Antiviral Herbs From Nature

Bacteria are inter-cellular organisms meaning that they live in between cells, whereas viruses are intra-cellular organisms meaning that they penetrate the host cells and reside within.

Numerous illnesses originate from infection by either pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria or viruses. Bacteria reproduce by dividing in two, while the virus replicate themselves within host cells. Various bacterial infections can be treated successfully with antibiotics, but antibiotics are of no use against the viral infection. It is interesting to discover that certain common and widely available herbs do have effective antiviral action.

Astragalus
This powerful immune boosting herb is otherwise known as huang qi in Chinese medicine. The astragalus has a sweet tasting root similar to liquorice, to which is no surprise as it belongs to the same family of Fabaceae. Astragalus has proven to be a very effective antiviral herb mainly taken in the prevention of the colds and flu virus, it has also been reported to be an effective treatment for the Coxsackie B virus (virus causing inflammation of the heart).

Simmer slices of astragalus root in water to produce a healing concoction, or you can purchase the commercially available concentrate. The  generally consensus is that astragalus is best if taken as a preventative measure rather than waiting till you are absolutely infected. If you think you have been exposed to the cold or flu virus or are beginning to experience the symptoms, start taking astragalus immediately.

Garlic
No discussion about antiviral herbs would be complete without the mention of garlic. Garlic is an amazing herb that provides the benefit of being antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal. Garlic is inexpensive and can be grown easily in the backyard. You can use the whole herb in meal preparation, or take the commercially available capsules. Do keep in mind, that most experts agree that the deodorised garlic in the commercially available products may not be as effective as the natural impervious herb.

Simmer sliced or minced garlic in chicken soup and sip it to ward off colds and flu. Raw crushed garlic can be sprinkled over salads or included to pasta dishes. Be aware that certain individuals have complained that consuming too much raw garlic has caused them severe nausea.

Ginger
Since long ago, ginger was considered to be a warming herb that was capable of preventing nausea from a chilled stomach, which was believed to occur when large quantities of water were consumed in hot conditions. It is now widely known that ginger has powerful anti-nausea qualities as well as being a very effective anti-viral agent.

Herbal Root Teas made with fresh ginger are quite pleasant and spicy. Many have opted to sweeten their herbal tea with raw honey for that added germ fighting benefit as well as flavour. When experiencing the very first symptoms of a cold or flu, start drinking your favourite herbal tea with sliced ginger root included, several times a day. Even better still, drink ginger root tea regularly as a preventative even if you think you may have been exposed to a virus. Ginger has long been considered quite safe for regular consumption, although it is recommended for pregnant women to consult with their healthcare professional.

Lemon Balm
The antiviral effects of lemon balm have been well-documented In Germany, with creams and solutions containing the herb lemon balm being prescribed for such ailments as cold sores and herpes outbreaks. Lemon balm is certainly easy to grow in your own back yard, in fact it tends to take over if not contained.

Lemon balm makes a delicious herbal tea, and can be consumed to ward off all kinds of viral infections, such as colds and flu. The herbal tea containing lemon balm or commercially available creams are also excellent skin treatments and can be applied directly to cold sores or other viral lesions such as chickenpox or shingles.