Herbs for Colds and Flu
Nathaniel Whitmore
As an herbalist, I am well aware of how people can care for themselves and their families during cold and flu seasons. I am also aware that many people (I would guess most, but that is hard to say with authority) would like to use herbs but do not know how. People like to use herbs for their health because it feels right to get medicine from natural sources, because they are helpful as preventative medicine, because they tend to have fewer side effects than modern drugs, and because they tend to be cheaper than pharmaceuticals.
It was not too long ago that people gathered their medicines from the field and forest. Such practices are not common in this area in current times. First-hand experience tells me that though herbal medicines are less common than they used to be, they are effective. If they work, why have we stopped using them? We have stopped using herbs to the extent that we have because of the same reasons we find ourselves living farther from nature in other ways. It is not my aim to discuss these trends in this article- I just want to point out that our lifestyles have been moving farther away from those of our ancestors, and in the process we lose much of the ancient wisdom that was once common.
Just as has been the case throughout humanity’s history, if one were to take a walk outside, many plants with medicinal actions could be found. The Native Americans were master herbalists and had a solid understanding of herbs. Many of the plants found in this area were used by Native Americans to heal those with colds and flu. Many of these herbs found locally were brought here from other countries and represent the herbal remedies used in Europe, Asia, and throughout the world. And, again, many of them are very useful for healing colds and flu.
Mullein, coltsfoot, comfrey, elecampane, hemlock, pine, calamus, and lobelia are all great herbs for the lungs that grow wild in the area. They are known as expectorants, which are herbs that eliminate mucus in the lungs. Bloodroot is a very special native plant in the area. It is a very powerful expectorant, but is generally too rare for harvesting. Hyssop is a great expectorant to grow in your garden.
Blue vervain, boneset, burdock, yarrow, bee balm, hemlock, peppermint, and catnip are herbs that are used for flu and fevers. These herbs, called diaphoretics, promote sweating, a therapy that has probably been used in every traditional system of medicine in the world. Garden sage is also a great diaphoretic. Barberry, which is a very invasive weed shrub from Japan, is a powerful antibiotic herb. It is effective against infections, and it good for drying up mucus.
These herbs are only a select few from the many that can be helpful for the treatment of colds and flu. Of course, it is also important to consider diet, exercise, and lifestyle. Keep yourself healthy with good natural food and an active life. A very good immune-boosting dish is miso soup made with shiitake mushrooms and sea vegetables and a small amount of seasonal vegetables.
When those around you are getting sick, or you start feeling run down, it is particularly important to pay attention to your diet and avoid unhealthy stresses on your body. Your health is very important. If you take the time to care for yourself now, you can avoid spending time sick in bed later. So often we give many tasks priority over our own health because we feel we don’t have time for everything. We like the idea of eating good, but it seems unproductive to spend time cooking. However, if we fall ill, we lose the time we saved by not taking care of ourselves. If we are at our peak health, we are more able to do things in a way that saves time in the long run. At peak health, the mind is clear and able to make wise decisions and the body is graceful and strong.
© Copyright 2010 Connections Magazine
