Cold and Flu Season is Here! Herbs for the Immune System! the Big Four!

Garlic, Oregano, Astragalus, and Goldenseal are 4 important herbs for the immune system function this winter with so many people sick around you.

I have used herbs for 37 years for many different health problems.  This was not always the case.  In the beginning, I worked for doctors as a lab tech and pre-screened the drug reps selling drugs to the doctor for a health clinic that served the Indian reservations. I was in my 30’s. I believed in the system totally until the overuse of antibiotics with my youngest.

My youngest daughter became resistant to antibiotics some 35 years ago before they realized the damage that comes from the overuse of antibiotic regimens.  I was working for doctors at the time. It was when antibiotics stopped working on her infections, that I got into alternative medicine.

The overuse of antibiotics at the time nearly destroyed her gut.  In those days, resistance to antibiotics was not considered. The damage of antibiotic overuse was not considered.  I could see what was happening to her health and walked away from standard medicine at that point.  She was too young to take capsules, so I used homeopathic medicine under the care of a homeopathic doctor. She was changed to fresh goat’s milk. Her homeopathic doctor was from India and very good. He spent two hours going over every aspect of her health and diet.  Under his care, she improved within a month and continued to get better with time. This was after a year of continual antibiotic use and watching her health get worse with every new prescription.

I have only used antibiotics a few times during all those years since then. I kept my kids well-using herbs.  I did take my kids to the doctor for a diagnosis. I then gave them herbs instead of antibiotics. They were taken in again to make sure the infection was gone. That gave me the ability to use antibiotics if the herbs did not work and to make sure the infection was taken care of.  

It was rare for the kids to need antibiotics once I got into herbal medicine. It helps to know what kind of infection you are dealing with. You cannot see inside your kids’ ears to know how bad the infection is and if the infection is gone. I have used doctors to monitor both the cause of a problem and to make sure what I was doing worked.  With babies that cannot tell you where and how they are hurting, it is important to get them seen.  It is better to be safe than sorry. 

You have options for doctors. There are homeopathic doctors, naturopathic, Ayurvedic, and Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors. 

Some traditional doctors may have a more open mind to alternative medicine these days.  

It is up to you to find that out. Ask them questions generally to see their response. We have a blue cross approved doctor who sells colloidal silver in her office and approves of us using Goldenseal powder on my husband’s cuts that become infected with MRSA. This is because she has seen it work for him.  She is always interested in our conversations with her patients when the drugs are not working.  If you have doubts, get them examined. 

I know if herbs are taken properly using a brand that is quality, you will get better results.  

The main problem with people is buying cheap herbs or not taking enough herb to do the job or not taking it for long enough to do the job.

Another problem is waiting until you are sick as a dog to start treating it. You must take high doses of herbs three to four times a day to stop a bad bug.  You need to take herbs as the first sign of illness.

Herbs take longer to work, and it takes a larger herb dose to achieve the effect. So, if you have a raging MRSA infection or any powerful infection that is taking over your bloodstream, herbs may not be able to stop it. That is why I go over further this problem below.

Strep throat, teeth infections, wounds, and jaw infections can get out of hand quickly. MRSA infections can escalate within a few hours such as in a dog wound or cat scratch. My husband ended up on IVs at the hospital within hours. These nasty, potent bacterial infections can be very dangerous.

So, if your infection gets worse rapidly with severe symptoms, you need to go into urgent care. The next morning after my husband broke up a catfight, there was a red line climbing up his arm. This meant blood poisoning. I sent him to Emergency. He felt it was no big deal.  He had IVs for two weeks before the infection was under control. So, you need to know there is a time to use herbs and a time to get seen by a doctor. That takes experience and my medical background helps a lot.  If in doubt, go to Urgent Care.

So how do we stay well with sick people all around us? Today I am sharing my 4 favorite herbs for the immune system to deal with colds and flu.

• I have to bring up several pointers before we get into the herbs which are important.  

 

• The first steps are not herbs but steps in prevention which include washing your hands often especially when out shopping or at work. 

 

• Disinfecting your workplace including your phone, keyboard, and your whole desk.  

 

• Next is staying as far away as possible from areas where people are sick such as waiting rooms. If someone is coughing, sit in an area away from the worst of it.  Wash your hands when you get out of there.  Try to get proper sleep and turn down the sugar treats you will be offered during the holidays.  Sugar feeds bacteria and does not help your immune system.

 

Vitamin C, Zinc, Quercetin and a good Multivitamin with Vitamin D

 

Vitamin C is extremely important and helps support your healthy resistance to those bad bugs. Increase your intake if you are exposed to sick friends or feel like you are getting ill.  

