Top Antiviral Herbs

By: sgiustra

Whether we are heading into a new school year or into the cold & flu season or right smack in the middle of the holiday season, the question of preventing & treating viruses naturally becomes an important issue.

It would be nice if we could start to lessen the chances of contracting these nasty viruses. Luckily, using natural herbs that are easy to incorporate into our diets is an effective way to dodge or treat the common viruses.

Other added benefits to using natural antiviral herbs: no side effects, low cost, safe for children & elderly.

Before getting into specific anti viral herbal remedies, a few words on viruses.

Viruses are infinitesimally small particles that do nothing more than reproduce.

They are the agents that lead to all kinds of health problems including cold, flu & herpes.

Viruses are different from bacteria though the two can be confused by the general public. Medicine has antibiotics which can be effective against bacteria but not against viruses.

However, there are few medications that deal with viruses. Two of the popular ones are acyclovir for herpes & AZT for AIDS.

Luckily, there are many good antiviral herbs.

The rest of this page discusses anti viral herbs that have general effects against any number of viruses.

Best natural antiviral herbal remedies

* Echinacea may be the best general herbal remedy against viruses. Echinacea works by destroying viruses & boosting the immune system so that your own body can then eliminate the virus. Especially good for flu viruses. Take supplements as directed, especially right before flu & cold season. Take in cycles of 6 weeks on & 6 weeks off as needed.

* Hypoxis Rooper (African Potato) improves the immune system according to research.

* Astragalus is also one of the valuable antiviral herbs due to its ability to boost the immune system. Take as directed when needed.

* Agathosma Betulina (buchu) is a natural antiviral that has antioxidant & antiseptic activity & helps the body rid itself of toxins. Good as a preventive.

* Mentha peperita better known as peppermint supports the body’s immune system. Scientific studies show peppermint’s is one of the anti viral herbs that shows a good effect on tuberculosis. Using peppermint essential oil or drinking lots of peppermint tea are pleasant, economical ways of using peppermint.

* Dragon’s blood is a lesser known herbal remedy for viruses. Especially useful against herpes virus. May be available in pill form. Take as directed.

* Solidago Virgaurea (Goldenrod) is one of the traditional antiviral herbs, used for hundreds of years. It seems to increase the ability of the body to fight infections.

* What could you say about garlic, an herb that has so many beneficial effects that it is treated with a reverence by many peoples of the world. Most people find garlic to be delicious too. This natural antiviral can be used for flu, cold & any number of viruses. Consume it raw or lightly cooked in any number of dishes including salads, stir frys, soups etc. Take supplements as directed making sure that supplement has active ingredients.

* Onions are also an anti viral herb though not as effective as garlic. Certainly you could come up with many dishes that contain garlic & onion which go together very well.

* Schizandra Sinesis is a powerful Chinese herb, an herbal remedy against viruses that protects against toxins and cell damage.

* Goldenseal is also an immune stimulant. Many supplements pair goldenseal with with other antiviral herbs like echinacea for a 1 - 2 punch against viruses.

* Olea Europea (from olive leaf) is a very valuable herb & natural antiviral. It helps fight numerous germs. The positive effects of Olive leaf have recently been proven in a variety of clinical studies. Olive leaf also stimulates the immune system.

It may also help stop the production of enzymes that a retrovirus, such as HIV, needs in order to change the RNA of a healthy cell. I’ve used it in place of root canal surgery to good effect. Take supplements as directed but you may need to double or triple dose the first day you are symptomatic.

* Juniper is also an excellent anti viral herbal remedy, excellent against flu & cold virus. Makes a good cold season tea that could be sipped throughout the day.

* Lemon balm also makes a good anti viral herbal tea & is especially valued as anti-herpes.

* Licorice is yet another herb that makes an excellent tea. Effective anti viral herb against many viruses. Take supplement or make a tea out of licorice root.

* Shiitake mushroom is also one of our favorite antiviral herbs. Consume in various dishes or use supplements as directed.

* Ginger, like garlic is a superb herb with numerous health benefits including its natural antiviral effects. Use as a tea or in numerous dishes. Juice a small slice along with fruits like apples, carrots, celery, [parsley - to taste for a wonderfully healthy concoction.

