cold teas are among the most popular home remedies to help the body fight a viral infection.Drinking tea supplies the body with fluids and various herbal ingredients can also help relieve symptoms.
Depending on the symptoms, different tea blends are suitable for treatment. Cold tea can be used as the only remedy when you are sick or as a supplement to treatment with medication if these are necessary.
In the case of a serious illness or illness that lasts for several weeks, a doctor should be consulted and not rely solely on self-treatment with cold tea.
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Cold tea is useful for all people who are sick with an upper respiratory tract infection. This can be noticeable, for example, by coughing, runny nose, sore throat or hoarseness. The following general symptoms also often occur:
The complaints that occur in the area of the throat and mouth can often be relieved by drinking warm cold tea. But also with all other possible symptoms of such an infection, drinking cold tea makes sense, as this can meet the body's increased fluid requirements during illness.
Drinking cold tea is also useful for people who suffer from gastrointestinal flu, since diarrhea in particular requires a lot of fluids and tea is more digestible for a damaged intestinal mucosa than pure water.
$config[ads_text2] not foundThe best types of tea are with ingredients that are soothing for the stomach, such as fennel, anise or caraway. Basically, cold tea makes sense in the event of an infection at any age.
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Cold tea works in different ways and can relieve symptoms and help the body recover. On the one hand, you add fluids to your body by drinking tea. If you have a cold, the need is increased, especially if you also have a fever and sweat heavily.
In addition, a cold tea warms the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat when drinking or gargling. This can relieve symptoms such as a sore throat.
In addition, the various herbal ingredients have an effect that can alleviate symptoms. However, drinking cold tea does not make you healthy any faster than drinking water, for example.
Even if, for example, thyme has an effect against viruses, drinking thyme tea does not lead to the infection being fought faster. Only the body's own defense system can fight the pathogens of a cold.
The widespread view that the sweat-inducing effect of ingredients such as linden blossom or elderberry can simply “sweat out” the pathogens is also wrong.
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The use of home remedies such as cold tea is nevertheless sensible and appropriate, as this can gently alleviate symptoms.
Some ingredients such as linden blossom, for example, promote sleep and calm the urge to cough. As a result, they support a good sleep, which in turn is important so that the body can muster the strength to fight the infection.
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$config[ads_text2] not foundBasically, one can differentiate between ready-made cold teas in a bag or as a mixture in a tea caddy from the drugstore or a health food store, and home-made cold tea made from fresh herbal ingredients.
There are a large number of starting products that are suitable for making a cold tea. The individual ingredients are each assigned certain effects, so that the choice of cold tea can also be based on the symptoms from which one suffers.
First and foremost, it is important to drink a lot with a cold, so drinking tea is the most important regardless of the type of tea.
Which form of cold tea you choose or whether you prefer to drink a tea that is not designated as such is not so important. The tea should also taste good so that you can drink a sufficient amount throughout the day.
The typical ingredients of cold teas are various herbal products, some of which are used particularly frequently.
On the one hand, you can often find tea blends or preparation instructions to make yourself with linden blossom and elderflower. These should reduce fever, promote sleep and quench coughs.
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Fennel is not only good for calming the stomach, but can also have a soothing effect on cold symptoms.
Cold teas made from fresh ginger (see more detailed information on this below) are particularly rich in healthy ingredients. Among other things, ginger can soothe a sore throat and make the use of pain relievers superfluous.
Cold teas based on sage are also suitable here. This can be drunk as a cold tea or gargled after a long steeping.
Another typical ingredient that is often added to cold tea is honey (see below for more on this). Because of the sweetness, the tea tastes better for many people and people drink more of it, which in turn is important to get healthy. In addition, the ingredients of honey can have an antitussive effect.
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Ginger is a root that contains many essential oils and pungent substances, which are also known as gingerols and shoagaols. Ginger also contains vitamins and trace elements such as magnesium, calcium and iron.
Because of this large number of health-promoting ingredients, ginger is used to treat various diseases such as a cold.
The best way to do this is to prepare a fresh ginger tea. To do this, put two tablespoons of freshly grated ginger in a saucepan, add a liter of water and let the tea boil for about ten minutes. Then the cold tea is strained and, if necessary, refined with a little honey or lemon juice to taste.
Basically, it is important to drink a lot when you have a cold. With a cold tea based on ginger, symptoms such as a sore throat can usually be relieved well. The effects of the contained gingerols are similar to those of certain painkillers.
In addition, ginger is said to have a germicidal effect and stimulate the body's own defense system. However, there is no scientific evidence for these modes of action.
The same applies to the assumption that regular consumption of fresh ginger tea can prevent a cold. In addition, drinking cold tea made from ginger root does not help you get better faster than just drinking water or other tea.
Nevertheless, ginger tea is a good home remedy for a cold, as it relieves discomfort and can make the use of painkillers superfluous.
$config[ads_text1] not foundRead more about this topic under: Ginger - therapy, application and effects
A cold tea with honey is particularly popular as a home remedy to fight a cold. The bee product contains a large number of healthy ingredients such as vitamins, trace elements and antioxidants.
While the relieving effects of drinking cold tea with honey on ailments such as a cough or sore throat are widespread, there is no definitive scientific evidence for them.
However, recent research has shown that children with a cold sleep better if they have had tea with honey before going to bed. Compared to a placebo group, there were significantly fewer nocturnal coughing attacks.
Even if honey doesn't get rid of a cold any faster, it still alleviates the symptoms. Therefore, if you have a cough, for example before going to bed and before brushing your teeth, you can dissolve one or two teaspoons of honey in the tea and enjoy it warm.
