The Cold & Flu season comes annually and the average person is prone to catching a cold 2-4 times per year. And that number is much higher for children. Store bought OTC pharmaceutical drugs are helpful, but there’s an abundance of plant based herbal remedies that much of the global population rely on and prefer using. Our ancestors have used these remedies for 100’s of years and we should not be so quick to forget them.
Did you know lots of pharmaceutical drugs are actually created from plants, or involve the isolation of a plant active compound? A company can’t patent a plant, so they started isolating certain compounds found in plants during the early nineteenth century to create treatments. Plants are helping people & saving lives every day, so including some herbal remedies in your medicine cabinet just seems wise. Here’s some examples of popular plant based pharmaceuticals to shed light on just how important plants/herbs are in treatments.
Asprin, used for pain relief and anti-clotting, comes from Salicylic Acid found in White willow, wintergreen and birch tree bark
Codeine/Morphine, Oxycontin (opioid painkillers) are derived from the opium plant poppies
Penicillin, one of the most popular antibiotics in the world, is made from mold.
Quinine, used to treat malaria, uses extract from the Cinchona tree.
Scopolamine, used for post surgical nausea/motion sickness, is made from nightshade plants
Digoxin, a heart medication used for atrial fibrillation, comes from the foxglove plant
Paclitaxel (Taxol®), an anti-cancer drug, uses extracts from the bark of Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia Nutt) tree.
Rosy Periwinkle, a pretty flower from Madagascar, contains Vinblastine and vincristine used in anti-cancer treatments. Vincristine has helped increase survival rates of childhood leukemia from 10% to 90%. Vinblastine is used to treat Hodgkin’s disease.
Here's 10 Amazing Herbal remedies I consistently use
Echinacea
This Native American plant is amazing. It’s named after the greek word echinos which means hedgehog. The prickly spikes in the center of the flower closely resemble the spines of a hedgehog.
Archeologists have found evidence of echinacea being used for more than 400 years. Historically, this has been used to treat scarlet fever, malaria, poisoning, syphilis and yes, the common cold and flu. It’s known for reducing the duration of colds and flus as well as easing symptoms like a cough, fever and sore throat. It’s also well known for boosting your immune system and some studies have shown it helps to reduce inflammation. This plant’s flowers and roots are available in pill form, tinctures, extracts and teas. At the onset of feeling sick, I start drinking 2-3 cups of tea per day to help boost my immune system and fight off any possible symptoms.
2. Elderberry
This shrub is originally from Europe but now also grows in many parts of the US. Its dark purple berries are rich in Anthocyanins, an antioxidant. Anthocyanins help clear the body of free radicals that damage cells at the DNA level and also have antiviral properties. That helps prevent or reduce the severity of certain common infections like the cold. It works best if you take elderberry within the first 48 hours of feeling sick. It comes in many forms now such as tea, pills, gummies and syrup. The juice syrup has been used for centuries as a home remedy for the cold and flu and there’s great syrups available at Whole Foods, Sprouts, Natural Groceries and Amazon. I personally like the Gaia brand syrup the best. You can also give some to children, which makes this great option for the whole family. Below are a few studies on just how effective Elderberry has proven to be in reducing symptoms and the duration of colds. https://bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-021-03283-5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4848651/
3. Elderflower
This is a flower from a shrub or small tree from the UK. The extract comes from the flower and is used for a number of wellness applications. There is a lot of evidence pointing to its effectiveness in helping with the cold, flu, cough, hoarseness (laryngitis) and inflammation. This is popularly infused with teas.
My favorite is the Cold Care tea by traditional Medicinals - https://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/products/organic-herbal-cold-care-tea/
4. Garlic
This common household ingredient is one of the oldest known cultivated herbs. Some records show China using garlic as far back as 4,000 years ago. It was also used by Egyptians and Greek soldiers were documented eating it before battle. Garlic contains several helpful ingredients including arginine, oligosaccharides, flavonoids and selenium. It can boost the number of virus fighting T-Cells in your bloodstream, which can reduce the severity of cold and flu symptoms by boosting your immune system. It also has a high sulfur content, which helps your body absorb the trace element zinc better. I like to cook a little extra garlic while sick to get the benefits and yummy flavor integrated into my food.
