Chances are, at some point in your life, you’ve had an epic battle with a virus. Unfortunately, short of a vaccine, there are some viruses that you just have to wait out as your body does its best to fight while repairing itself.
Luckily, there are some herbs you can take to help boost your immune system and get yourself on the road to a speedy recovery.
Before We Get Started
None of the herbs discussed in this article have been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These herbs are not a substitution for your own personal judgment and traditional medicine prescribed by a doctor.
The following should not be used to diagnose, treat, or cure disease. As always, if you are suffering from an illness or condition, you should always seek the advice of a doctor and follow their guidelines.
Be sure to discuss the use of these natural remedies with your physician before giving them a try. These herbs are simply a supplement to help boost your defenses.
Antiviral Herbs
Antiviral herbs help to prevent the development of viruses. Some people may prefer to use herbs as a preventative measure or as an added defense against viruses because they often contain little to no side effects.
Many of the following verbs help to bolster the immune system, helping your body to fight foreign invaders such as viral pathogens. Unfortunately, viruses have a tendency to mutate overtime, often outsmarting some vaccines. With the prescribed vaccines and these antiviral herbs combined, you stand a greater chance of fighting these viruses.
In addition to fighting viruses, these herbs contain other benefits and properties, such as anti-inflammatory properties and added support to the digestive and cardiovascular system.
1) Echinacea
Using Echinacea on a regular basis will not only benefit the functioning of your immune system, but it will improve your overall health as well. This may be due to the fact that Echinacea contains three important antiviral compounds: chicoric acid, echinacin, and caffeic acid.
Echinacin in particular ensures that viruses and bacteria do not compromise healthy cells. Meanwhile, phytochemicals help to reduce tumors and inhibit viral infections; preventing you from falling prey to illnesses and infections. Echinacea may help reduce the severity of symptoms associated with mono.
Echinacea also has some added benefits, such as clearing up skin, reducing inflammation, improving mental health, reducing inflammation, and treating upper respiratory issues and HPV.
2) Ginger
Ginger is a popular remedy to help treat nausea, however, ginger also has a history as being an effective antiviral herb. Ayurvedic medicine has long prized ginger for its ability to fortify the immune system due to its ability to warm the body and break down toxins hiding out in your organs.
Ginger’s disinfecting abilities also help to purify the lymphatic system, which handles our body’s waste. By cleansing these systems, ginger eliminates the possibility of falling victim to bacterial and viral infections.
Next time you’re experiencing nausea due to the stomach flu, try having a bit of ginger, which will not only relieve the nausea, but also help eliminate the virus or bacteria responsible for your illness. The antibacterial and antiviral properties of ginger root will help shorten the duration and strength of your cold.
Ginger is also great for working as natural pain reliever, an inflammation reducer, and another way to help improve your diabetes.
3) Licorice Root
Due to its powerful antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties, licorice root is known for treating and preventing infections, as well as reducing inflammation and fevers.
Licorice root is so powerful, that it is known for its ability to prevent such diseases as the flu, HIV, and hepatitis C. This could also be largely in part of licorice root’s ability to scavenge free radicals and help repair the damage they may have on your body.
Licorice root is also a great natural remedy for cold sores, sore throats, cough, and pain relief. Some people also find licorice root helpful in treating adrenal fatigue and is a potential preventative measure against leaky gut syndrome.
4) Oregano Oil
Oregano oil is considered to be a great natural antibiotic sans all the harmful side effects that come along with taking antibiotics. This is do in large part to the two powerful compounds contained in oregano oil called thymol and carvacrol.
These two compounds contain powerful antiviral and antibacterial properties that helps reverse infection, while inhibiting tumors, parasites, inflammation and allergies. Another great thing about the effectiveness of the compounds contained in oregano oil? There are tons of scientific studies backing up all the benefits carvacrol.
5) Olive Leaf
Olive leaf contains powerful natural antiviral and antimicrobial properties that help treat viruses such as the common cold, flu, and possibly even herpes.
Other infections olive oil may help treat are shingles, warts, meningitis, urinary tract infections, HPV, tuberculosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, hepatitis B, gonorrhea, malaria, and pneumonia. Studies indicate that this powerful herb fights the viruses and microbes responsible for these infections and diseases.
6) Elderberry
Elderberry is a popular herb well known for its medicinal properties. Elderberry is especially popular in its ability to fight upper respiratory infections, flu, common cold, and cough. Elderberry has also shown to be efficacious in fighting bacterial infections, viral infections, herpes, and many strains of influenza.
Elderberry not only helps to fight these infections, but also helps inhibit the spread to healthy cells. Elderberry is also great for reducing inflammation, improving vision, and fighting skin infections such as eczema.
7) Calendula
Calendula should be included in every first-aid kit, due to its natural antiviral properties and its ability to heal wounds while preventing infection. This natural anti-viral helps protect healthy cells, fights bacteria, and prevents inflammation. Calendula will also help speed up the healing time up wounds, cuts, and burns.
8) Garlic
The natural antibacterial properties of garlic and the powerful antiviral compounds contained within the herb makes it extremely powerful in fighting several types of bacteria.
Garlic’s powerful medicinal properties make it effective in fighting such diseases and infections as herpes, thrush, pneumonia, mono, and tuberculosis. The antiviral properties of garlic make it effective in treating ear and eye infections.
Garlic is a popular antiviral remedy because while it is powerful in fighting infection, it does not throw off the balance of the body’s natural flora. Garlic offers a wide range of benefits, such as improving cardiovascular health, reducing instances of hypertension, and preventing cancer.
9) Astragalus Root
This powerful antiviral root is a great way to boost your immune systems and body’s natural defenses. Some studies have found that astragalus root is effective in preventing the flu or cold. Astragalus is also great for treating wounds due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Astragalus root may also be beneficial in treating and alleviating the symptoms of mono and HPV.
10) Cat’s Claw
Cat’s claw is a popular natural remedy in South America to help treat such problems as dysentery, stomach ulcers, digestive issues, and fevers. Currently, studies are looking into cat’s claw’s antiviral abilities in treating herpes and HIV. Cat’s claw is not only a powerful antiviral, but also an antibacterial, and antifungal as well. These properties make it effective in treating IBS, colitis, leaky gut syndrome, and ulcers.
The antiviral properties of cat’s claw are also beneficial in helping to fight the virus (HPV) associated with warts.
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