On a quick walk around the yard, I gathered a gang of great herbs for winter, and added just quick listings of their properties.
Thyme -anodyne, antifungal, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, carminative, diaphoretic, disinfectant, expectorant, sedative, and tonic.
Lemon Balm - antidepressant, antispasmodic, antiviral, antioxidant, carminative, nervine, nootropic, sedative
Sage - antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmotic, astringent, antiviral, carminative
Rosemary - analgesic, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antirrheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, carminative, digestive, diuretic, emmenogogue, mild laxative, nervine, neuroprotective, stimulant, tonic, vulnerary
Echinacea - antibacterial, anticatarrhal, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antitumor, antiviral, astringent, carminative, digestive, fever reducing
Elderberry or flower - Properties Flower: antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, diaphoretic, diuretic.
Berry: antiviral, diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative. The berries contain proteins that make cells slippery so that viruses cannot attach and replicate.
Horehound - antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, expectorant, digestive, demulcent, hepatic, stimulant, tonic, bitter, astringent, laxative, sedative.
Goldenrod - antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, aromatic, astringent, bitter, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, stimulating, tonifying and vulnerary
Lavender - analgesic, antidepressant, antifungal, antioxidant, antiviral, diaphoretic, diuretic, nervine, vulnerary
There are a lot of ways that you can have these ready for winter!
They can all be used in tea blends (although horehound is an "acquired taste").
With the addition of things like honey, stevia, or licorice root (especially if a sore throat is present), you might be amazed how delicious the tea is!
A few nice blends:
Sage
Lemon Balm
Elderblossom
Thyme
Goldenrod
Elderberry
Holy Basil,
Elderberry
Echinacea
But personally, I make a big jar that includes everything and mix it all up. You almost can't go wrong!
Another way to quickly put together something for the winter is a blended tincture. To do this, you'd simply chop up everything you find to use, and add it all together to a jar. Cover with alcohol, and you're set! It's always a good idea to have some of them separate, too. Lemon balm and goldenrod are useful for other things, so keep a little of them out to make alone. And of COURSE a big jar of holy basil!
