Our best friends in winter: Herbs, honey and Panther Balm! ❄️🌱🍯🖤

Feverish mom with a double hat to warm sore sinuses on the ski slope 😅 Nice to stand and watch the little one practice skiing, while I planned honey remedies for myself ⛷️🍯

Last weekend I was at Kikut, not skiing as planned, but as a snotty support player on the sidelines while the kids were raving on the slopes. My sinuses were aching, my body was protesting, but my head was busy planning the next round of herbs, honey and spices to fight off the German that had crept into my system. And then it hit me: I have to share this!

Because do we really want our home to look like a branch of a pharmacy? Or is it better to have some simple, natural tricks up our sleeves for both prevention and relief? In this newsletter, I share my best tips – both for those of you who want to prepare your body against winter viruses, and for those of you who are already sitting there with your blanket, teacup and wrapping paper. I hope you find something useful – and that you don't have to stand on the sidelines the next time the snow calls! ❄️✨

My treasure trove of herbal magic against colds and flu
When a cold comes knocking, I reach for nature's own pharmacy: honey, herbs and spices 🍯🌿 These are made into effective teas, tinctures and honey mixtures, and I increase the amount of spices and garlic in my food. And of course – some of Vossabia's products, which have saved me from stuffy noses, headaches and sore throats countless times 🐝
Here are my best tips for herbs and natural remedies that can help you through the winter.

Panther balm with its 4 powerful herbs
Panterbalsam has been a "lifesaver" for me who has had chronic sinusitis since my early teens. It's scary to think how dependent I was on nasal spray at times, not good! But then I developed Panterbalsam 21 years ago! WOW! Adios nasal spray! 😌

✔️ Apply under the nose for mild nasal congestion
✔️ Lubricate inside the nasal walls for really stuffy noses – breathe freely!
✔️ Apply to chest and back for coughs – mucus comes up more easily
✔️ Apply to the sinuses for sinusitis
✔️ Perfect for headaches, muscle tension and sore neck!

Panther balm actually has many uses for colds, sinusitis, and flu:
🌿💚 Apply for headaches (I apply where it hurts, and down the muscles in the neck and out into the shoulders)
🌿💚 Apply to the outside of the throat at the onset of a sore throat (several customers have reported symptoms disappearing if you apply it quickly at the onset of a sore throat)
🌿💚 Cough: apply to the chest and back of both children and adults, we have found that the mucus comes up more easily.
🌿💚 Sinus pain, apply butter!
🌿💚 And if you have stiff shoulders, back pain or other areas, just find the black box, let the herbs work and there's a good chance that the aches and pains will ease.

Cold sores on the lips are also quite common, and very uncomfortable. Many people also turn to Panther Balm for effective help, but our good Calendula Balm and the Mint and Lavender Lip Balms are also good helpers for such outbreaks.

Honey - gourmet and medicinal! Here from the seasonal harvest of our own honey from the farm 🍯 ​
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Honey in combination with garlic, onions, spices and herbs can work wonders 🧄🧅🍯  

Check out some of my favorites:

 

🍯 🧄 Honey and garlic – Great for respiratory problems and sinusitis – has cracked the sinusitis that ruined my ski weekend.
- Chop 4-5 garlic cloves
- Add a glass of honey (preferably dark heather honey)
- Let steep for a few hours and take 1 teaspoon several times daily

Honey with garlic!

 

🍯 🌱 Honey with rose root - Energy & immune defense in glass

This is one of my absolute favorites! 🌱 Botanist Rolv Hjelmstad calls rose root Norway's most medicinal plant - and I think he's right. It boosts energy, boosts the immune system, helps with stress and is absolutely fantastic for both hair and skin. That's why you can also find it in our Hair Serum and the magical 

Soft Hands with rose and rose root.

How to make rosehip honey:
- 1 glass of honey
- 3-4 tsp finely chopped raw rose root
👉 Mix well and add directly or stir into tea.
PS Rhodiola rosea is also great for making tinctures – it's one of the most important herbs in our "medicine cabinet"!
Rosehip is also great for hair and skin – and that's why you can also find it in our Hair Serum and in the magical Soft Hands with rose and rosehip.

Honey with rose root 💖

 
🍯 🧅 Honey and Onion – Perfect for Coughing and Mucus Dissolving
Finely chop ½ onion and mix in ½ glass of honey.
Leave for at least 6 hours.
Take a few spoons daily
 

🍯 🔥 Fire Honey
A powerful combo against mucus and colds! And much more (anti-inflammatory)
- 1 glass of honey
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp ceylon cinnamon, 1 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp ground ginger (I only use organic spices).
Mix well
👉 Take 1 teaspoon directly into the mouth 2-3 times a day, or as needed, or stir into hot water and drink as tea. Make sure the temperature has cooled slightly before mixing in honey.


Onions, garlic, horseradish (a very good plant for the lungs), and not least ginger, are good for coughing! These ingredients are also great to use in a warming soup 🍜, for example, use all of them in a good chicken soup as a healing food both before and after the cold sores have entered the body.