Other natural anti viral herbs

Some other herbal remedies against viruses are not as well known for that purpose but have been cited as antiviral. They include:

* Boneset

* Cat’s claw

* Chamomile

* Cinnamon

* Ginseng

* St. John’s wort

Salvator Giustra is a NYC Teaching Fellow, health researcher, clinical psychotherapist & computer scientist. He currently runs three websites (Healthy World) that advance the idea that good health is based on simple, traditional, commonsense knowledge which research tends to support repeatedly. For info on how water affects health, visit: Healthy Water For info on using herbal remedies, visit: Article Source: www.NewAgeArticles.com

Alaska's Fireweed

By Michael Montgomery

Like many Alaskan natives, I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with the fireweed.  I could appreciate the beautiful fuchsia-colored petals and thin and delicate leaves fluttering with the soft Alaskan summer winds. However, as the stems grow thicker and the flowers grow higher on the reed, one knows that the beauty of summer is in its twilight.

The fireweed’s presence begins in early spring as the young shoots are collected and used for local salads.  It often reminds me how short the spring and summer seasons can be in Alaska.

Old Native legends tell how every fireweed is the soul of a tree lost in a forest fire. When the embers of the fire have cooled and the ashes of burned wood cover the ground, the first plant to appear is the fireweed.  It rises up from the ash pile with its pink to magenta colored flowers and dares everyone to admire it.

          The fireweed has been used to make fishing nets, blankets and as food. It holds a rich culinary and medicinal history, not only in Alaska but all over the world.  It’s been used to make a relaxing tea, in salads, for skin problems and even to treat asthma in young children.  Its high content of Vitamin C and pro-vitamin A make it a great additive for soups and it’s used to produce jellies and jams.

Not only do humans use and benefit from the consumption of the fireweed, but so do animals.  Natives put it into their dog’s food and hummingbirds feast on its nectar.  From hares, to moose and white-tailed deer, the animal kingdom will feast on the fireweed.  Even, the little chipmunk will store the fireweed’s seeds for the upcoming hibernation season.

As each successive flower blooms above the one underneath, Alaskans begin to mark their calendars. As the older blooms seed and turn to cotton and the last of the flowers garnish the top of the reed, one can be rest assured, that according to legend, winter is six weeks away.  

Michael Montgomery holds a degree in chemistry and biology and is an avid outdoorsman.  He resides in New York and hopes someday to return to his native Alaska to once again admire the fireweed.

Hops Sachet for Insomnia

Margaret Thatcher once said that sleep is for wimps and she may be right; however, many of us need much more shut eye than we’re getting. 

Many who suffer from insomnia knows the affliction has carried some famous names with it such as Napoleon, Ben Franklin, Abraham Lincoln and King George III.  What we don’t know is how most in the past decided to fight it.

In our contemporary society, physicians will check for sleep apnea and then possibly recommended sleeping pills or something stronger to help the awakened victim drift off to into next dimension.  For many of us pharmaceuticals are not an option we’d like to consider. So, one can certainly partake in the various natural remedies, with a professional’s guidance, such as ingesting valerian root to obtain some shut eye. 

In my quest for a natural remedy for sleep, I came across the hops pillow.  In fact, many say it cured King George III of his aliment.

The hops vine is a perennial, fast growing and a climbing plant.  It can reach heights of 33 feet during the growing season. It’s used to brew beer since most grains do not keep well, so bitter herbs such as hops are added for flavor and to preserve the beer.  Hops also had sedative properties and can be enjoyed in a spa like bath as well.

To make your hops sleep sachet:

You will need:

One large muslin bag

Dried hops to fill the bag

**lavender blossoms

**a few drops of jasmine oil.

Place hops into a bowl, mix with the lavender blossoms and add a few drops of jasmine essential oil to the mixture.  Let dry and stuff your bag with the herbs. Place underneath your pillow or hang from your bedpost.

If you have sewing skills, by all means, make a large pillow and fill it with dry hops.  You can add different oils such as jasmine, rose or lavender to your own liking.  Remember not to make it too strong and if you suffer from allergies, any type of sachet made with herbs or plants may cause other problems.

Hopefully, your hops sachet will let the dreams begin!