At the first sign of a cold, we start 1000 milligrams of Vitamin C twice a day at least. It depends on bowel tolerance. If you get loose stools, back down the dose. This is an adult dose. They have Vitamin C in gummies and chewable tablets in lower doses for children.

 

We also take Zinc, Quercetin, and Vitamin D in higher dosages.

Remember to reduce dosages for children according to age and weight.  Most vitamins come in a children’s form that is chewable.

Pay attention to that achy feeling, sudden fatigue, upset stomach, and headache.  The first signs of illness are the time to take herbs and vitamins that boost immune function.

The superstar herbs for the immune system below! 

Superstar #1 Astragalus to support immune health is the first herb on the list.

I studied and used Western herbs for most of my life but have discovered herbs in Ayurvedic medicine that are superstars as adaptogens. These adaptogenic herbs overall help our whole system and its functions to work more effectively.

Astragalus is one herb used in Ayurvedic medicine that is a superstar for building up the immune system. I began using it this year when my immune system went down after the death of my father-in-law after taking care of him for three years. All my tried-and-true western herbs did not seem to be working. It was because my WHOLE system was tired and depleted from the ordeal. So, I turned to research and Ayurvedic medicine. In that research, I really dove into the adaptogen herbs and their effect on bringing up the function of your body and all your systems that support health.

Astragalus has been used in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years combined with other herbs to feed and nurture the immune system and the whole body to help prevent illness. It is one of the important adaptogen herbs still used today. I make golden milk each day using turmeric, gotu kola, and astragalus.  Adaptogens protect the body against physical, mental, and emotional stress.  Stress compromises the integrity of our health in many ways.  Astragalus contains antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties as well.  It contains various antioxidants.

Astragalus is an adaptogen herb, so it is one you take every day for overall health.  It is not the best one to use for acute illness. It is a tonic herb and is used as a multivitamin for overall health. It is preventive health in the real sense.  It is cheapest to buy the powder and mix it in milk.  There is a compliance problem with many people and powders, so it comes in capsules as well.

Herbs to Stop those cold and flu bugs from settling into your system.

Superstar #2  

Garlic

Garlic and onions in old-fashioned chicken or beef soup are good. Really load it up with both.  If you don’t want your breath to smell, use Kyolic garlic which will not add to garlic breath.

Kyolic Garlic is aged garlic that retains the antibiotic benefits without bad breath. Hundreds of studies have been performed on that product. Garlic has been shown to be effective against both bacteria and viruses. It is again important to take it right when you feel that cold taking hold. In many cultures, garlic is used in meals every day not only for taste but for the prevention of illness by boosting immunity.

Garlic has been used for centuries by people to avoid sickness. Remember that for all those years, there was no medicine other than herbs. Garlic was used in many different cultures in different parts of the world for the same types of health issues. In my view, the long-term successful use of an herb for a problem is pretty concrete.  

In Europe today, this is especially true. Garlic is eaten like an apple in Europe by many there. Raw garlic can upset the stomach if you are sensitive to it. It is always wise to try a little to see how you do first.

 

What’s in Garlic that works against viruses and bacteria that are the cause of sickness?

In the late 1970s garlic was researched extensively. Garlic juice proved effective against 10 different kinds of yeasts and bacteria without developing resistance is important. In an Indian study, it proved effective several strains of dysentery bacteria that were resistant to antibiotics. Please read this article in full here.

 

“Diallyl sulfide, a compound in garlic, was 100 times more effective than two popular antibiotics in fighting the Campylobacter bacterium, according to a study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.” https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265853.php

 

“Garlic is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, killing a wide variety of bacteria. Many pharmaceutical antibiotics kill only a narrow range of these germs. Dr. Tariq Abdullah, a prominent garlic researcher stated in the August 1987 issue of Prevention: Garlic has the broadest spectrum of any antimicrobial substance that we know it is antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, anti-protozoan, and antiviral.

Table 16.1 shows some of the organisms that researchers have found garlic to be effective against. This property belongs to the garlic constituent allicin, which is released when you cut a garlic clove. This is the chemical that gives fresh garlic its strong biting flavor, and you need to use fresh garlic to get a reliable antibiotic effect. Commercial powders and other products will not work for direct applications. Garlic appears to have antibiotic activity whether taken internally or applied topically, ” researchers found that the urine and blood serum of human subjects taking garlic had activity against fungi (Caporaso et al 1983).”   