Herbs for tea and tincture – nature's own pharmacy 🌿☕️
When colds and fevers creep up on you, it's worth having some good herbs on hand. Here are some of my favorites for both tea and tincture:

🌱 Good herbs for colds and fever:
- Peppermint – fresh and soothing
- Yarrow – antipyretic and expectorant
- Calendula – anti-inflammatory, cleansing and immune-boosting
- Red clover – strengthens the body and cleanses
- Sage – powerful for sore throats
- Meadowsweet – nature's own fever reducer
- Nettle – mineral-rich and strengthening
- Thyme – cough suppressant and antibacterial
- Lemon balm – soothing and antiviral

Make your own herbal tea 🍵
You can vary the herbs for different taste experiences – and to adapt the tea to your needs!
💡 My favorite combinations:
✔️ For mucus and stuffy nose: Yarrow + marigold
✔️ For fever and colds: Yarrow + peppermint + black elder
✔️ For sore throats: Make your own combinations of the aforementioned herbs and ginger + honey
I dry large quantities of herbs throughout the season, so that I have both Vossabia product, food, teas and tinctures all year round. Tincture (extraction in alcohol) is an easy way to preserve and use herbs – I always have tincture of rYarrow, marigold, nettle, rose root and red clover ready!
Below I will go into more detail about some plants that can become your best friends in winter and during seasonal ailments such as colds:

 
Calendula - the skin's AND the immune system's best friend! 🌿 ✨

Marigold (calendula) is like a real powerhouse of the plant world and one of the most versatile herbs I know of. It's not only beautiful in the garden, but also worth its weight in gold for the body, even when you're brewing something and need a little winter care 🌼 

 

Why use marigold?
💪 Strong antimicrobial agent – prevents and treats infections, strengthens the immune system and helps the body defend itself against unwanted invaders.
🦠 One of the best broad-spectrum natural anti-infectives – effective against bacteria, viruses and fungi.
💧 Strengthens the lymphatic system – relieves swollen lymph glands, mumps and sore throat.
🌱 A rare find in the plant world – marigold is both antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal AND immune-stimulating!

 

Marigold tea – simple, powerful and delicious! And perfect for colds and flu!

🍵 Recipe:
1–2 tsp dried marigold leaves
1–2 cups warm water
Let steep for 10 minutes. I often use a regular mason jar with a lid to hold in the health-giving steam.
👉 Drink 3–4 cups daily to support the immune system and give your body extra care.
💦 Bonus: As many have experienced, marigold is absolutely magical on the skin, and our popular bestseller Calendula Balm is truly our Universal Queen! Great for cold sores on and above the lips and under the nose. But, if you make marigold tea to prevent or relieve colds and fever, know that it is not only good internally, but also a fantastic skin care product! Use the tea as a cooling compress on irritated skin or over tired eyes. Nature's own wonder medicine!
So whether you want to boost your immune system, help your lymphatic system, or give your skin some extra love – let marigold be your new best friend. 🌼🧡 It's been my bestie for 21 years! ❤️‍🔥

Sun hat (Echinacea) – indigenous medicine and the immune system's superhero! 🌿 ✨
Native Americans have used echinacea for hundreds of years to treat colds, fevers, and infections – and now this beautiful plant has become a superstar in modern times. And for good reason! 💛

I grow echinacea on my farm, but when I need an emergency boost to my immune system, I usually buy red echinacea from a health food store. You can also find dried organic red echinacea for tea at krydra.no . Even better: Sow your own perennial medicinal plant and have an immune-boosting treasure in your garden for years!

Why wear a sun hat?
💪 Gives the immune system a powerful boost
🦠 Extremely antiviral – great for infections
♻️ Detoxifying and cleansing for the body
🔬Increases both the quantity and activity of white blood cells
💧 Improves lymphatic circulation – perfect for lymph-related conditions

How to use a sun hat?
🌱 Tincture – the most effective form of use
🍵 Tea – preferably with strengthening herbs such as rosehip, hibiscus and marigold
Echinacea isn't just beautiful – it's also one of the strongest allies you can have to boost your immune system and fight off winter viruses. So why not add this powerhouse to your garden and home? 🌱💚

Check out the beautiful yellow Solhatten in Vossabiahagen 🌼

 

Black cohosh – a powerhouse for the immune system and respiratory tract
Black elderberry is another super plant against flu and colds, and if you don't have the plant in your garden you can buy good black elderberry products. Studies of black elderberry show very good results in faster recovery from muscle aches, fever and other flu-related ailments.
The flowers – antiviral, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and diaphoretic.
Berries – antiviral, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic and a mild, tonic laxative. Provides a powerful immune boost!

Why use black elderberry?
✔️ Fantastic support in case of fever
✔️ A brilliant herb for the immune system
✔️ A strong ally against colds and flu – especially effective against fever
✔️ Flowers – Relieves runny nose
✔️ Flowers – Good expectorant for coughs, asthma and bronchitis
✔️ The flowers – Helps with respiratory infections
Black elderberry can be enjoyed in countless ways – always with great healing power!
🌿 Elderflowers – tincture, tea, or sparkling health-giving drinks
🍇 Elderberries – tincture, syrup, recipes with berries

Yes, winter doesn't have to mean you have to be constantly stuffy and tired.
With these natural remedies, you can prevent, relieve, and perhaps even avoid getting really sick.
So fill up the herb shelf, ha Panther balm easily accessible, and get ready to face winter with full force! 💚🌿❄️

Warm regards,
Queen bee 🐝 in Vossabia