Cold & Flu mix

As winter creeps in here in the south, and with a flu-pandemic still out and about, we are starting to use some of the fynbos (used as ingredients in our vermouth) in and around the house in various forms.

The Caperitif Cold and Flu mix

consists of:

*Salvia rosmarinus aka Rosemary – the common garden / kitchen herb.

Rosemary can help with a fever during the beginning stages when you’re cold and shivering and contains many beneficial properties…

  • anti-inflammatory
  • vitamin C
  • vitamin A
  • renowned for fighting infection

*Artemisia afra aka African wormwood [aka sagewood aka wildeals (Afrikaans), umhlonyane (Xhosa), umhlonyane (Zulu) and lengana (Tswana). You know they are popular if they have that many names in multiple local languages.]

Heating the leaves and inhaling the vapors helps clear the respiratory tract, thus treating the common cold, cough, sore throat, influenza and asthma. It is also smoked (to ease phlegm and ease sore throat) and one of the most common practices is to insert fresh leaves into the nostrils to clear blocked nasal passages.

*Helichrysum Petiolare aka liquorice plant [aka kooigoed (Afrikaans) aka imphepho (Xhosa/Zulu)]

Long since investigated for its anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties known to soothe coughs and fever.

Combine these three, bruise the leaves and make a tea or inhale the vapour aka steam inhalation.

Stay healthy, stay safe.