Herbs for a Healthy Immune System
Winter is the season of colds and flu. Keeping the body healthy and immune system functioning to it fullest is a way of staying healthy. There are several supplements that help with the immune system.
In my experience there are 4 areas that always need to be addressed when promoting a healing response. You need a vitamin that is related to the system being affected, a mineral, an herb, and a protomorphogen which is the tissue that’s effected.
For this, let’s talk about the herbal supplements that can help support the immune system.
One that is high on the list is echinacea, it is commonly used for fevers and minor infections. It is an immune system modulator. It helps with the lymphatic system, helps in healing wounds (vulnerary), anti-inflammatory, and helps build up the white blood cells.
Myrrh gum is another of the volatile oils that help breathing by clearing out the mucous clogged passages. This helps in capillary activity, restores tone to normal secretion and digestion, and the increase of white blood cells.
Goldenseal Root is a proven antibiotic and antiseptic, helps with the nervous system and treating the mucus membrane.
Licorice Root has its effect on fevers, infections and inflammation. It is antibacterial and antiviral.
Cinchona is a natural source of quinine and has antiviral, antimalarial, antipyretic properties.
Butternut root bark is used as a febrifuge to reduce fevers and is a mild laxative to help get rid of toxic wastes.
Garlic is a great herb for a myriad of symptoms from snake bite, pneumonia, dysentery, cholera, gastritis and typhoid fever. It is antibacterial, anti-fungal and works in treating and preventing all kinds of infectious disease.
Kelp is used to help with infection and fevers. It is antibacterial, and helps with support to the system as a whole.
There are many more herbs that can be beneficial to the treatment of cold and flu. We haven’t even mentioned some of the herb use just for benefit of the lungs. There are lesser known herbs like mullein, pennyroyal, rose hips, lobelia, chamomile, yarrow, elderberry, and potentilla, which could be used in a variety of combinations.
As always more is not always better, so prudence in the use of herb is necessary. You need to educate yourself as to the use and formulation the herb most likely to be used.
As always consult your health care provider (that actually know what an herb is) for best results.
-Dr. Nelson
