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Antiviral Herbs for Cold and Flu to keep at home
December 8, 2005
Subject: A description of antiviral herbs to stockpile at home this year.
There are a good number of herbs that have antiviral effect and which
are useful for treating colds and flu with. That's the good news.
The bad news is that our experience leads us to believe that the longer
you wait to take them the less effective they are. In other words
by the time you admit you are sick and you drag yourself either down to
the health food store aisle or into our office, these marvelous herbs
are less effective. Ideally at the very first twinge of illness, that
first groan of achiness or first scratch in your throat, you reach immediately
for the bottle that's sitting on your shelf. That's how they work
the best.
Our full shelves at the clinic don't do me a bit of good when I wake at
night with that dreaded sensation of, "Oh no, here we go." What
I suggest is stockpiling what you need before you need it. I'm going
to make a list of some of my favorite, stay at home bottles. We
keep them in stock at the office this time of year, but I suggest not
waiting until you get sick to bring them home
1. Sambuccol Lozenges: These are my personal favorite
for sore throats. They work for me but again only if I start them
before getting really sick. The bottle says 4 tablets a day, I'll
sometimes double that at first. Sambuccol is a patented extract
of Elderberry. This product is also available as syrup which tastes fine,
though a bit sweet and syrupy. I rarely use the syrup, preferring
that lozenges because they are easier to carry in my pocket.
2. Yin Chao: this is the classic traditional Chinese
medicine formula, again best taken ASAP at the onset of any signs or symptoms
of a cold or flu. Dose is 4-5 pills every two hours.
3. Homeopathic Remedies:
a. Oscillococcinum: The most classic all purpose homeopathic treatments
for flu: fever, chills, body aches and pains.
b. Aconite 30c: Useful for the very first symptoms of sudden onset colds
and flu especially those that come on after exposure to cold winds.
Again by the time we see an ill patient it is often too late to use this
effectively. The indication for this remedy is 'sudden', one minute
you feel fine, the next you are sick.
c. Gelsemium 30c: The opposite of aconite, this remedy is useful for treating
the cold or flu that comes on gradually, a sense of slow decline and growing
tiredness. The keynote symptom is tiredness.
Once you are sick these medicines may be still useful and we generally
encourage people to continue them if they are unable to come in for a
consultation. We prefer to use more targeted herbal prescriptions,
blending the herbal extracts based on symptoms. There are a number
of other Chinese formulas to choose from depending on the depth of the
illness. Homeopathic remedies are chosen based on the particular
symptoms the person presents with. Western herbs also provide an
array of antiviral choices as well as specific herbs for symptomatic treatment.
People often ask about what to do to prevent getting sick. For people
that seem unusually prone to getting sick, there are a range of immune
stimulating herbs on the market; our preference is to choose them based
on the person's health history and not make general recommendations.
The best way to keep healthy in the first place is to stay well rested
and wash your hands frequently.
Will any of this stuff help bird flu? We don't know the answer to
that one yet. Countless websites promote these and other remedies
to ward off bird flu, but there is no evidence to support these claims.
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