Looking for medieval remedies from Transylvania for cold and flu symptoms? Discover hundreds of years old Transylvanian Saxon remedies.
Passed on from generation to generation, these Saxon remedies from Transylvania are an invaluable yet, almost forgotten treasure. Kept for hundreds of years in clothing chests painted with flowers along sprigs of lavender, these remedies belonging to Saxon healers from Rotbav, Jibert, Ungra, Vurpar, or Biertan, Transylvania have been rediscovered and published in magazines and books. Today these Saxon remedies enjoy a special interest in Germany and Europe. Here we want to share with you Saxon remedies for cold, flu, and related symptoms.
In This Article You Will Find:
7 Transylvanian Saxon Remedies for Cold & Flu Symptoms
1. Cold
The most used Saxon remedy for cold is the following tea. Combine the following herbs and berries:
- 20 g of rose hips
- 14 g of elderflowers
- 14 g of chamomile flowers
- 14 g of linden flowers
- 11 g of blackberry leaves (Rubus fruticosus)
- 10 g of sage
- 5 g of hibiscus flowers
Make an infusion by steeping 2 spoons of the herbal blend in 1 cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. All these medicinal plants are soothing, expectorant, and immune boosting. Sage, for instance, is the plant with the strongest anti-inflammatory effect, while linden and elder flowers induce sweating and strengthen the immune system. Another old Transylvanian Saxon remedy for inflamed airways is the hot hay flower bath. For coughs, Saxons make onion tea by boiling half of a finely chopped onion in a cup of water and sweetening it with a little honey.
2. Bronchitis
Hot steam baths calm the irritated bronchi and are one of the most used Transylvanian Saxon remedies for bronchitis. To prepare the steam bath, add 2 spoons of chamomile flowers and 2 spoons of thyme in 3-4 liters of boiling water and steep for 10 minutes. Cover your head with a towel and lean over the steam for about 10 minutes. Breathe alternately, through the nose and mouth. After the steam bath, rest and avoid cold or going outside. Thyme contains thymol, an antibacterial and decontracting active substance, while chamomile, with its anti-inflammatory effect, calms the irritated mucous membranes.
3. Hay Fever
As a temporary first aid, Transylvanian Saxons used salt water washes, which was their number one remedy for a stuffy nose. The Saxon village people knew back then that pepper, toasted wholemeal bread, cucumbers, radishes, and rye bread contain a lot of magnesium and are recommended for rhinitis. Nasal washes deflate the mucous membrane and eliminate pollen, while magnesium-rich foods stop the production of histamines.
4. Fever
Fever is not a disease, but the body’s natural defense mechanism against pathogens. At a body temperature above 38°C/100°F, most bacteria and viruses stop multiplying, therefore fever is good in some cases. Thyme, linden, and chamomile tea were the go-to Saxon remedies for high fever, as they support natural immunity. They also used cold compresses (wraps) on the calves to reduce fever. For this, they soaked a towel in cold water (at room temperature), squeezed it gently, and wrapped it around the calves. The compress was kept on for no more than 10 minutes, and the process was resumed 2-3 times. Cold water compresses reduce blood temperature directly.
5. Sore Throat
Instead of synthetic drugs, Saxon women used cold compresses with cottage cheese over the neck area. Spread a thick layer of cottage cheese over a linen napkin, sprinkle with a little vinegar, and apply to the neck with the cheese part touching the skin. Tie a scarf around the compress to hold it in place preferably overnight. If not, at least until the cheese dries. Alongside, drink plantain tea, with small sips. The cheese cools and deflates, while the plantain calms the mucous membrane. For sore throats, Saxon women also used sage tea.
6. Hoarseness
The most effective Saxon remedies for hoarseness are sage or plantain tea gargles. Steep 2 teaspoons of the plant in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. Strain, allow to cool, and gargle several times a day. Both these plants stop inflammation and increase the resistance of the vocal cords to pathogens. And one more thing: silence is golden.
7. Cystitis
The Saxon medicine recommends cranberry juice, mountain currant juice (Ribes alpinum), and watercress salad (Nasturtium officinalis), alongside drinking lots of liquids, to eliminate pathogens. These juices contain immune-boosting vitamin C and large amounts of flavonoids with antibiotic properties. Watercress oil has an antibacterial effect similar to that of penicillin.
The selection of Transylvanian Saxon remedies and the medical explanations in this article belong to Dr. Bernard Uehleke, a German specialist in complementary medicine, at the University of Wurzburg, Germany.
More Saxon Remedies:
Digestive Problems
Heart & Blood Problems
Skin Problems
Eye Problems
Pain
If you’ve enjoyed learning about these medieval Transylvanian Saxon remedies for cold and flu and other related symptoms or conditions, please share this article. This way, we keep this ancient knowledge alive and useful. Stay healthy, naturally!
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