Flu? Thyme

It's time to try thyme when the mucous membranes are stuffed, the head aches, and the body is hot with fever. Wonderfully fragrant, thyme delights the senses (if you can smell when you're sick) and works as a powerful expectorant and antiseptic, thanks to its constituent oil, thymol.

By cupping your hands around a mug of thyme tea and breathing in the steam, the thymol sets to work through your upper respiratory tract, loosening mucus and inhibiting bacteria from settling down to stay.

Make thyme tea in a snap by
* adding 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves to 1 cup boiling water.
* Let steep for five minutes while inhaling the steam.
* Strain the tea,
* sweeten with honey (to taste),
* and slowly sip.

Next time you're coming down with the flu bug, give one of these home remedies a try. You could surprise your friends and co-workers by nipping it in the bud!