Sniff, sniff. Cough Cough– it’s that time of the year when everyone seems to be catching a cold or the latest flu bug! Even if you take great precautions to avoid the sick people in the crowds, you may need a little extra support to help you keep those germs from paying you a visit.
When it comes to natural solutions for keeping colds at bay,Vitamin C! is a great choice. Yet there are even more! Here are five favorite herbs to keep consider when sickness comes around knocking.
1. GARLIC
Garlic, put simply, rocks! Its pungent flavor and strong smell mean potent medicine. Garlic is anti-viral (cold & flu), anti-bacterial and anti-microbial (“bugs” and such), loves the lungs and the liver (your personal detox organ). Garlic is a smart anti-bacterial herb that targets only the invading organisms and not just all bacteria (like other herbs– Goldenseal for example). A raw bite of garlic as often as you can stand (about 1-2 hours) will greatly help any ailment! Since eating garlic raw can be intense. Try putting the raw clove in a dried fruit like a date or blend it with some juice.
2. GINGER
Ginger is a root that many recognize in its pickled form accompanying sushi. You could eat that and feel better but you can find better ginger to help your sickness at health food stores as a fresh root or tea. You can also buy herbs from an herb shop (if there’s one near you) or order herbs online. Ginger and garlic are similar in that they’re both: anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial and pungent (hot, spicy, warming). Ginger loves your tummy and is ideal when you have an “upset” stomach. Ginger is great to drink as a tea, as juice, in smoothies (like garlic!), and even tinctured (extracted in alcohol). Some ginger as an everyday habit will help digestion, keep viruses at bay, and warm you up which is great cold prevention!
3. ECHINACEA
Take echinacea when you’re getting a cold as echinacea is great for boosting immunity response! This little herb tricks your body into letting out the full immune response (like a fire drill). If there are any foreign cells– those transient germs– the immune system will do what it does best: destroy the invaders. Echinacea also shows the white blood cells (the immune system’s germ-fighting soldiers) where your body needs extra defenses– like a consultant on health and structural weaknesses! Take this herb as often as you like (which means: if a kid looks at you cross-eyed and you feel like you need some echinacea… take it!). If you can find fresh echinacea, great! It grows native in the United States. You can also get the herb from websites to make a tea or carry a tincture around with you often.
4. ASTRAGALUS
Astragalus is so tasty and it’s great for your immune system strength! It’s known for supporting the body’s “deep” immunity which is like saying that astragalus provides the foundational support upon which all the rest of the body functions. It must be great for you because of its sweet taste (practically telling you “eat me!”). Astragalus is a root that originates in China. Because it’s a root, it can be easier to get the maximum benefit out of this herb by “decocting” it (boiling it for 45 minutes). Some people throw some astragalus root in with their rice or soups and let the herb steep into the water as an easy way to get the benefit of astragalus without having to keep track of a 45 minute cup of tea. Astragalus also has anti-viral and anti-oxidant properties, helps reduce stress (which weakens the immune system). Like echinacea, the more regularly you take astragalus, the more astragalus works for you.
5. LICORICE
Funny that licorice, the candy, is flavored with anise and licorice the herb tastes completely different. Licorice is a root that is even sweeter and tastier than astragalus! This root is so sweet and licorice is added to many herbal formulas as a harmonizer– it takes off the bitter tastes. Licorice is your adrenal system’s best ally– when the body is stressed or in any way depleted, licorice helps to restore and renew reducing the harmful impacts of this stress and fatigue. Licorice has so many benefits like: it’s soothing, gentle expectorant (kicks mucous & lung garbage out of the body), and neutralizes liver toxins for starters! Licorice is super sweet– like herbal candy!– and can totally substitute for some sugar (like in your coffee, smoothies, etc). As sugar can suppress your immune system it’s brilliant that you can replace it with licorice which boosts your immune system!
There are tons of herbs to help you but here are 5 great ones to keep you healthy whether you’re an herbalist or just someone trying to stay on their toes despite the season of sickness.
There are tons of herbs to help you but here are 5 great ones to keep you healthy whether you’re an herbalist or just someone trying to stay on their toes despite the season of sickness.
(As with all information, this is for educational purposes only. Please use your judgment or speak to a health professional for more advice).