Please read the complete article

“Alliumsativum (garlic) has been recognized not only as a spice but also as a substance which exerts control on microorganisms. Recent publications indicate that garlic extract has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against many genera of bacteria and fungi. The active component (allicin) has been isolated and characterized. Because many of the microorganisms susceptible to garlic extract are medically significant, garlic holds a promising position as a broad-spectrum therapeutic agent. Furthermore, garlic plants may also play an important role in the ecological control of pathogenic microorganisms in nature.”  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0306987783900403

 

There are hundreds of research studies in Japan and Asia that prove that garlic is potent against heart disease, high cholesterol, and triglycerides. It is an effective tool against high blood pressure as well. https://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2018/10/Aged-Garlic-Reduces-Heart-Disease-Risk-Factors/Page-01

 

Garlic can be taken by using raw garlic in dishes such as chicken soup, buying capsules, or liquid Kyolic garlic.  Garlic oil can be rubbed into the feet of a child for benefit. 

 

Superstar #3 Oregano

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oregano is another spice that works against colds and flu.  I always keep a ready supply for the winter and anytime. 

Oregano is high in many vitamins including Vitamins A, B6, C, E, and K.  It contains calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium. It is a superstar containing abundant antioxidants. 

The two most potent factors contained in oregano against bad bugs are carvacrol and thymol oil.  Thymol oil is the most important ingredient in Listerine Mouthwash. Carvacrol oil has been researched to show it is antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antimicrobial.

 

Notice it works against viruses, which antibiotics do not.  

 

Research has shown it can kill both Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.  A 2012 study showed it was effective against herpes simplex type virus 1. There is abundant research to warrant its use in the fight against bad bugs and bacteria that make us sick each year. Carvacrol boasts anti-inflammatory properties, as well, which is especially important in the prevention of heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune conditions (to name a few).

 

“The results of experiments showed that the tested oil was active against all of the clinical strains from both genera of bacteria, but strains of Escherichia coli were more sensitive to tested oil. Essential oil from Origanum heracleoticum L. inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical strains with different patterns of resistance.” NBCl research study

 

“Harry G. Preuss, MD, MACN, CNS, professor of physiology and biophysics, and his research team, tested oregano oil on staphylococcus bacteria which is responsible for a variety of severe infections and is becoming increasingly resistant to many antibiotics. They combined oregano oil with the bacteria in a test tube and compared oregano oils’ effects to those of standard antibiotics streptomycin, penicillin, and vacnomycin. The oregano oil at relatively low doses was found to inhibit the growth of staphylococcus bacteria in the test tubes as effectively as the standard antibiotics did.”  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/10/011011065609.htm

Oregano is best taken in capsules. Oregano oil is very hot.

Superstar # 4

Goldenseal

Note that often Goldenseal may not work because of brand quality.

Goldenseal is expensive and there is adulteration in cheap brands. Goldenseal can be cut with a cheaper herb, the same color to make the supplement cheaper.  It is one of the herbs that often is compromised by companies eager to make a quick profit by selling a product that is NOT true Goldenseal root.

 

 

 

Make sure you buy it from a company whom you can trust to perform the testing for the quality and effectiveness of the powder.

Goldenseal is also an important herb in my medicine bag of choice.  Make sure any herb you take is from a company using quality standards. There are many companies that sell less than optimal herbs. 

Goldenseal is often found in combination with Echinacea which ups its effectiveness. Echinacea has benefits of its own to add to the mix to fight against that cold or flu.  Oregano and Goldenseal are both herbs not taken for prevention but for the onset of symptoms. These herbs are taken for a limited amount of time until you are well.

“Additionally, research at the University of Texas-Houston Medical School has shown goldenseals’ medicinal effectiveness as an immune stimulant may be due to its ability to reduce the pro-inflammatory response, which indirectly leads to the limiting of clinical symptoms during infection. “

Goldenseal contains berberine, which has been proven to be antimicrobial, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and blood glucose lowering. ” 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18800897

https://www.christopherhobbs.com/library/articles-on-herbs-and-health/echinacea-and-goldenseal-the-dynamic-duo/

Goldenseal can be taken in capsules, or the dried powder used on a wound.  Goldenseal is very bitter so most people can’t handle the taste.  Goldenseal does have an effect on lowering blood sugar so keep that in mind if your blood sugar either runs on the low side or high side. 

The importance of taking herbs properly

Consult your doctor if you are taking prescription medications and if you are pregnant or nursing. 

Herbs do have an effect on medications. Goldenseal can have an impact on medicines you may be taking for blood sugar control.  It is not a good idea to take Goldenseal and diabetes medications together…this can be a real problem. 

Herbs have to be taken several times a day to work. The sicker you are, the heavier the dose.  The suggestions on the bottle are not for acute illness. Companies are not allowed to put any dosage information on the bottles other than a minimum dosage.  Start out with the suggested dosage and then increase it.  How much to take is not set in stone. It depends on the patient, their weight, their immune system health, and the bug you are fighting. If you waited a few days until the cold is set in, it will take longer and a heavier dose to get the job done.

Read my article on why testing is so important to herb effectiveness and safety here.

All for now, Cathryn Freer, The herbladyisin