“4 Herbs that Shorten the Duration of a Cold or Flu”

With the cold and flue season upon us lots of people are feeling sick and want to get well as quick as possible. Here are 4 great herbs that shorten the duration of a cold or flu and help a person get back on their feet.

Elderberry Capsules - A study in 2004 showed significant improvement in flu patients who were given elderberry extract. Elderberry has antioxidant properties and boosts the immune system helping with bacterial and viral infections. Also contains anthocyanin which is a good ant-inflammatory agent. Elderberry also contains Vitamins A, B and C and amino acids, carotenoids, and minerals. Plus Elderberry Juice and Extract can lower cholesterol and especially LDL or bad cholesterol. Elderberry Juice also helps lower blood sugar and is effective in treatment of colds, yeast infections, asthma, coughs, and congestion, and protects against cardiovascular and heart diseases. And Elderberry is good for improving eye sight and for stress reduction.

Dose - Drink one or two cups of prepared elder berry juice daily or take 2 - 500 mg capsules daily.

Fresh Garlic - Garlic contains allicin which in double blind studies has been shown to cut your probability of coming down with a cold or flu by 50% and also help shorten the duration of a cold or flu. But allicin must be taken in it’s natural form as fresh garlic. Garlic has lots of B Vitamins, A and C Vitamins and zinc to boost your immune system and lots of other trace minerals such as iron and copper for anemia, selenium for prostate health, calcium and phosphorus for strong bones, and tryptophan for helping you to get a good nights rest. Garlic is a good antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral agent making it great for preventing and curing all kinds of disease processes. One of the best all around preventatives for disease on the planet. And Garlic Tea is great… and it makes a wonderful tea for healing colds and flues. Studies have shown that garlic pills and capsules don’t work well. It needs to be fresh garlic with that pungent odor… if not… it will not work for you.

Dose - Take 2 fresh cloves of organic garlic and cut them up and take them with honey AM and PM.

Osha Root - Osha Root is also called Ligusticum porteri and other common names are Bear Root, Mountain Ginseng, Bear Medicine, Ocha Syrup, Colorado Cough Root, Porter’s Lovage, Indian Parsley, Chuchupate, and other names. And the White Mountain Apache Native Americans call it — ha ‘il chii’ gah. Take osha root at the first signs of a cold or flu and it will make a cold or flu disappear in no time. Osha root is great for clearing up mucus so we can breath easy, clearing away mucus in our throat, lungs, and sinuses, thus making it very important for colds and flues. Osha root is not a antihistamine but works in a similar way.Osha root has a numbing effect on the throat and thus makes a great throat spray for soar throats. Osha root has long been used to shorten the duration of a cold and flu because it has very good antiviral and antibacterial abilities. Osha root is a very warming herb and increases circulation, plus it’s slightly calming at the same time.

Dose - Drink a cup of tea up to 5 times a day, for a tincture use 20 to 60 drops – 5 times a day, in capsules take one or two— 250 mg capsules – 3 or 4 times a day.

Turkey Tail Mushroom - Turkey tail tea contains agents that boost up the immune system so our body can ward off a cold or flu and shorten the duration of a cold or flu and prevent and fight off disease in general. In Traditional Chinese Medicine turkey tail is commonly used for centuries for healing respiratory challenges and ailments. Turkey tail contains Polysaccharides “PSK and PSP” and Beta glucans which boost up our immune system and feed our good bacteria in our gut so we can ward off disease and boost up our energy level. Turkey tail is in the category of an adaptogen herb which reduces stress, increases energy, and boosts our immune system… thus we heal. Turkey tail also contains healing enzymes, proteins, minerals, B-Vitamins, Vitamin D, and it also contains antiviral and antibacterial compounds. And turkey tail has been used for treating antibiotic-resistant pneumonia and E. coli infections. Turkey Tail Mushroom tea is very simple to make.

Making Tea - Take 2 cups of finely chopped mushroom with 10 cups of water and add a little bit of honey and a teaspoon of organic grated lemon peel. Place in a large pot, bring to a boil, simmer for 1 hour and strain through a strainer and place in a glass jar in the frig.

Dose - Drink 3 to 5 glasses of tea daily for 7 to 10 days and then take a week off and repeat if needed.

Give these herbs a try and quickly get back on your feet and feel great!

Dr. Paul Haider - Master Herbalist

Feel Free to Share - This information is meant to get you started so you can do more research on your own… dig a little deeper and find what works for you. This article is for educational purposes only, I strongly recommend that you seek advice from your own GP, private doctor, or medical specialist for any ailment, illness, or medical condition.. this article not meant to be a scientific analysis in any way, shape, or form.
Dr. Paul Haider – Master Herbalist and Spiritual Teacher for over 25 years, helping people to recover and feel healthy. You can also find Dr. Haider on FB under Dr. Paul Haider, Healing Herbs, and at www.paulhaider.com – feel free to connect with him anytime.
Here is a short video bio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK6Eg-xlX3U
Check out my website at www.paulhaider.com