Herbal Pharmacy: Cold and Flu Treatment without Side Effects

“Nature itself is the best physician.” – Hippocrates

The best defense against a cold or flu is a pro-active offense to ensure that all systems in the body are operating at their optimum levels. Throughout this article, we will talk about how to treat colds and flu viruses without side effects.

The difference between people who tend to be sick and others who never succumb to the latest bug lies in their immune system. This complex system is made up of connective tissue; lymph glands; various organs, such as bone marrow, thymus, and spleen; and various cells including white blood cells, T cells, and B cells to name a few. Each has specialized jobs to keep us healthy. Therefore, anytime there is a “hole” in the system, opportunistic bacteria and viruses can move in. There are germs around us all the time; the difference of whether or not we get sick lies in our immune system’s strength.

Influenza is a viral infection that affects the respiratory system. Viruses can’t reproduce on their own but must invade a living cell to replicate. Some viruses kill cells while others alter the cell and can leave genetic material in the host cell. Because of this process, they constantly shift and drift to survive, sometimes forming deathly epidemic strands. For this reason, conventional treatment via the flu shot can be a flawed solution; it is like aiming for an ever-moving and constantly changing target. Sometimes you hit it and sometimes you miss it.

The harm from the flu is not the virus itself but the body’s inflammatory response to the invading virus.

Flu symptoms:

• Fever over 101
• Dry cough
• Headache
• Chills sweats
• Aching especially in the back, arms, and legs
• Quick onset (colds are slower)
• Nasal congestion
• Fatigue and weakness

Upper respiratory symptoms are often treated with over the counter drugs, antibiotics, and antiviral medications. We frequently see antibiotic misuse for upper respiratory symptoms due to viral infections, and plant medicine is a potentially safer alternative to prescription drugs for routine cases of the common cold and influenza. Due to concerns about safety, efficacy, and antibiotic resistance, there is a demand for an alternative solution. Herbs/Plants have been used for centuries to treat all types of infections and viruses in time-honored traditional herbal practices.

The study of herbs and their medicinal use was a natural consequence of my search for historically proven methods to improve the lives of our aging clients that treat the whole person. I have found herbs to treat colds and flu viruses without side effects. They are also safe and effective as the first line of treatment or prevention. The herbs listed below help to improve the immune system. The healthier your immune system, the less likely you are to get sick, or if you do, it will be milder. You might consider using these herbal remedies in conjunction with a flu shot or, if your preference, as a replacement to improve your immune response. I recommend incorporating these remedies into your fall/winter diet.