Our grandma knew it. Today, researchers testify to the fact that lavender and eucalyptus have good anti-viral properties.
They also agree with the good, old idea that other kitchen herbs also pack the anti-viral punch. Their identity: rosemary, lemon balm, hyssop, peppermint, and tea tree.
Studies have shown that lavender and lemon stimulate the production of infection-fighting white blood cells called leucocytes.
It is also proved that all these herbs frustrate bacteria responsible for infections of the throat, lungs, sinuses, ears, and eyes that often come close on the heels of a cold or flu attack.
The inference is obvious. The next time you find yourself marooned by a cold attack, or flu, make them a part of your home-care treatment plan.
This is not all. The herbs cited help reduce your coughing bouts, they aid in digestion, and alleviate fever states by encouraging circulation and sweating.
It may, therefore, not surprise you that tannin compounds found in herbs such as white oak bark and bayberry destroy flu and other types of viruses. This is yet another reason why they have had a long tradition as cold and flu remedies, which grandma used with good effect.
Seasoned cures
It would make good sense for anyone to eat one’s way to good health through herbs. All you need to do is just season your food with garlic, cinnamon, and black pepper.
Ginger is a great kitchen remedy – it not only has anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory, properties, but it can also go a long way in alleviating fever states, muscular soreness, and also disturbed stomach.
How do you make a simple herbal concoction? Just mix your cold and flu herbs with virus-fighting apple or grape juice. Or, prepare your own ginger ale by adding hygienic bottled water to ginger tea! Drink the preparation a few times a day, or as many times you like – and, witness how you can drive the viral invader out of your system as quickly as any other conventional medication you’d think of! All of this without any side-effects!!
Echinacea is another great home remedy that has earned a big reputation as an immune-booster. Echinacea works by strengthening our immune apparatus. Studies suggest that echinacea increases T-cell [or, the body’s defence mechanism] activity, and our overall immunity.
Herbalists recommend that it is preferable to take echinacea for a week or two; and, then take a herbal “holiday” for about a week. This holds good for other herbs in your home-medicine chest too, as far as effective dosages are concerned.