Herbs for the Common Cold

This article introduces some common herbs used to treat the common cold, along with information about their used parts, harvesting, processing, preservation, chemical composition, effects and benefits.

1. Peppermint

• Scientific name: Mentha arvensis, family Lamiaceae

• Used part: Whole plant, excluding roots

• Harvesting, processing, preservation:

• Harvest when the plant is about to bloom or is in bloom.

• Cut branches and leaves to distill essential oil or dry in a cool place until dry, pack in bags, store in a cool dry place.

• Harvest 2-3 times a year.

• Effects: Disinfectant for skin or hands, nose and throat, anti-inflammatory, local anesthetic, stimulates gastric and bile secretion.

• Benefits: Cures the common cold, treats sore throat, treats abdominal pain, bloating, indigestion.

• Products: Pectussin lozenges, tiger balm, ointment, Gynofar wash, Orafar mouthwash.

2. Perilla

• Scientific name: Perilla frutescens, family Lamiaceae (Perilla ocymoides)

• Used part:

• Zi tô (young branches and leaves)

• Zi tô diệp (tô diệp, leaves)

• Zi tô ngạnh (branches)

• Zi tô tử (seeds)

• Harvesting, processing, preservation:

• Harvest when the plant is about to bloom, dry in a cool place or dry lightly.

• Do not harvest leaves when the plant is for seeds.

• When the fruits are ripe, cut the whole branches and dry in a cool place until dry, rub off the seeds, sieve and clean, dry again until completely dry.

• Benefits:

• Zi tô diệp: treats poisoning from crabs and fish.

• Zi tô: treats the common cold, bloating, vomiting.

• Zi tô ngạnh: calms the fetus, treats fetal movements.

• Zi tô tử: clears phlegm, coughs, asthma, numb joints.

3. Patchouli

• Scientific name: Not specified in the data.

• Used part: Whole plant and essential oil.

• Harvesting, processing, preservation:

• Harvest when the plant is about to bloom or is in bloom, dry lightly.

• Use fresh or distill essential oil.

• Benefits: Treats fever, sweat retention, treats toothache.

• Note: Eugenol is a substance extracted from patchouli essential oil, used in dentistry.

4. Angelica dahurica

• Scientific name: Angelica dahurica, family Apiaceae

• Used part: Root

• Harvesting, processing, preservation:

• Dig up the roots in autumn, wash away dirt and sand.

• Fumigate with sulfur for one night, dry, pack in bags, store in a cool dry place.

• Chemical composition: Essential oil, coumarin.

• Effects: Stimulates the nervous system, increases blood circulation, increases sweat secretion, relaxes smooth and skeletal muscles, reduces pain.

5. Kudzu

• Scientific name: Pueraria thomsoni, family Fabaceae

• Used part: Root

• Harvesting, processing, preservation:

• Harvest in the dry season, dig up the roots, wash clean, remove the outer layer, cut into 10-15cm pieces, split the large roots lengthwise, dry or dry in combination with sulfur fumigation until dry.

• To obtain kudzu powder, fresh roots are crushed and soaked in water, filtered to obtain the essential oil.

• Benefits: Clears the exterior, clears heat, quenches thirst, treats the common cold, dry mouth, thirsty throat, pain throughout the muscles, treats dysentery, newly developed measles, boils.

• Usage: Dried kudzu root slices, roasted to a golden color, kudzu powder mixed with water for heat clearing, cooling, kudzu leaves treat snake bites.

6. Ligusticum wallichii

• Scientific name: Ligusticum wallichii, family Apiaceae

• Used part: Rhizome

• Harvesting, processing, preservation:

• Ligusticum wallichii originated from Sichuan.

• Dig up the rhizomes >2 years old, remove the rootlets, wash away dirt and sand, dry in a cool place.

• Chemical composition: Essential oil, coumarin.

• Effects: Inhibits the central nervous system, increases respiration, blood vessel expansion, expands peripheral blood vessels, clears the exterior and reduces fever, antibacterial against typhoid and dysentery bacteria.

• Benefits: Treats the common cold, headache, blurred vision, dizziness, nourishes blood, regulates menstruation, treats rheumatism, aches and pains, treats abscesses.

7. Chrysanthemum indicum

• Scientific name: Chrysanthemum indicum, family Asteraceae

• Used part: Newly bloomed flowers

• Harvesting, processing, preservation:

• Harvest when the flowers just bloom.

• Fumigate with sulfur for 2-3 hours, press out all the black water overnight, dry, pack in tightly sealed bags, store in a cool dry place.

• Chemical composition: Essential oil, coumarin.

• Benefits: Common cold, headache, blurred vision, high blood pressure.

8. Lemongrass

• Scientific name: Cymbopogon citratus, family Poaceae

• Used part: Whole plant and lemongrass essential oil.

• Harvesting, processing, preservation:

• Harvest year-round.

• Use fresh or dry in a cool place.

• Fresh leaves are used to distill essential oil (citral).

• Effects: Warms the stomach, aids digestion, disinfects, deodorizes, clears phlegm, calms the nerves.

• Benefits: Treats fever, treats abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting.

• Usage: Lemongrass leaves are used for steam inhalation to treat the common cold, brewed for drinking to cool down, diuretic, digestive.

9. Ginger

• Scientific name: Zingiber officinale, family Zingiberaceae

• Used part: Rhizome

• Chemical composition: Essential oil, pungent substances (gingerol, shogaol).

• Benefits: Treats indigestion, vomiting, treats the common cold, wind-cold, induces sweating, treats hoarseness.

• Usage: Ginger decoction treats vomiting, ginger wine treats external cold, abdominal fullness, vomiting, cough.

Note: This article is for reference only, please consult a doctor or healthcare professional before using any medicine.