Comments on Jenn's review of Herba Tussin Herbal Tea
Herba Tussin Herbal Tea
Description: Herbal dietary supplement with slippery Elm bark.
Herbal Decongestant - it's the licorice!
Whenever I get a chest cold, I rely on Herba Tussin tea -- it tastes good and seems to work really well. The primary ingredients include eucalyptus leaf, licorice root, slippery elm bark, wild cherry bark and marshmallow root.
I just found an interesting tidbit on licorice which makes it clear why it is such an effective herb in the treatment of colds:
Most of the licorice plant is composed of a glycoside called glycyrrhizin. Glycyrrhizin reduces the activity of two enzymes that break down prostaglandin E (PGE). Glycyrrhizin promotes the production of mucus in the respiratory tract. This increase may make the respiratory tract mucus less sticky and may also promote its removal from the body. True licorice has been used with severe respiratory conditions such as bronchitis. It may also be used to soothe a sore throat and to relieve coughing.
Next time I get sick, I now have an excellent excuse for buying some licorice candy!
Jenn's keywords: herbs, tea, nutrition, supplement, medicine, licorice

