Herbs I Love for Immune Support and Pain Relief
It is cold and flu season, and there are lots of bugs going around. As I mentioned in the previous post, pain is part of the process of purging harmful invaders from the body. We can’t escape pain completely, but that doesn’t mean we just have to sit back and do nothing. There are ways we can actively support our body as it powers through the immune response in its efforts to keep us safe.
We have plant pals who can relieve pain, promote healing, and help us recover efficiently.
In this post I will share my favorite herbal allies for getting through colds and flus. These are the ones I turn to every year, because they really work for me and my family. I will provide pictures of myself with my favorite remedies, to prove that I really do practice what I preach!
(Note: I just signed up for an affiliate program through Fullscript, so I am trying it out. If you purchase through the Fullscript links, I will receive a small commission. The reason I am showing the pictures of myself is to guarantee that I am not just promoting products to be greedy! I actually do take these herbs!)
But first, the Number One Secret to boosting your immune system…
When you feel that tickle in the back of your throat, or your sinuses start to swell up… and you know that your body is fighting some kind of germ… there is one thing you should do first. Before you reach for any herbs, medications, or even chicken soup, there is one tool that is more powerful than any of those interventions:
✨✨✨ REST! ✨✨✨
I cannot state it strongly enough. The first thing to do, when you are getting sick, is to withdraw to a quiet place and get some rest. If you cannot sleep, you can still crawl under the bedcovers and find something peaceful to occupy your mind with. As I mentioned last time, the reason why you get tired when the immune system activates is because the body needs to direct all its energy towards the immune response.
You can take as many herbs as you like, but if you force your body to keep exerting external energy, you are only prolonging the illness. There is just no getting around the fact that the body needs to focus on fighting the internal battle, and for that, you need to stop moving. I know it’s annoying, but it’s true.
There have been many times when I felt that “throat tickle” sensation, and I knew I was coming down with something, when I decided to go straight to bed instead of continuing to remain active. After a few hours of stillness, plus a 9-10 hour sleep, the throat tickle was gone, and I felt completely restored afterward. My body was able to fight it off without having to endure 7 days of illness, which is the average length of a cold.
It doesn’t always work out that way… sometimes it takes longer than a day. That’s just life. But proper rest will definitely shorten the illness, no matter what.
Herbs for colds and flus
OK, now what about herbal support? You are probably already familiar with the first two herbs in the list below, as they are quite popular. But they are popular for a reason… because they work.
“But I’ve tried that, and it didn’t work,” I can hear some people saying.
There are several things to remember when working with herbs. One important thing is, taking the herbs in the right form. I have never felt a difference when I’ve taken echinacea in capsules, for example. I don’t know whether it’s just the way my body uniquely works, or if it’s because echinacea doesn’t do well in capsules. But if you’re popping echinacea in pill form, and you’re not seeing a difference, try tincture instead. Same with any of the other herbs mentioned here. Try a tincture, a tea, or a syrup, if the capsules prove impotent!
Also consider dosage and timing. Some herbs are gentle and need larger doses than you’d expect. Or they may need to be taken repeatedly over time, since one dose will not be enough. Everyone’s body is different, so you may have to experiment with what works best for you. But I will give suggestions in each section, to get you started.
Echinacea
Echinacea Spp.
Echinacea is native to North America and was used extensively by the indigenous peoples there, especially those who populated the plains areas. Echinacea is a very talented and multifaceted herb, supporting multiple systems at once. It has anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, lymphatic, and purifying effects, in addition to supporting the immune response. It is talented at promoting macrophage action, which, as I mentioned in the last article, is a powerful and fearsome member of the immune system!
Several years ago I made myself a gallon of tincture from E. Angustifolia root. (Yes, a gallon is A LOT of tincture!) I’ve given away a lot of bottles, and I pull from my gallon supply every year. I don’t think I’ve even used up half of it yet. You only need to take a few drops at a time, so a little goes a long way.
It is great stuff. I take it at the first sign of illness (in addition to getting rest! Don’t forget that part!), and it does a great job!
Form: tincture. It has a metallic taste, and it makes your tongue tingle! I usually mix the tincture with a bit of water, to avoid that feeling of my tongue going numb. Or I might mix it with some elderberry syrup.
When to take it: Upon first signs of getting ill, or preventatively if you’ve been exposed to a virus.
Dosage: 30 drops every waking hour during an active infection. (This is the difficult part… Remembering to take it continuously!) Or 40 drops three times per day during milder symptoms.
Precautions: If you are allergic to plants in the daisy family, take caution with Echinacea. That said, Echinacea is an antihistamine, so it can actually be helpful with allergies. Try a small amount first, to see how you respond. Bad reactions are very rare.
Elderberry
Sambucus nigra
Elderberry is an excellent promoter of all-over health and vitality. It is wonderful for helping the body get better from an infection. Plus, the syrup tastes nice, which you can’t say about most of the other herbs in this list.
I am lucky to have an elderberry bush in my backyard, so I can make my own elderberry syrup every year. (I like to add cinnamon to it. Yum.) But if an illness hits before I’ve gotten around to making the syrup yet, I usually buy the gummies from Gaia.
