Herbs for Your Herbal Immunity Kit

In a previous blog post I talked about some herbs that are invaluable for helping you beat colds and flu; Andrographis, Astragalus, and Isatitis. We received a lot of positive responses, so I thought we’d share a few more herbs that will help boost your immune system and help you stay healthy.

Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien
This classical TCM formula is a combination of honeysuckle flower, forsythia fruit, platycodon root, peppermint, bamboo leaf, licorice root, schizonepeta, burdock root and black soybean. It is a famous first aid remedy that is used for cold symptoms before they settle in (say the first hours to two days). It is typically most effective the in early stages when the symptoms are still at the surface, such as initial aches and pains, stiff neck and clear, watery phlegm. Honeysuckle flower is used in TCM to treat acute fever and sore throat. This cooling herb also strengthens the lungs.

Gan Mao Ling
This combination is another reliable TCM classic, and contains a combination of honeysuckle flower, chrysanthemum flower, Vitex negundo, isatidis, evodia fruit, lycium root and menthol. Gan Mao Ling is for symptoms of fever, chills, swollen glands, sore throat, stiffness in the upper back and neck. Chrysanthemum has immune enhancing properties and also kills many pathogenic bacteria, including strep. Honeysuckle and chrysanthemum are often combined for inflammatory conditions in TCM.

Elder flower and Gentian root
Elder flower (Sambucus nigra), a renowned diaphoretic and antimicrobial herb, and gentian root (Gentiana lutea), an anti-inflammatory and fever remedy, form the basis of a well known European herb combination for sinus infection. At least eight scientific studies since 1972 have shown the benefits of this combination. Often these herbs are combined with cowslip flower (Primula veris) and sour dock (Rumex acetosa), herbs that liquefy mucus and enhance drainage, and Vervain (Verbena officinalis), another anti-inflamatory.

A randomized, placebo-controlled study of the ENT clinic of the University of Freiburg, Germany, compared the herbal medicine combination with the use of an antibiotic drug along with a decongestant for the treatment of viral sinus infection. The herbs produced faster response, greater effect and lower prevalence of side effects.

You don’t have to suffer from cold and flu symptoms. Kick that bug with herbal medicine. History and science agree that you can feel better, even if you wait until the bug has taken the first little nip.