Calm Coughs with Thyme and Lavender Herbal Baths
I find myself incorporating lots of lavender, thyme–and time–into my herbal practice. After working with my own family and midwifery families, I began to realize the remarkable benefits thyme have to offer to our children.
Years ago, a client gave me a gift the day after her son was born. It was a small sachet of thyme and lavender. She gave it to me with a hug saying, “This made me think of you. Put it in your car or something.”
It rode with me in my car for many months. Then one day I thought, "This would make a wonderful bath. I wonder what the healing properties are?"
As it turns out...thyme, thymus vulgaris, is recommended as a steam inhalant, gargle, and bath when someone has lung congestion, a sore throat, a cough and over all body soreness.
And now, I love to mix thyme with lavender. Both thyme and lavender are gentle safe botanicals for children’s delicate systems. Their therapeutic properties have been shown to clear congestion from coughs and the common cold. As an aromatic herb bath it is a pleasant way to offer comfort to your child while facilitating a swift recovery from a hacking cough.
Both thyme and lavender share antibacterial qualities and promote overall wellbeing and relaxation. I find the fragrance of these two herbs blended together is soothing, and creates a healing experience.
To prepare this aromatic and healing treatment, combine the two herbs with a cup of sea salt. Place the herbs in a muslin cloth to form a bundle. Then, fill your largest pot with water and bring it to a boil. Turn the stove off. Put the herb bundle into the water, cover, and let steep for at least 15 minutes.
When you remove the lid, place the pot on the table. Hold a towel over your head, while leaning over the steaming pot and breathing in the cleansing vapors. Have a box of tissues handy. You will need it!
After the tea cools and the vapor thins, scoop out some of the salty tea to use as a gargle. Gargling is known to soothe sore throats and break up lung and sinus congestion.
At this point, start to run the bath water. Fill the tub to desired depth and temperature. Pour the rest of the tea and the herb bundle into the tub, and get in. Squeeze and massage the herb bundle to release more of the therapeutic properties into the water. Allow yourself and/or your child, to soak for at least 20 minutes. This bath will promote a deep sense of relaxation and may improve much needed sleep.
It takes thyme and time to heal. Allow yourself the time you need to be a healing presence in your child's life. Allow thyme to nurture, teach, and heal you in more ways than one!
Now I'd love to hear from you! Have you ever combined thyme and lavender? What benefits did you enjoy?
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