Favorite medicinal herbs for cold season
This cold season has been a tough one at home, and since our Antiviral Blend and Antiviral Extract are currently and by far the best-sellers, I’m guessing we’re not the only ones.
Read along to learn about using plant medicine to prevent getting sick, my herbal protocol to prevent and heal from colds, and a list of my favorite herbs with antimicrobial properties.
My herbal corner in the kitchen.
A few years back I would have told you that my immune system was crap. I didn’t know why, but I could so easily catch everyone’s viruses and I would take weeks to heal.
Everything changed as I began to work with medicinal herbs. One of my first experiments was creating a blend to prevent getting colds, it was packed with so many plants, too many perhaps, but it worked! I went from being someone who was always sick to being able to nurse my kids through colds without catching them. It felt so miraculous and almost impossible to believe. From there I developed the formulas that I now use at home and sell as herbal blend and alcohol based tincture.
My three primary medicinal blends, including Antiviral Blend which was my first formulation.
Are you ready to bring more plant medicine into your life?
For me, the difference happened when I began to arm my body with the tools it needed to stay healthy, fight infections and recover quickly when sick. There are many ways to go about this and in this article I want to share what has worked for me to not only help fight infections and kill viruses, but to also help boost my immune system.
Before I share with you my list of favorite plant allies for the cold season, let me explain a little how I use them so you can get an idea of what you can do at home to protect yourself as well.
It might be helpful to read about how I make herbal infusions, and how they are different than just drinking a cup of tea. This is a great place to start because it will give you an idea of how much and how often you’ll want to drink these herbs to see results. The short version is that drinking a cup of Antiviral Blend tea is probably not going to do much. For herbs to really work in your body, you must make a commitment to drink them often –– to flush your body with the wisdom and healing properties of plants constantly. If you’re not drinking, they are not working with you. Makes sense?
My teapot with plant medicine infusing in water.
My Antiviral Protocol
You might already know that I have a routine where I drink about 64 ounces of herbal infusion a day. I switched from trying to drink 8 cups of water, to making an overnight infusion and drinking that all day instead. It works great because I’m not only staying hydrated, but I’m also giving my body a daily dose of nourishment: vitamins, minerals, enzymes and healing properties that make a noticeable difference in the strength of my immune system, my ability to cope with change, my levels of stress and anxiety, and my overall well-being.
So, on healthy days I might make my herbal infusion with the Nourishing Blend, or the seasonal blend. When I’m feeling indigestion I use the Digestive Blend, and when I feel anxious, sad, or in pain, I go for the Calming Blend. But when I’m trying to avoid getting sick, and people around me are catching colds, I switch to Antiviral Blend for a few days to help my body fight and stay healthy.
The protocol to prevent getting a cold:
Antiviral Blend infusion: make your infusion on a large teapot or 64-ounce mason jar. Drink all day.
Antiviral Extract: this is the alcohol tincture. It has a different formula than the blend and it’s easy to carry in your bag or keep on your nightstand. When I wake up feeling some first sign of a cold, I take 3 droppers. I keep these bottles around the house to take some when I see it. My suggested dose is 3 droppers, 3 to 5 times a day. You can also add a few droppers to your glass of herbal infusion for an extra kick.
If you end up getting sick, here’s my protocol to heal sooner:
Continue drinking your herbal infusions and extract while you’re sick. The Antiviral Blend has herbs that support your body in healing — like Yerba Santa that helps sooth the throat and clear respiratory infections.
Steam inhalations: boil water with antimicrobial herbs like thyme and oregano and breath in the steam for a few minutes. Repeat multiple times each day. You can leave these herbs simmering in water on the stove too to add their medicinal properties to the air in the room.
Essential oil infuser: sleep with an essential oil infuser by your bed and use oils like eucalyptus and peppermint to help you breath easier at night.
Herbal Chest Rub: rub some of our menthol Chest Rub on your chest, back and feet for some temporary relief from congestion. It’s basically a non-toxic alternative to Vapor Rub and it works wonders as long as you keep putting it on.
Andrographis capsules: Lately I’ve been adding to my protocol a serving of these capsules as it supports immune system health. More on Adrographis below.
Beautiful calendula blooms in the Antiviral Blend.
10 Herbs for Antiviral Support
Here are some plants that are known for their ability to prevent colds and help you recover more quickly if you do get sick.
Calendula
Calendula is a beautiful flower that is commonly used in natural medicine. It has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which can help your body fight off infections. You can use calendula topically in the form of a salve or lotion, or you can drink it as a tea.
White Sage
White sage is a powerful herb that has been used for centuries to clear negative energy and purify the air. It is also great for preventing and treating colds. You can burn white sage as a smudge to cleanse the air, or you can drink it as a tea.
Yerba Santa
Yerba Santa is a plant that is native to the southwestern United States. It is known for its ability to soothe respiratory infections, which makes it a great plant to use if you have a cold. You can drink it as a tea, or you can use it in a steam inhalation to help clear your sinuses.
Oregano
Oregano is a culinary herb that also has medicinal properties. It is a natural antibiotic, and it has antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties as well. You can use oregano in cooking, or you can drink it as a tea.
Thyme
Thyme is another culinary herb that has medicinal properties. It is a natural expectorant, which means it can help you cough up mucus if you have a cold. It also has antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Ginger
Ginger is a root that has been used for centuries to treat various ailments, including colds. It has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, and it can help to reduce inflammation and pain.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a member of the mint family, and it has a refreshing citrusy flavor. It has antiviral and antibacterial properties, and it can help to soothe a sore throat.
Elderberries
Elderberries are dark purple berries that are known for their immune-boosting properties. They are rich in antioxidants, and they can help to prevent colds and flu. You can eat elderberries fresh or dried, or you can drink them as a tea.
Echinacea
Echinacea is a plant that is commonly used to prevent and treat colds. It has immune-boosting properties, and it can help to reduce the duration and severity of cold symptoms. You can drink echinacea as a tea, or you can take it in the form of a supplement.
Andrographis
Andrographis is native to India and Sri Lanka and has been shown to have a number of health benefits, including boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation, and relieving symptoms of respiratory infections.
There are many plants that can help prevent and treat colds. The herbs listed here are my current favorites, and are all excellent options to support your body during cold season. As always, if in doubt, talk to your healthcare provider before using any herbal remedies. Medicinal herbs are generally safe for daily use, but in certain circumstances like pregnancy or taking medication, they may not be advised.
Happy healing!
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