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You can make a cold tea yourself without much effort. There are a variety of herbal products that can be used, but these can either be bought in the house, collected in the wild, or bought in a store.
For an exemplary recipe you would need lime blossom, elderflower and fennel seeds. Mix 30 grams of the linden blossom with ten grams of elderflower or fennel seeds in a tea caddy and a glass with a screw cap.
For each cup you put about a teaspoon of the mixture in a tea bag and pour boiling water over it. The steeping time should be around seven minutes and the cold tea should be drunk hot.
The advantage of such a dry form of tea is that larger quantities can be mixed and stored for a long time.
There are countless other recipes that use ginger root or thyme, for example. The choice of herbal ingredients should be based primarily on the type of complaints.
If you are unsure, you can also seek advice from a health food store or pharmacy. There you can also get the starting products you need to make your cold tea yourself.
During pregnancy, the expectant mother often catches a cold. In general, it is important to be careful when taking medication during pregnancy, even if they are available without a prescription. To some extent, there are also restrictions on the use of cold teas.
Certain ingredients such as thyme or fennel are suspected of causing premature labor, so cold teas of this type should be avoided, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy.
However, there are plenty of other herbal active ingredients that can be safely used during pregnancy. It is best to ask a doctor or pharmacist for advice on which ingredients are suitable for making a cold tea during pregnancy.
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In the case of over-the-counter finished products, information should be taken from the package insert as to whether the tea can also be drunk during pregnancy.
In addition, as an alternative to drinking tea, inhalation can always be used to relieve symptoms of a cold. In addition to chamomile extract, a cold tea can also be used without hesitation, even if it is not suitable for drinking during pregnancy.
More information can be found here: Home remedies for a cold during pregnancy
One often hears that you shouldn't drink cold tea not only during pregnancy but also while breastfeeding. However, most types of tea and their ingredients are harmless.
Only cold teas that contain sage should not be drunk while breastfeeding. Active ingredients contained in sage can influence milk production and even have a sedative effect.
However, it is possible to gargle the hot sage tea and then spit it out, for example to alleviate a sore throat caused by a cold.
If you want to drink cold tea while breastfeeding, you can also use one based on ginger. The best thing to do is to cut fresh ginger into thin slices and pour boiling water over them.
In the case of ready-made cold teas from the drugstore or from the health food store, there may be instructions on the package insert regarding the question of whether this can also be drunk without hesitation during breastfeeding.
If in doubt, you can also ask a pharmacist or your family doctor or gynecologist which types of cold teas are suitable in this phase.
Find out all about the topic here: Breastfeeding with a cold.
Even babies can be given cold tea to drink if they have a cold. For example, there are various products in the drugstore or health food store that are specially designed for babies or toddlers.
Even normal herbal teas such as peppermint or chamomile can be given to a baby in the event of an infection. It is essential to ensure that the tea is not too hot!
Some cold teas are not necessarily suitable for babies because of their ingredients. In some cases, a minimum age is even declared on the packaging.
Although no harm is to be expected if a baby drinks such a tea anyway, there are in some cases no reliable experiences that prove the harmlessness of the herbal ingredients in babies.
Ginger, for example, should be due to its sharpGingerole) tend to be avoided. If in doubt, the pediatrician can also be asked for advice on what type of cold tea is suitable for the child.
In general, the addition of sugar should be avoided to make the drink more attractive for the baby. Honey should not be added either, as it is a natural product that can contain germs that a baby's immune system cannot yet cope with.
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You can inhale with a cold tea just like any other tea. The main effect when inhaling is caused by the penetration of hot water vapor into the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, throat and sinuses.
Inhaling the mucus mobilizes the swelling of the mucous membranes. The ingredient of the liquid chosen for inhalation is of secondary importance.
Most commonly, chamomile tea or a solution with chamomile concentrate is used. However, it can also have a good effect by using cold tea.
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For example, you can put three bags in a large bowl and pour hot water over them and then inhale with a towel over your head. You can also put a bag in an inhaler with an opening for your mouth and nose.
Another good alternative to inhaling cold tea or another type of tea is the use of a salt solution. Here you simply put three tablespoons of table salt in the bowl or a spoon in the inhaler, pour hot water over the salt and inhale the hot vapors.
The application can be repeated up to five times a day. With the bowl and towel method, however, you have to be very careful not to burn yourself.
You can find out more about this at: Inhaling with a cold - which substances can be inhaled with?
In other cultures there are sometimes special types of cold teas that traditionally contain special mixtures of spices.
There are a variety of types of tea in Turkey that are intended to be used to treat a cold. These often contain herbs such as mint or linden blossom.
The best way to find out more about the types of tea available in a Turkish grocery store. You can also find various Turkish cold teas on the Internet.
However, the best selection and quality is most likely to be obtained if you buy the tea directly from a market in Turkey. Sometimes Turkish cold tea is also called as Ottoman sultan tea.
China is probably the country where the most tea is consumed and where the most types of tea can be found. Traditionally, tea is viewed not only as a drink, but also as a remedy for various types of ailments.
There are also a variety of tea blends that are supposed to provide relief from a cold. These differ mainly in the ingredients.
One possible preparation of a Chinese herbal tea is through the use of cloves, cinnamon, ginger and dried figs.
First, bring half a liter of water to a boil and then add two tablespoons of cloves and four sticks of cinnamon. Let this simmer for ten minutes. Meanwhile, cut the ginger and three dried figs into small pieces and add them to the tea.
Now cook for another ten minutes over low heat. Finally the tea is strained and about three teaspoons of the concentrate poured into a cup with hot water.
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