These are my favorite herbs to take when you’re sick!
It’s the time of year when the weather is getting cooler and the sniffles start to come out in full force!
These herbs are absolutely essential for any mom to have on hand during the fall and winter season when it seems that colds and flus are more common. They’re anti-viral, they strengthen the immune system, and they have been shown in studies to inhibit viral replication in cells.
I personally take these herbs as soon as I start to feel a scratch in my throat or a sniffle in my nose. In my experience, the herbs help shorten the illness and strengthen my body to be able to fight off the bug.
Herbs to Take When You’re Sick
Note: If you have an auto-immune disease, please talk to your naturopath or clinical herbalist and do plenty of research before taking any immune stimulating herbs. I am not a doctor and these recommendations are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
Garlic
My favorite!
Garlic is antimicrobial and acts on bacteria, viruses and parasites in the GI tract.
The volatile oil is excreted mostly via the lungs, which makes garlic super useful in respiratory infections including cold, flu, bronchitis, etc.
In general garlic can be used preventatively for many different infections, including viruses.
I’ve seen many people online who say that garlic should not be consumed regularly, since it has antibiotic properties and could damage your microbiome. It’s really important to remember that plants and herbs do not work like pharmaceuticals. Plants – including garlic – have hundreds of constituents that balance out all the medicinal properties to allow them interact synergistically with your body. Garlic is thought to support the development of natural, good, gut healing bacteria, while also killing pathogenic bacteria in the digestive tract. It’s created to heal and also defend.
Garlic is my go-to whenever we get sick!
How to take raw garlic
-Crush/Mince a clove of fresh garlic and mix it with a spoonful of honey. I recommend taking this a few times a day until you feel better.
-Cut a clove into small pieces and swallow with water like a pill/capsule. I personally don’t do this method because I feel like crushing the garlic and the garlic juices gives me better results. However I have seen a lot of people recommend this way.
-Make fermented garlic honey. Recently I made my own fermented garlic honey for the first time and it seems like a great way to be able to get the benefits of both the raw honey, the raw garlic, and the good bacteria due to the fermentation process. The fermentation process also makes the garlic taste much more mellow, so this is a great method for little kids who may not like the strong spicy taste in garlic. I followed the recipe from Grow Forage Cook Ferment!
Note: Some people do experience gastrointestinal distress if they take too much raw garlic at once. This has only happened to me one time and I think it’s because I didn’t eat the garlic with enough honey. In my experience I just felt queasy for about twenty minutes and then it went away. So just take it slow you first few doses to figure out exactly what your body needs.
Ginger
Ginger is the second herb I turn to when we start feeling unwell. It is a powerful antiviral when used fresh.
Studies have shown that ginger inhibits the attachment of viruses to the cell and also stimulates antiviral macrophage activity. Macrophage refers to white blood cells that are part of your body’s defense mechanism to protect you from foreign invaders. So if a pathogen enters your blood stream, the macrophages will identify, engulf and destroy this foreign substance in order to protect you. Our bodies are amazing!
Ginger helps stimulate that activity.
It’s been used historically across the world for a wide variety of viral infections.
My favorite way to use ginger when we start feeling sick is to make a decoction with the fresh, raw root.
How to take Ginger
-Decoction: peel and slice a thumb of ginger and put in a pot with a few cups of water. Bring to a gentle boil and continue to boil/simmer for 20-30 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool down a bit. Strain the roots and pour your ginger tea into a mug. Sweeten if desired and drink!
-Juice the root: I’ve never done this, but fresh ginger juice has been shown to be a very potent antiviral. If you have the equipment to juice the root, then consider doing so!
Astragalus
This plant is not one of your common, well known remedies, but boy is it powerful! Astragalus is a medicinal root that has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years.
Astragalus is generally a powerful immune modulator and helps enhance overall immune function in the body. It has been used for many viral infections.
It is particularly beneficial for preventing viral infections and traditionally has been used in broths and soups to help gently strengthen the immune system.
There are also some studies that it can help prevent respiratory infections in children.
How to take Astragalus
Broth: My favorite way to consume this herb is by adding it to my bone broth and making a strong, medicinal broth to use in recipes. I just add a few tablespoons of the root to a big pot of bone broth and allow it to simmer with the bones all day long.
Decoction: You can also make a tea/decoction with these roots. Add a tablespoon of roots to a couple cups of water and bring to a boil. Gently simmer for 20-30 minutes before removing to cool down for a few minutes. Strain and sweeten as desired. You can also combine this with other roots such as ginger, licorice, etc.
Elder
The berry is most commonly used, but the flowers also have medicinal properties!
Elderberry has become really popular, and with good reason – it’s super delicious and can be made in a variety of ways that are sweet and easy for kids to take.
Elderberry has been shown in studies to shorten strains of influenza and other respiratory infections. As an antiviral, it helps inhibit viral replication, and it binds influenza viruses and helps inhibit them from infecting host cells. Elderflower has shown similar properties.
How to take Elderberry
Tincture/Extract: You can find elderberry tinctures made out of glycerin that are very concentrated and also have the benefit of being shelf stable for up to a year. This is a great one from Organic Olivia!
Decoction: Boil a tablespoon of the dried berries in a few cups of water for 20-30 minutes. Strain and sweeten as desired. You can also mix with other roots or berries like ginger, rose hips, or licorice.
Syrup: A lot of people love taking elderberry syrup! It’s convenient and delicious and kids love it.
Note: I am personally not a fan of taking elderberry as a daily preventative, because it does stimulate your immune system. However, I think it’s excellent when you’ve been exposed to someone sick, or when you’re starting to come down with a bug to give your immune system the extra boost!
Nutritive Herbs
My other go-to’s for herbs when we are getting sick are nutritive herbs that will supply our body with tons of minerals and nutrients that we need to be able to strengthen our bodies to fight off infection!
These are herbs like Nettle, Alfalfa, Rosehips, Hibiscus, and Lemon Balm.
These herbs can be used in addition to the anti-viral herbs to nourish and help strengthen your body’s defenses.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
Five Herbs Every Mother Needs in Her Life
Seven Herbs With Powerful Anti-Viral Properties
How to Make An Herbal Infusion
Hey, I'm Victoria!
I'm so glad you're here, sweet mother!
My goal is to inspire you to remember your primal roots & live a WILD life in alignment with nature. On my blog I empower you to use herbs and natural remedies to keep your family healthy, teach you how to eat a nourishing, traditional foods diet, and inspire you to raise your babies consciously and respectfully.
