By Jonathan Evans
Herbal Information Specialist/Business Representative for the Herbarium
Who wrote the song lyric, “time keeps on slippin’, slippin away”? It is cold and flu season already. Lots of folks are coming in for immune boosters and cold and flu fighters. Fortunately, Mother Nature has a full complement of remedies ready to go.
Echinacea
A lot has been said about Echinacea, and a lot is incorrect or misunderstood.
Myth #1: Echinacea should not be used if you have an autoimmune disease because it is an immune system stimulant. Wrong. Echinacea (angustifolia and purpurea) was one of the biggest selling herbs in the United States from the 1890s to the 1930s. Regular MDs practiced as Eclectic physicians and used Echinacea to treat conditions such as arthritis, eczema, and rheumatism, which by definition are autoimmune diseases. There never were any reports that Echinacea should not be used or was a problem. To date, there are still no studies to indicate a problem.
Scientifically, Echinacea is referred to as an immunomodulator.
Myth #2: The more you take Echinacea to enhance your immune system, the less effective it becomes. Not quite. There is no evidence to indicate the longer you use it the less effective it becomes, but there are some practical rules to follow.
Echinacea activity peaks on the fifth day. It helps to boost your white cells (those are the ones that go after the germs and such) if you are low, and make the ones you have friskier, if you have enough. It is suggested to take it four days on and three days off to exercise your immune system and strengthen it. It really does not make sense to keep taking it when you are already at peak unless you are sick. Then you take it steadily for 14 days or until your cold is gone.
Vitamin C
So much has been said about the wonders of vitamin C, and it is true. There are literally thousands of studies showing the efficacy of the vitamin in a wide variety of conditions. It is the number one choice for enhancing immune function and is commonly acknowledged to shorten the duration and severity of colds.
Elderberry
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) – not only does this little berry support your immune system, it can block a flu virus from invading healthy cell by dissolving the protein spike the virus uses to penetrate the cell wall. Combined with vitamin C, which strengthens the cell wall, you have a great one-two punch to knock out the flu, and best of all, it tastes great. Even little kids like it.
Colloidal silver
One of the world’s most powerful antimicrobial agents, it is a broad spectrum disinfecting antibiotic alternative that significantly reduces length and severity of almost any bacterial infection.
Other herbs and supplements that are helpful during cold and flu season include myrrh, goldenseal, zinc, thyme, ginger, and white willow bark.
Garlic
You can’t talk about cold and flu season without mentioning good old garlic. Over the years people have asked “what is garlic good for?” The shorter answer would be what is garlic not good for. One of the world’s most important medicinal plants, it is also one of the most researched with over 1,000 published papers investigating its therapeutic activity. Antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal, it makes an excellent remedy for all types of colds, flu and respiratory infections. Used in a steam, made into a tea with some ginger and cayenne or added to Mom’s chicken soup (yes chicken soup is a recognized cold remedy), it kills the germs, thins the mucous and generally helps you feel much better. It even helps to protect beneficial gut flora, as opposed to antibiotics, which kill the good bacteria in your digestive tract.
Mushrooms
Then there are the mushrooms, some of the most powerful immune-enhancing and nutritive organisms on the planet. I know that sentence sounds like hyperbole but it is true.
Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis), Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum),Maitake (Grifola frondosa), Shiitake (Lentinula edodes),Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) and Zhu Ling (Polyporus umbellatus) share anti-bacterial, antiviral and immune system enhancing qualities along with other characteristics. Whether cooked in soups (being Polish, this is my favorite way) in a tincture or capsule form these amazing little fungi can beat a cold or flu in short order.
Good health!
— Jonathan
Please send your questions on botanical remedies to Natures Rx: Jonathan Evans via email at herbarium258@gmail.com, or by regular mail to: The Herbarium, 264 Exchange St., Chicopee, Mass. 01013. If requesting additional information from Evans, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