5. Ginger
This is another common household ingredient that has been used as an herbal remedy for centuries. It’s originally from Asia but now grown and used worldwide. The root is the most common part used of this flowering plant. Ginger contains gingerol which is the main bioactive compound responsible for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory medicinal properties. It’s used to aid digestion, reduce nausea and fight colds. Ginger is also used for osteoarthritis as an anti-inflammatory, a weight loss aid improving lowering of blood sugars and chronic digestive problems. I drank ginger ale during my pregnancies to ease my morning sickness nausea. You could blend a piece with sparkling water or sprite to make this at home, or get store bought versions. If I’m sick with a cold, I’ll use ginger root in my smoothies for a boost.
6. Eucalyptus
This tree, native to Australia, has made its way to the US and other parts of the world that has a hot, dry climate. It contains a magical property called cineole, which has been found to help with sinus infections & congestion, headaches, and brachial infections. The most common application for Eucalyptus is via essential oils. The oil also has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, which helps reduce inflammation in your nasal cavities. It’s easy to add a few drops to a diffuser or a humidifier (that has an essential oil slot) to help you throughout the day. I like to add a few drops to my humidifier while sleeping. You may want to try this before using Vicks vapor rub (which also contains eucalyptus!). But unlike essential oils, Vicks contains other ingredients like camphor (which is toxic), petrolatum (a by product from oil production) and menthol. A typical essential oil bottle is relatively inexpensive and will last you a long time.
7. Marjoram.
This is an herb native to the Mediterranean, North Africa and western Asian region, although it’s now cultivated globally in warm climates. It’s an aromatic herb in the mint family and commonly used in many food dishes. Medicinally it contains carvacrol which is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. This herb also has demonstrated antimicrobial properties and has been used to treat fungal infections, ease muscle cramps, reduce blood pressure, as well as aid with digestive issues like stomach ulcers. Women have historically used this to help with menstrual issues as it’s shown to stimulate the onset of getting your period. There’s even been a study to show that women with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) used marjoram to improve their hormonal balances.
Essential oils and teas are very common ways to integrate this into your lifestyle.
8. Mullein
This very tall beautiful flowering plant is found in Europe, Northern Africa and Asia. It eventually made its way to North America in the mid 1700’s (where it was used as a pesticide to kill fish). It contains a number of compounds including saponins, iridoid, flavonoids and phenylethanoid glycosides. This plant has a number of helpful uses. It’s actually a flavoring agent in alcoholic beverages. It’s oils can be used topically to treat wounds, burns, hemorrhoid, frostbite and skin issues. It’s also used to treat coughs, bronchitis, pneumonia, earaches, colds and the flu. Europe, UK and the US even used Mullein to treat tuberculosis in the late 1800’s. Many teas contain Mullein in a blend of other herbs. I love this tea, that includes Mullein - https://yogiproducts.com/teas/caffeine-free-teas/echinacea-immune-support/
9. Rosemary
This perennial herb is native to the Mediterranean and grows in coastal regions. The Latin name of this herb “ros & marines” actually translates to “dew of the sea”. This very common culinary herb is now grown and used globally. It’s likely already in your spice cabinet. But little do people know it contains carbonic and rosmarinic acid which have powerful antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. It’s been used to help boost the immune system, improve circulation, and even improve digestion. The below study even shows the aroma can improve concentration, performance and speed! So not only consuming it, but smelling it sees to have wonderful health benefits. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3736918/ I like to add some to my potatoes and pasta, and it’s very easy to grow in an herb garden for regular use.
10. Zinc
Okay this is not technically a plant. Zinc is an essential mineral found naturally in foods such as legumes, chickpeas, nuts, tofu, oats, dairy and meat. Zinc helps activate T-Cells which regulate your immune response and quickly attack and destroy infected cells. An interesting huge fact about zinc is it has been found to BLOCK the replication of viruses in cell cultures. Basically it stops a virus from producing more copies in your bloodstream. For this reason, I like to take zinc supplements when I get sick to stop that virus dead in its tracks.
A lot of herbs have potential side effects, and adaptogens (and certain herbs) should not be taken by anyone pregnant or breastfeeding. These are all remedies that have worked well for me personally as well as thousands of others. But of course, you should do research, be cautious and informed before you try out new herbs or OTC drugs. I’m not an herbalist or Doctor so consult a professional before trying new antidotes out.
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