The reishi mushroom is a valuable medicinal product that has been called the "medicine of kings" and the "elixir of eternal life" for its amazing and powerful health benefits. Reishi has been shown to significantly boost immune system functions and is an excellent food for cancer prevention, as it contains compounds such as canthaxanthin and beta 1,3 D glucan, which can slow the growth of tumors and help immune cells bind to with tumor cells and remove them from the body.
Whether you're looking to ward off a cold or the flu, or speed up your recovery when you do come down with one, these nine herbs and supplements will be important components in your healing process.
You can use them year-round to boost and strengthen your immune system against colds and flu, or use them (most of them) when you know you may be at increased risk for infections and/or when you feel cold symptoms or the flu.
These herbs and nutritional supplements are also powerful healers for all types of chronic illnesses and symptoms, not just colds and flu. You may wish to include them if you have any symptom or condition at all. You can read more about the healing properties of each of these herbs and supplements on our blog.
We are faced with more things these days than ever before. Every day, our immune system fights for us, protecting us from a constant onslaught of invaders, including pathogens, toxic heavy metals, chemicals, and other toxins. Our immune system is focused on keeping us safe, strong and healthy in the face of all these threats, invasions and exposures. But with so much to contend with, our immune system needs help to keep up the fight and be able to win. This is where the tools to help the immune system come into play. These 12 herbs and supplements are excellent for boosting the immune system.
Barley grass is one of nature's most nutrient-dense foods and has been used since ancient times for medicinal and healing purposes. Barley grass juice powder (not to be confused with barley grass powder) is one of the best ways to consume this food because it concentrates the nutrients and is the easiest way to digest, assimilate and use the nutrients from the body.
5-MTHF (5-Methyltetrahydrofolate or Methylfolate) is a powerful tool to help methylate vitamin B12, which is a vital nutrient without which we cannot survive. 5-MTHF binds to B12 that surface biotics create in the ileum. Surface biotics are microorganisms that are found on the surface of freshly picked plants - for example apples, leafy vegetables or berries. These surface biotics are still unknown to the medical community and science.
If people knew all the powerful healing properties of celery stem juice, it would be widely hailed as a miracle superfood. Celery stalks have the amazing ability to create radical improvements in any health problem.
Olive leaf is a powerful and effective healing agent that has tremendous healing properties for the immune, cardiovascular, circulatory, respiratory, digestive and lymphatic systems. It is especially helpful in fighting viruses and bacteria in the body such as herpes zoster, herpes simplex, Escherichia coli, salmonella, staph, and Klebsiella pneumonia, and can help clear cold and flu viruses faster than most medications.
Licorice root is the best weapon against the spread of pathogens. Herpes viruses (including Epstein-Barr, HHV-6, cytomegalovirus and herpes zoster) are so often behind mysterious illnesses such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, Lyme disease, Meniere's disease and adrenal fatigue, as well as symptoms such as vertigo, dizziness, pain in different parts of the body and neurological pains in the jaw, neck, shoulder and last but not least – autoimmune diseases. The body does not attack itself! Different strains and mutations of these herpes viruses do – which is why we need a powerful weapon on our side in the fight against them.
Milk thistle is a powerful detoxifying herb that can help with liver function, maintain healthy cholesterol levels, prevent cancer, and lower blood sugar levels. It has powerful anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties and has been used over the years to protect the liver from strong drugs such as statins, phenytoin, seizure drugs and acetaminophen, as well as from the effects of chemotherapy and radiation.
Ashwagandha, also known as winter cherry, is a powerful medicinal herb with incredible adaptogenic properties that can significantly reduce stress-related conditions such as adrenal fatigue, adrenal fatigue, and heart and kidney problems. Ashwagandha is a rich source of minerals including zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, vanadium and cobalt.
Hydrastis root is a popular North American herb that acts as a powerful herbal antibiotic and immune system booster. Hydrastis is a good source of vitamins A, C, E and B-complex and minerals such as calcium, iron and manganese. This herb has powerful antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties and also contains alkaloids that are known to be effective in treating diarrhea and stomach problems that are caused by the flu or food poisoning.
The most powerful food in the world is hiding in low and unsightly bushes, right before our eyes. We are talking about wild blueberries. There is no cancer that wild blueberries cannot prevent, and no disease known to mankind that wild blueberries cannot protect you from. Don't confuse wild blueberries with their larger cultivated cousins, which, while good for your health, don't offer even a fraction of the power of wild blueberries.
Asparagus is a fantastic medicinal vegetable, high in essential minerals such as selenium, zinc and manganese, which are vital for a strong and healthy immune system. They are also high in vitamins A, K and B-complex, including folic acid, which is a building block for a healthy cardiovascular system and is recommended for women trying to conceive. For more information on the medicinal properties of asparagus and the symptoms and conditions it can help with, read our blog article.