Food & Health
Alexandra Gross. The holidays are a prime time for colds, thanks to a combination of high stress levels and decreased physical activity during winter months. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that U.S. children lose more than 22 million school days to the common cold; the average adult contracts two to three colds per year. Because these colds are viral, not bacterial, doctor visits and antibiotics offer little relief. Yet, the road to wellness can be low impact and low cost, involving little more than a cup of tea, a warm bath and conscious breathing.
Tea and tisane — better known as herbal and spice teas — are age-old bedside remedies for combating colds. Tea is a cornerstone of Eastern medicine widely utilized for its healing properties.
"Green tea provides a fantastic amount of antioxidants and polyphenols, stress-reducing and immune-boosting compounds that are wonderful for the whole system and really great to maintain your health throughout the winter," says Gregor Bertram of Arogya Holistic Healing in Westport, Conn.
While green tea is often considered the champion among wellness-enhancing teas, Rooibos and tulsi also hold powerful medicinal properties.
Rooibos, a caffeine-free herbal tea harvested in South Africa, is antioxidant-rich and also known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic powers. Tulsi, or holy basil, is an herb native to India known for its incredible phytochemical properties, "which help to promote health and fight stress," according to Bertram.
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