Form: syrup or gummies
When to take it: Upon first signs of getting ill, or preventatively if you’ve been exposed.
Dosage: 1 tablespoon every few waking hours until symptoms subside. If taking preventatively, take 1 tablespoon, twice per day.
Precautions: If you have access to fresh Elderberries, don’t eat them straight from the bush. They will cause stomach upset. You have to boil them, to be able to digest them without pain.
Boneset
Eupatorium Perfoliatum
As the name implies, Boneset promotes bone healing and growth. Since the white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, this is one way that Boneset is an excellent supporter of health during an infection such as a cold or flu. Boneset also helps reduce fever, pain, and anxiety. It’s a very helpful ally during this time of year.
Fullscript doesn't have Boneset, so ^ here's where you can purchase it at Mountain Rose. (I do not get a commission from them, but I trust their products.)
Form: tincture or tea. Beware, the tea is rather bitter. You’d have to be insane like me, to crave that flavor! 🙂
When to take it: When there is fever, or when the bones ache
Dosage: 30 drops tincture, or 1 cup tea (made with 1 tsp dried herb and steeped for 10 minutes), three times per day.
Precautions: Do not take Boneset continuously for more than 2 weeks at a time.
Ground Ivy
Glechoma hederacea
This is another tincture that I make myself, since this plant grows freely all over my yard. The locals around here call it “Creeping Charlie.” Culpeper calls it “Alehoof.”
This one is particularly helpful when your ears feel stuffy. It is helpful for all upper respiratory symptoms, but particularly the ears. (It is also good for any ear infections, whether caused by respiratory viruses, bacteria, or other problems.) Ground Ivy promotes lymphatic flow and reduces inflammation.
It has a flavor that is kind of minty and pungent, with some earthiness to it. It isn't unpleasant, but it does take a bit of getting-used-to.
Strangely, I couldn’t find Ground Ivy medicinals from my normal trusted online providers. And since I usually harvest it myself, I don’t know of a trusted online store where you can buy medicinals for this plant. I do have a local herbalist friend who sells it, but they do not have an online store. You can only order by sending them an email.
Click the button above to contact Cal and ask for their Ground Ivy tincture! (Tell them I sent you.)
Form: tincture or tea.
When to take it: If there is sinus congestion, especially if it is affecting the ears.
Dosage: 1 dropperful or 1 cup of tea as needed for symptoms. I use the “loading” method: take a dose every 15 minutes until I feel relief of symptoms, then repeat doses every few hours afterward.
Precautions: None that I know of
Red Clover Blossom
Trifolium Pratense
The muscle aches and pains that arise during the flu happen because of byproducts of the immune response. The primary chemicals involved with immune-related muscle aches are interleukins, which are a result of the macrophage’s fight with the pathogens. Basically, the macrophage eats the pathogen, and burps out interleukins. (Don’t quote me on that, hehe.) These interleukins are inflammatory and cause pain.
This video explains it, if you find nerdy things like this entertaining:
Turns out, Red Clover Blossom is really great at helping the body clean up these interleukins and other toxins from your system! Classically Red Clover was called a “blood purifier.” Our ancestors somehow knew (without microscopes!) that impurities in the blood stream could cause pain and other issues. Red Clover blossom promotes lymphatic flow and supports the body’s “clean up” response during and after an infection.
It really works. I love this stuff! It is best taken in a tea, since you also need to stay hydrated while fighting an infection. Drink it throughout the day– you can drink as much as you want. This is a gentle and safe herb. The taste is very mild; perfect when you don’t feel good and just want a comforting, inoffensive, hot liquid.
So, it turns out that being an affilliate with Fullscript is pretty limited. :/ They don't have Red Clover Blossom either.
Form: water infusion (tea). Steep for at least 10 minutes. If you really want to be fancy, let it sit in the water overnight, and you will have the bonus of mineral extraction as well. But don’t wait, if you’re in pain. Just drink it.
When to take it: when your muscles ache during or after an infection
Dosage: 1 cup tea, as many times as needed for pain.
Precautions: None that I know of. Be sure you have the blossoms of the plant, not the leaves.
Gaia Sinus Comfort
This one is actually a blend, but it’s so effective, I wanted to include it here. It is amazing for sinus problems–congestion, dripping, or excess dryness–it helps them all. When you have a cold and you’re miserable, getting the sinuses to relax a bit might mean the difference between tossing and turning in misery, or actually being able to sleep.
And remember, sleep is our #1 weapon!
This stuff is also great for allergies! When I take it, I can feel the effects within a few minutes of taking just one dose.
This is one where the “loading effect” might be the most effective. Take it every 15 minutes until you feel the symptoms subside, then take it every few hours as needed when the symptoms start coming back.
OK, that's my list of recommendations for cold and flu season!
Don't you dare forget the resting part! Herbs are never a replacement for proper rest.
That said, I hope you find these herbs as helpful as I do! Let me know what you think, in the comments!
Thanks for reading! Feel free to send me a tip at www.buymeacoffee.com/seebystarlight.
You can also join my membership for bonus podcast episodes and a lot more perks!
Please check out my website to see my services, including readings, reports, and a podcast. www.seebystarlight.com