Six Must Have Herbs for the Upcoming Winter Season

Most of you know that I absolutely love my herbs.  As the crazy mad scientist herbalist mamma that I am, I wanted to take a moment and share my list of must-have herbs for this winter season.  With so many new bugs going around it is imperative that I keep my cabinets stocked at all times with herbal meds.  From rubs to glycerites and herbal tea blends, I like being prepared in case we get slammed with a pesky invader. On a side note, a daily intake of minerals/electrolytes, vitamin C, vitamin D3 with K2, and zinc is a must for us during cold and flu season. These supplements are the lone rangers no one hears about but are extremely important in keeping our bodies healthy.

Soon we will hear kids at school coughing and sneezing on each other all day long.
Can anyone say “Yuck” with me?
All germs aside; this year I encourage you to get armed with all the great green herbs that God created for our benefit.  As I have said before on this site, there are many hidden medicinal treasures embedded in nature’s beautiful playground, our earth.

Now for the fantastic six.

1. Astragalus:  An amazing root that has been used for centuries as a powerful antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral.  Research has shown that it assists the body in returning to normal immune function, especially for those who are very ill.  It’s also a powerful adaptogen that according to recent research assists white blood cells in the process of fighting infection by signaling them where they need to go to fight off intruding pathogens.  At home, we use it in teas, capsules, tinctures, glycerites, soups, and smoothies.

Here is a recipe for making tea using astragalus root:

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups of water
• 1-2 teaspoons of astragalus root, sliced or chopped
• Raw Honey or other sweetener, to taste (optional)

Instructions:

1. Bring the water to a boil in a small pot or saucepan.
2. Add the astragalus root to the boiling water.
3. Reduce the heat to a simmer and let the astragalus root steep in the water for 10-15 minutes.
4. Strain the astragalus root out of the water using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
5. Sweeten the tea with honey or your preferred sweetener, if desired.
6. Enjoy your astragalus tea hot or chilled.

Astragalus root has a slightly sweet and slightly bitter taste, so you may want to adjust the amount of sweetener you use based on your preference. Some people also like to add other herbs, such as ginger or lemon, to their astragalus tea for added flavor. You can also try using astragalus root in other tea blends or infusing it into other beverages, such as smoothies or cocktails.

2. Elderberries: These potent berries from the elder plant are native to Western and Central Asia, Northern Africa, and Europe.  I must note that although some people may ingest fresh elderberries I do not recommend you do so due to it causing nausea and vomiting if you eat too many.  This occurs due to the level of alkaloids present in the berries.  The alkaloids are destroyed, however, after cooking the berries or simmering them for tea preparation.
At home, we make elderberry syrup, wine, and tea.  We use it for its immunity-boosting properties for colds, flu, fever, sore throat, and overall wellness.  Elderberries have been proven to be effective against several strains of influenza.  It’s one of the main ingredients in my Immunity Rescue tea and makes a great-tasting syrup for sick children. Because elderberries are a stimulant to the immune system, they may not be suitable for those with histamine intolerance and autoimmune conditions.

Here is a recipe for a tea using elderberries and fresh ginger root:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of water
• 1 teaspoon of dried elderberries
• 1 slice of fresh ginger root, about 1/4 inch thick
• Raw Honey or other sweetener, to taste (optional)

Instructions:

1. Bring the water to a boil in a small pot or saucepan.
2. Add the elderberries and ginger root to the boiling water.
3. Reduce the heat to a simmer and let the elderberries and ginger root simmer in the water for 10-15 minutes.
4. Strain the elderberries and ginger root out of the water using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
5. Sweeten the tea.
6. Can be enjoyed hot or chilled.

3. Ginger: With its strong smell and spicy undertones, ginger root makes a fantastic addition to any dish, tea, or herbal medicine.  I used it for my grandmother in earlier years as a rub to promote circulation and warm the body.  This is accomplished by making a paste with shredded ginger, mixing it with olive oil and uncooked rice, and gentling and massaging the desired area.  Ginger root has been used for thousands of years for nausea, motion sickness, colds, viruses, cough, congestion, and stomach flu.  Japanese scientists have noted its ability to block mutation of the cells that lead to cancer.  At home, we use ginger in everything, including soups, stews, tinctures, teas, and baths.  Is fantastic at relaxing sore and tired muscles and makes a great wash for tired feet, and helps calm menstrual cramps.

4. Thyme: Oh, the wonders of my beloved thyme.  Over the years, I have created many salves and glycerites with its beautiful leaves.  It boasts antiseptic, antibacterial, antispasmodic, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory properties, among others.  We do everything with thyme you can think of.  I can’t tell you how many times our entire family has enjoyed a bath with thyme or a nice hot cup of tea.  When using thyme, I do not recommend you use essential oil as it is high in volatile oils that can irritate the stomach and damage gut flora.  Instead, use the dried herb for your preparations or a tincture.

Here is a recipe for making tea using fresh thyme:

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups of water
• 4 sprigs of fresh thyme, about 2-3 inches long
• Raw Honey or other sweetener, to taste (optional)

Instructions:

1. Bring the water to a boil in a small pot or saucepan.
2. Add the thyme sprigs to the boiling water.
3. Reduce the heat to a simmer and let the thyme simmer in the water for 10 minutes.
4. Strain the thyme out of the water using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
5. Sweeten the tea and enjoy it hot.

5. Goldenseal: Used by many as an herbal antibiotic and a powerful immune system supporter.  It’s noted that if it’s taken during the initial stages of respiratory infections, colds, or flu, goldenseal can aid the body in preventing further symptoms from developing.  It contains properties that help against bacteria, fungus, and other pathogens.  Its taste is not pleasant, so we use it mainly in capsule form and for topical applications.  Goldenseal should not be taken for more than 15 days at a time.  When we take it at home we break for at least 2 weeks or more before resuming the consumption of goldenseal.

6. Echinacea Root and leaf (in loose tea form, glycerites, and tinctures) This is one of the best go-to herbs for an acute viral infection. Echinacea has been used for years to aid millions in getting over the common cold and viral infections. It is effective because it increases the activity of our white blood cells and kind of pushes them to target invading pathogens. This is not an herb to take daily as it is a powerful immune system stimulant. When we have used it in our home, we take for 15 to 20 days and then break for the same amount of time before resuming if needed. Because echinacea is a stimulant to the immune system it may not be suitable for those with histamine intolerance and autoimmune conditions. Exercise caution or avoid if allergic to ragweed as it is part of the Asteraceae family

Well, there you go.  That’s my top list of herbs for this upcoming winter season.

Wondering why herbs aren’t used alongside allopathic medicine? Click here to read a little about the history of herbal medicine.