Colds & Flu – Herbal Prevention & Treatment

Cold and flu season is upon us, and several people I know have already been hit with the nasty flu bug circulating this year. Instead of masking the symptoms as the hundreds of products on the market will do, herbs work to help the body build up its immunity and to work with the body when colds and viruses hit to ease you to a healthier state in a natural way. Here is an extensive list of herbs helpful to use at this time of year:

• angelica – respiratory problems, removes phlegm
• balm of Gilead (see poplar)
• basil – acts as a mild sedative, relieves headaches, helps with digestive issues
• bee balm – colds and coughs, relieves fevers, nausea and other digestive issues
• birch leaves – fevers
• blackberry leaves – sore throats and fevers
• blessed thistle – helps break fevers
  
• boneset – good to take during colds and flu, for fevers, relieves aches and pains, removes phlegm
• borage – leaves are used in teas to relieve fevers, colds and other respiratory problems
• calendula – helps break fevers, digestive issues
• catnip – breaks fevers, restores bowels, mild sedative – can help with sleep, use in teas
• cat’s claw – breaks fevers, headaches, digestive issues
  
• chamomile – good to use with colds and flu to relieve headaches and digestive issues, also for a better night’s sleep
• chervil – removes phlegm
• clary sage – use as a mouthwash for sore throats, digestive issues
• coltsfoot – can use in teas or homemade cough syrups, respiratory illnesses, removes phlegm
• comfrey – removes phlegm
• coriander – digestive issues, can be used to flavor homemade cough syrups
• dill – digestive issues, use root tea for colds, flu, and coughs
• echinacea – helps to strengthen the immune system to help prevent illness
• elder – helps relieve fevers
  
• elecampane – use the root in cough syrups and for respiratory illnesses
• eyebright – breaks up sinus congestion
  
• feverfew – as its name suggests, good for fevers
• garlic – good to help prevent colds
• germander – acts as a pain killer – good for sore throats
• ginger – relieves digestive issues, breaks up sinus congestion
• horehound – relieves coughs and digestive issues, use in homemade cough syrups and drops
• hyssop – use in teas to relieve fevers and sore throats
• irish moss – respiratory illnesses, can be used in cough syrups
  
• wild cherry bark – can be used to make homemade cough syrup with honey, relieves coughs
• lemon balm – leaves are used to make teas, helps break fevers and for digestive issues
  
• lemon verbena – used in teas to help break fevers and also in cough drops
• licorice – respiratory illnesses, can be used to flavor teas and syrups
• marsh mallow – helps relieve hoarseness, respiratory illnesses
• mints – helps remove hardened mucus, breaks fever, digestive issues, use in teas
  
• mullein – helps break up congestion, relieves sore throats, used in teas
• pansy – relieves cold and coughs
• pennyroyal – breaks fevers
  
• peppermint – see mint
  
• poplar – bark is used to relieve fevers, buds (balm of Gilead) used in cough syrups
• red clover – removes phlegm
  
• rose – high in vitamin C – use to help prevent or get over colds and flu
• sheep sorrel – breaks fevers
• slippery elm – very soothing to the throat, mix with honey in teas, use for dry throat, sore throat, coughs, great to use for nausea – will usually stay down when nothing else will
• Solomon’s Seal – removes phlegm
  
• spearmint – see mint
  
• St. John’s wort – helps to strengthen the immune system
• sweet cicely – removes phlegm, digestive issues
• thyme – use in teas or cough syrups, digestive issues, colds and flu, coughs
  
• vervain – removes phlegm, fevers
  
• white willow bark – this was our original aspirin – great pain reliever for aches with cold and flu
• yarrow – can be used in teas, fevers and aches and pains of flu