Oregano oil
It contains powerful compounds carvacrol and thymol, making it a powerful antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-fungal. It may produce effects similar to antibiotics. It has been used to treat bacterial infections, parasites, digestive issues, allergies, tumors, and inflammation.
How to incorporate: It's mighty, so you only need a little and want to combine it with other ingredients. Add it to a wellness shot or combo it with water or juice. It can also be combined with carrier oil and applied to the souls of feet. I would patch-test this first to be safe. Also, since it's similar to an antibiotic, it can affect your gut if used for an extended time; make sure you don’t use it too long.
Here is an excellent resource with more info on dosage, etc.
Holy Basil
It is a potent nootropic supplement. It’s also known as tulsi and has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine. It contains a rich concentration of phytonutrients, aiding its healing abilities. Holy basil is known to be antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory.
Holy basil vs. Basil - holy basil has a pepper, spicy, almost minty flavor.
You can eat holy basil and cook with it; they often use it in Indian and Thai cuisine. It has been used in oil form to help immunity and the respiratory system. Some ayurvedic practitioners recommend drinking Tulsi tea.
Astragalus, an adaptogen root, may help the body adapt to outside stress. It is immune-modulating and has antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory properties. Astragalus has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for immunity.
How to take: It can be drunk in tea or supplements, or you can use astragalus root in soup.
It's also been shown to have beneficial cardiovascular effects as well.
Echinacea
Echinacea is native to North America and is a coneflower but classified as a herb. Before the antibiotics were introduced, healers would use echinacea. It is anti-inflammatory and has calming effects. Some meta-analyses have shown echinacea to reduce the chance of getting a cold by 58% and reduce the duration by 1.5 days. It's suggested that you take echinacea three times a day when you feel a cold coming on or have one.
Please don’t overdo it; echinacea can cause nausea and dizziness, especially for people with allergies.
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Goldenseal
It is antiviral, and it may help break up congestion. It's native to North America and often used with Echinacea. It has been used to treat colds, other respiratory tract infections, digestive issues, and hay fever. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a member of the mint family and is considered a calming herb. It contains tannins that aid in the antiviral effects and eugenol, which helps kill bacteria.
How to Take: You can find it in tinctures, oils, and teas.
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Garlic
Yes, it's a vegetable but used similarly to an herb, so we are adding it to our list. Garlic suppresses inflammation and boosts natural killer cells. It contains antioxidants and sulfur-containing compounds of allicin. Allicin is antibacterial and anti-fungal. To max the amount of allicin in garlic, it's best to crush, press, or chop garlic and let it sit for 10 minutes. This gives the allicin in garlic time to build up before cooking or eating it. The main route for garlic to leave the body is through the lungs, which makes it suitable for respiratory issues. When sick, try to add it to everything.
Note: when using for immunity, use raw if possible.
Always check with your doctor when taking herbs; they interact with immune-suppressing drugs or autoimmune conditions.
Disclaimer: This content is only intended for educational purposes. It is not intended as medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment. We do not take any responsibility of people taking or using any of this content. Always consult Dr before trying anything new or for medical issues.
