Everlasting Flower for Colds

Dried California Pearly Everlasting. The flowers are small, almost the size of a buttons on a shirt collar.

Final summer I was happy to be able to accept a class on native plant employ taught by Cecilia Garcia and James Adams, co-authors of Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West. One of the many things I learned in this course was that the flowers of California Pearly Everlasting, Gnaphalium californicum, aka cudweed aka rabbit tobacco, are supposed to exist good for colds.

I've not had a chance to attempt it until this week. I've but had one cold since last summer, and that 1 hit and so fast and hard I just sort of gave up on doing anything only riding it out. The i I accept this week is more of a typical head cold, and  a good chance for a field test. And I tin say that I think they helped. But I'one thousand not sure how.

My confusion is a result of retentivity vs. notes. I remember James maxim he takes this tea instead of Day Quill whenever he has a common cold. So, having the flowers on hand, I took the tea expecting it to act like cold medicine. Because the effects are then subtle (dissimilar cold capsules) I didn't recall my first loving cup was doing anything at all–until I realized I'd stopped sneezing and constantly blowing my nose. The relief lasted for a few hours. When I started feeling crappy once more, I had another cup and the symptoms retreated again.  Over the course the first day I had 3 cups. The next day, I felt much improve. My symptoms were less, though I did still feel "under siege" and retreated to bed early on.

During the course of that day, I dug out my course notes and discovered that Cecilia said something different than what I remembered–she said that Everlasting is an allowed stimulant, and when yous accept a cold yous're supposed to accept 1 cup (one!) earlier bed for 4 nights. It has to be 4 cups over 4 nights, even if yous experience better. No more, no less. And so she's using it more like Echinacea–not equally a symptom relief.  Meanwhile, random internet searches assert that information technology's practiced for colds, only don't say how.

Since my symptoms were improve from twenty-four hours 2 on, I reverted to Cecelia'south advice and took one cup before bed for the remaining 3 nights. The cold symptoms remained at bay, though I could feel the fight in my body. After a few days it was all over.

And so if I experienced symptom relief, was it psychosomatic? Was the common cold mild because of immune stimulation or because information technology wasn't much of a common cold?  I really don't know, just I'1000 going to keep taking the tea when common cold symptoms ascend.

Best as I can figure, herbal medicine is all near developing a relationship with the plant, and all I've had so far is a brief introduction. More research is required, but I'm intrigued.

If yous see Everlasting while out walking, bring some dwelling and try it out and let me know what you call back.

How to brand the tea:
Add as many dried flower heads as will fill the hollow of your palm (7 or and then? A very pocket-size amount–Cecelia was adamant virtually that) to 1 loving cup of boiling h2o. Cover the cup and allow it sit down for 10 minutes or and so–a good long steep.  It doesn't taste bad. It does have the curious effect of sort of drying out the back of my pharynx–but not so much that it'south uncomfortable.

As far as I know it doesn't have whatsoever harmful effects, but as e'er, be careful.

Near the establish:

Photo by Curtis Clark

Gnaphalium californicum grows on the w coast, from Baja up to Washington. Information technology's a knee high or so, with dark-green leaf and white flowers in the spring. By summer/fall it has dried out and displays clusters of perfectly formed lilliputian dry bloom heads. This is the reason for its proper noun, Everlasting. It makes everlasting dried flower arrangements.
Await for it in disturbed places, hillsides, construction areas and the similar, because it'south a pioneer plant. If you want to grow it, it is available through native institute suppliers.