Herbs to Knock Out Sickness!
Herbal apothecary basics for the COLD Season
Why be sick? Why be REALLY sick? So, we can’t prevent all sickness, but we can do a ton to reduce the severity of a sickness and prevent more serious conditions, like pneumonia or other infections. You know, when the cold has almost run its course, then you get a sinus infection? Ugh. Reduce your dependence on antibiotics! The more antibiotics you use, you increase your risk of cancer….did you know that? And don’t get me started on steroid use. It’s way over-used and also associated with an increase risk of cancer (among other issues). Increase your resiliency and independence by creating your own apothecary right at home (live video forthcoming). A few basic herbs, some directions, and you have an arsenal of health for you and your family.
Here are some of my favorite herbs to use during this time of year. This is not even close to an exhaustive list of potential herbs for the Cold Season, but is a good start.
Immune Stimulants
Herbs that directly affect the immune cells, nudging them to do their jobs. My favorites:
Medicinal Mushrooms. Powder forms are fine, whole double extracted mushrooms are better, eating them is THE BEST. Oyster mushrooms grow in NH and are harvested all season with the fall Oyster coming soon. I’m on the look-out. Eating mushrooms stimulates White blood cells and increases the innate immune system’s surveillance mode. Other good ones are Maitake (aka hen of the woods) which grows on the base of the oak tree when nights start to get cooler.
There are many mushroom mixes out there for sale, I sell several types and blend in different things from mushroom coffee to immune tonics. Some of the others I sell are Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Shiitake, Artists Conk, and Red-Belted polypore.
Elderberry. The berries are picked and dried in the late Summer used in tea or decoctions and extracts. I make a tea blend with it, like my Immuni-tea with astragalus, rose hips, eleuthero, and orange peel. It’s a MUST for the home apothecary. Elderberry has known affects on viral intrusion into a cell, which basically means it stops a virus from entering into a cell, namely the flu virus. Astragalus, like eleuthero, is considered an adaptogen (helps a body deal with stress) and is loaded with polysaccharides helping to keep immune cells strong. Vitamin C in rosehips and orange peel help removed free radicals and is itself considered an antiviral.
Immune Support
When I talk about immune support, I’m talking about herbs to help fight a pathogen, whether viral or bacterial. These herbs do this in many ways, but basically they help kill pathogens. Some of my favorites:
Berberine-containing plants like Oregon Graperoot and Goldenseal. I don’t use goldenseal very often due to its endangered status, but when I do use it I use the leaf, but use Oregon Graperoot a lot. Berberine is making the rounds for its blood sugar reducing actions, but its use as an antibacterial is well-known.
Sweet Annie aka Sweet Wormwood contains quinine derivatives which we KNOW stops viruses, just like Cinchona Bark. Both are in my Corona with a Lemon Tea to fight off the Corona virus.
Osha Root and Lomatium Root both help kill off viruses and bacteria, open lungs, and are a must for respiratory virus season.
Expectorants and Anti-catarrhals:
Expectorants helps expel mucus from the lungs, and anti-catarrhals help relieve sinus issues. Mullein leaf wins hands down as a lung sedative and expectorant. I like the root too. Elderberry has expectorant qualities and I love Oregon Grape Root for sinuses and lungs. Other favorites are Elder Flower, Honeysuckle Flowers, Cayenne, and Osha root for sinuses. I make an extract that is a bit spicy but will clear up the sinuses quite nicely.
Fever Reducers:
I RARELY use fever reducers, but they are good to have on hand just in case the fevers get super high (103 sustained for hours). Fevers are the body’s way to kill pathogens and disrupting this process inhibits the body and can prolong a sickness. My favorites are:
Yarrow flowers, Catnip, and Elder Flowers. In tea is a perfect way. Add a bit of raw local honey and sip. Herbal fever reducers are called diaphoretics or anti-pyretics and help to disperse heat in the body.
Don’t forget about eating well! I make a Bone Soup stock mix that is a MUST for this time of year. I use medicinal mushrooms mixed with nettles, seaweed, burdock root….make stock with it and then make soup. It’s DELICIOUS.
I also want to give you my Corona list for you to have on hand to prevent and treat the virus.
Corona Virus Prevention and Infection Support
Vitamin A 10,000 IUs daily
Vitamin C 2000-10,000 mgs daily
Quercetin with zinc - 1000mg/25mgs
Elderberry syrup - 3 tablespoons daily
Medicinal mushroom formulation (I have one called Deep Forest Immunity)
Corona with a Lemon Tea: 1 to 2 quarts daily during infection. 1 Cup daily for prevention.
Melatonin - 3-6 mgs daily
EGCG (from green tea) - 400mgs daily
Quinine in tonic water - 1/2 cup daily
Vitamin D - 5,000 IUs daily at least
NAC or Grape Seed Extract (1200 mgs AT NIGHT)
Black Seed Extract or oil (3 tsps daily)
NOW is the time to stock upon these herbs and formulations! We have entered into the Cold Season!
If you would like to order herbs or inquire about my products please reach out to me by email. All my contact info is below.
Sara Woods Kender
sara@sarasherbs.com
Clinical Herbalist
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Sacred Tree Herbals
169 Daniel Webster Highway, Unit 1
Meredith, NH 03253
www.sarasherbs.com
Hours:
Wed-Saturday 9:30-4:30
what is corona with lemon recipe?