Getting Ready for the Cold and Flu Season

Although Echinacea and Goldenseal may be the first herbs you think about when catching a cold, there are many herbs that are useful for the different stages of a cold or flu.

General immune strengtheners can be used over fairly long periods of time to strengthen and build the immune system. If you tend to get sick easily or if you are dealing with or recovering from an illness or long term ailment you might consider some immune tonics such as Astragalus, Reishi, Marshmallow, Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng) or Green Defense.

Herbs for the prevention or onset of a cold are best used at the first signs of illness or if you have been exposed to someone who is sick. Larger doses of Echinacea are best to help the immune system fight off a cold before it sets in. Also try Zinc, Vitamin C, Astragalus, Thuja and Balsam Root.

If you know you've got IT, it's time to try some herbs for cold and flu. Herbs can be excellent at relieving symptoms and helping the body to process and eliminate wastes. Helpful herbs include Elder, Boneset, organic Goldenseal, Garlic, Lomatium, Osha, Echinacea (smaller doses or mixed with other herbs) Under The Weather, or Lemon-Aide. There is no substitute, however, for getting the rest you need!

In addition, you can pick and choose from herbs in the categories below based on your symptoms. If there are signs of an infection present such as fever or dark yellow or green mucus, you might try antimicrobial herbs such as Oregon Grape Root, organic Goldenseal, Echinacea, Garlic, Baptisia, Myrrh, Usnea, Under The Weather or Green Biotic.

If there is respiratory involvement such as coughing, wheezing or sore throat, consider some herbs for the respiratory system. Eucalyptus essential oil can be inhaled as a steam. Helpful herbs that may be taken internally include Balsam Root, Yerba Santa, Mullein, Grindelia, Pleurisy Root, Lobelia, Elecampane, Licorice, Lomatium, Osha, Spikenard, Marshmallow, Wild Cherry, RespirEase, Lemon-Aide or Soothing Balsam Cough Syrup.

If the lymph nodes are swollen consider herbs such as Red Root, Cleavers, Calendula, Burdock or Emphatic Lymphatic.

Herbs for the sinuses include Stone Root, Yerba Santa, Oregon Grape, organic Goldenseal, Baptisia, Usnea, Myrrh, Stone Root, Turmeric, Marshmallow, Eucalyptus oil (inhaled--please see above), Sinus Soother or Green Biotic for infection. Sinus Support can help prevent infection or relieve pressure and sinus headaches. It is also helpful to irrigate the nasal passages with a neti pot. Irrigating the sinuses with a warm saline or herbal solution such as Sinus Support helps to reduce mucus accumulation and congestion.

General Immune Strengtheners:

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng) (Eleutherococcus senticosus), Marshmallow (Althea officinalis), Green Defense

Prevention or Onset of Cold:

Echinacea (E. purpurea or angustifolia (large doses), Zinc, Vitamin C, Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), Thuja (Thuja plicata), Balsam root (Balsamorhiza sagittata)

Head Cold or Flu:

Elder (Sambucus nigra) , Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Lomatium (Lomatium dissectum), Osha (Ligusticum porterii), Echinacea (E. purpurea or angustifolia) (smaller doses or mixed with other herbs), Garlic (Allium sativum), organic Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), Under the Weather or Lemon-Aide

Sign of Infection Present:

organic Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), Thuja (Thuja plicata), Oregon Grape Root (Mahonia or Berberis spp.) Echinacea (E. purpurea or angustifoia), Baptisia (Baptisia tinctoria), Myrrh (Commiphora mol-mol) Balsam Root (Balsamorhiza sagittata), Garlic (Allium sativum, Usnea (Usnea spp.), Under the Weather or Green Biotic

Respiratory Involvement:

Balsam Root (Balsamorhiza sagittata), Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon spp.), Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), Grindelia (Grindelia sp), Horehound (Marrubium vulgare), Pleurisy Root (Asclepias tuberosa), Lobelia (Lobelia inflata), Elecampane (Inula helenium), Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra or uralensis), Osha (Ligusticum porterii), Spikenard (Aralia racemosa and californica), Marshmallow (Althea rosea),Wild Cherry (Prunus spp.), Lemon-Aide, RespirEase or
Soothing Balsam Cough Syrup

Lymphatic Involvement:

Red Root (Ceanothus spp.), Cleavers (Galium aparine), Calendula (Calendula spp.), Burdock, (Arctium spp.), Emphatic Lymphatic

Sinus Involvement:

Stone Root (Collonsonia canadensis), Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon sp), Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Horseradish (Armoracia lapathifolia), Oregon Grape Root (Berberis or Mahonia sp), organic Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), Usnea (Usnea spp), Myrrh (Commiphora mol-mol), Eucalyptus oil (inhaled), Sinus Soother, Sinus Support, Green Biotic

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