A bounty of herbs that have been tested by various world cultures over the millennia can help to boost immune health. These herbs are antimicrobial and stimulate both macrophage and T-cell activity. A health practitioner, herbalist, naturopath or local health food store owner can guide one in purchase and tell how to use each herb and what to expect.
Note: If you are pregnant or have a specific condition or health issues, consult with the health practitioner before using these herbs.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is a strengthening tonic that helps to calm the mind, promote exhaustion, fatigue. It is an adaptogen, immune stimulant, nutritive and rejuvenative.
Astragalus
Astragalus is considered to be deep immune tonic. It is rich in polysaccharides and strengthens wei chi (defense energy). It also promotes phagocytosis, interferon, T-cell activity and blood cell production. It prevents atrophy of immune tissues. It is helpful for treating autoimmune disorders.
Baptisia
Baptisia has high content of poysacchardes which promote phagocytosis. It is used for both lymphatic swelling and deep inflammation. It is an antiseptic and immune tonic.
Black walnut leaves, nut, bark
These contain juglone which is useful against candida, staph and strep. It possesses alterative, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
Boneset
It strengthens resistance to bacterial and viral infections. It also helps to treat fevers, colds and flu. It enhances immunity by promoting sweat so that toxins are eliminated through skin. It is considered to be febrifuge, diaphoretic, immune stimulant and tonic.
Burdock root, seed
Burdock root and seeds possess antifungal and antiseptic activity due to polyacetylenes. It is regarded as bone marrow tonic. It encompasses diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, alterative, adaptogen, rejuvenative and nutritive activity.
Cat’s claw
The herb activates macrophages, leukocytes and lymphocytes. It also inhibit aggregation of blood platelet. This herb possess anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiseptic, antioxidant and antiviral properties.
Cayenne
Cayenne has rich content of vitamin C which assist in stimulation of endorphin production. It is an alterative, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, alterative, antiseptic, carminative, antiviral and circulatory tonic.
Codonopsis
The herb is considered to be deep immune tonic. It assist to build red blood cells. It promotes transformation of white blood cells into T cells. It is useful for autoimmune disorders, strengthen systems, tone kidneys and adrenals. It is nutritive, chi tonic and adaptogen.
Dandelion root
Dandelion roots are known to promote spleen function. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antiseptic activity.
Echinacea
Echinacea has high content of polysaccharides. It stimulate interferon production and helper T cells. It inhibit hyaluronidase that makes cells more resistant to pathogen. It promotes activity of phagocytes and macrophages. It is helpful in treating acute infections. It is considered to be antifungal and antiseptic.
Eleuthero
Eleuthero promotes T-helper cells and promotes white blood cells. It enhance non-specific resistance to disease. It also lowers cells inflammation and promotes endurance. It is anti-inflammatory, adaptogen and chi tonic.
Garlic
Garlic combats organisms responsible for causing disease such as bacteria, viruses, protozoans and fungi. It promotes the resistance ability of the body to infection. It prevents epidemics. It is an immune herb and considered to be immune stimulant, antioxidant and vasodilator.
Ginseng Asian, American
The herb is known as bone marrow tonic which restores the production of cells. It promotes phagocytosis and enhances immunoglobulins. It promotes lympocytic transformation and formation of red or white blood cells. It contains germanium. It is considered to be chi tonic, adaptogen and digestive tonic.
Goldenseal
Goldenseal is an immune herb that lowers infection in mucous membranes. It stimulates circulation to spleen and activates macrophages. It possesses berberine stimulating macrophage activity. It is active against various pathogens. It is considered to be antifungal, alterative, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and bitter tonic.
Lemon balm
Lemon balm possess carminative, antiviral, digestive tonic, diaphoretic, rejuvenative and nervine properties.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass exhibit activity against gram positive bacteria. It is antiviral, antiseptic, digestive tonic and diaphoretic activity.
Licorice
Licorice inhibits growth of viruses and inactivates virus particles. It promotes number of antibodies and efficiency of white blood cells. It also stimulate production of interferon, reduces the growth of tumor and improve adrenal health. It exhibits antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and chi tonic activity.
Myrrh
Myrrh is an immune herb which promotes number and motility of white blood cells. It also normalize mucous membrane activity and also inhibit infection. It has anti-inflammatory, alterative, antiseptic, antifungal, decongestant, carminative and rejuvenative properties.
Nettle
The herb has high content of chlorophyll and considered to be natural histamine. It strengthen kidneys and spleen. It possesses circulatory stimulant, alterative, tonic and nutritive properties.
P’au d’arco
This herb encompasses lapachol which is effective against gram positive, acid-fast bacteria and fungi. It increases the number of red blood cells. It is an immune herb regarded to show alterative, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antiseptic and immune stimulant properties.
Propolis
Propolis is effective to counteract virus, bacteria and fungi. It strengthens thyroid and thymus glands. It has rich content of flavonoids. It promotes the activity of white blood cells.
Reishi
It acts as immune tonic and immunoregulator that promotes cellular immunity. It stimulates phagocytosis and promotes resistance to bacterial, viral and parasitic infection. It also inhibits histamine and activates interferon. It possesses anti-inflammatory, adaptogen and antiseptic activity.
Schizandra
Schizandra is well known for reducing fatigue and promote the ability to resistance against infections. It also improves oxygen metabolism. It helps to regenerate bone marrow and protects liver.
Shiitake
Shiitakes are rich in polysaccharides. It stimulates the activity of macrophages, interferon and natural killer cells. It has adaptogen, immune stimulant, antiviral, liver and kidney tonic, restorative and rejuvenative activity.
Thyme
Thyme possesses fungal, bacterial and viral infections. It is antiseptic, anti-fungal, rejuvenative, diaphoretic, vulnerary and tonic activity.
Usnic acid is effective in comparison to penicillin against strep and staph. Usnic acid disrupts the ability to form energy and they die. It is considered as herbal broad spectrum antibiotic. It has antiseptic, anti-fungal and immune stimulant properties.