10 Surprising HERBS to BOOST Your IMMUNE

ALOE VERA

Aloe vera is packed full of immune-boosting polysaccharides which help the immune system to behave properly. Too much inflammation in the body can cause problems within the immune system and can cause conditions like asthma, eczema and Crohn’s disease. Soothing herbs like aloe vera juice can slow the inflammatory cascade and help reorder the immune response to prevent these conditions. Aloe vera contains a substance called acemannan, which has been shown to have antiviral, antitumor, and immune-stimulating effects.

Aloe vera contains vitamins A, C, and E: three key vitamins with antioxidant powers. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals in the body, which are molecules that can cause damage to cells and tissues. Some of these compounds can help inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, has long been known as a treatment for sores, particularly burns, including sunburns, is packed with vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12 and folic acid. It’s also rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, selenium and potassium.’
ANDROGRAPHIS

Andrographis is a plant that is native to South Asian countries such as India and Sri Lanka. The leaf and underground stem are used to make medicine.

Andrographis is frequently used for preventing and treating the common cold and flu (influenza). Some people claim andrographis stopped the 1919 flu epidemic in India.

Andrographis is also used for a wide assortment of other conditions. It is used for digestive complaints including diarrhea, constipation, intestinal gas, colic, and stomach pain; for liver conditions including an enlarged liver, jaundice, and liver damage due to medications; for infections including leprosy, pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, syphilis, malaria, cholera, leptospirosis, rabies, sinusitis, and HIV/AIDS; and for skin conditions including wounds, ulcers and itchiness.

ASTRAGALUS

Astragalus is an herb. The root is used to make medicine.

Astragalus is used for many conditions, the most common use of astragalus root in herbal medicine is to stimulate the immune system. Astragalus often is recommended for the prevention of the common cold.

Astragalus is taken by mouth for hay fever, diabetes, kidney disease, and to strengthen and regulate the immune system. Some people use astragalus as a general tonic, to protect the liver, and to fight bacteria and viruses. It is also used to prevent and reduce side effects associated with cancer treatment.

A small study showed improvements in glucose metabolism in diabetes, and a Chinese trial demonstrated positive effect in chronic kidney disease.

BLACK PEPPER

Black pepper is one of the most commonly used spices worldwide. Black pepper is more than just a kitchen staple. It has been deemed the “king of spices” and used in ancient Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years due to its high concentration of potent, beneficial plant compounds.

The pungent spice has been a part of many Ayurvedic kadhas that are known to alleviate cold, cough and rev up your immunity naturally. Black pepper is replete with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which help keep infections at bay and also provide relief from the discomfort. Black pepper is also enriched with vitamin C, which naturally boosts the immunity and works as an excellent antibiotic.

Black pepper is rich in a potent antioxidant called piperine, which may help prevent free radical damage to your cells, contains an active compound that has been shown to decrease inflammation, extract may improve blood sugar control, contains an active compound that has slowed the replication of cancer cells and induced cancer cell death.

BLACK TEA

The healthiest tea that one will want to drink every day. Black tea is unique, and it is known to be especially beneficial for certain health purposes.

The major health benefits of black tea include its nutritional value, anti-cancer benefits, digestive benefits, beneficial effects on skin and hair health, and much more.

The tannins in black tea don't just give it its characteristic taste. Several studies have shown that tannins help fight viruses such as influenza ("the flu"), dysentery, and hepatitis. Black tea also contains alkylamine antigens, which help boost immune response.

Black tea is abundant in antioxidants, such as flavonoids. These antioxidants have been demonstrated to lower the risk of heart disease. Perhaps the most-studied tea health benefit is its anti-cancer benefit. There is a growing body of evidence that black tea also plays a role in cancer prevention, the tannins in tea in general offer digestive benefits, drinking black tea benefits the skin, the caffeine in black tea has been shown to improve mental focus and concentration by promoting blood flow in the brain.

CLOVE

Clove is a plant grown in parts of Asia and South America. People use the oils, dried flower buds, leaves, and stems to make medicine.

Ayurveda describes certain plants to be effective in developing and protecting the immune system. One such plant is clove. The dried flower bud of clove contains compounds that help in improving the immune system by increasing the white blood cell count, thereby, improving delayed-type hypersensitivity.

Clove is most commonly applied directly to the gums for toothache, pain control during dental work, and other dental-related issues. Cloves may improve digestion by stimulating the secretion of digestive enzymes, touted by many for their antibacterial properties against a number of human pathogens, contain high amounts of antioxidants, which are ideal for protecting the organs from the effects of free radicals, especially the liver, possess anti-inflammatory and pain-killing properties, also reduces headache.

ECHINACEA

Echinacea is a very popular herb, and people commonly take it to help combat flu and colds. Echinacea is widely used to fight infections, especially the common cold, and the flu. Some people take echinacea at the first sign of a cold, hoping they will be able to keep the cold from developing. Other people take echinacea after cold of flu-like symptoms have started, hoping they can make symptoms less severe or resolve quicker.

Echinacea is also used against other types of infections including urinary tract, ear and throat infections. Sometimes people apply echinacea to their skin to treat boils, skin wounds, or burns.

ELDERBERRY

Elderberry is most often taken as a supplement to treat cold and flu symptoms. Elderberry contains antioxidants which can relieve colds, fight the flu, and boost the immune system.

A systematic review from 2010 concluded that elderberries have antioxidant and antiviral effects. It also have have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, have positive effects on some markers of heart and blood vessel health.

 GARLIC

Eating garlic can boost the number of virus-fighting T-cells in your bloodstream -- important because colds and the flu are caused by viruses. Its cloves are said to help treat the common cold, keep the plague at bay. The scientists speculated that the garlic extract worked by boosting participants' immune cell function.

Garlic's high sulfur content explains the bulb's benefit as a cold and flu fighter. The sulfur in garlic helps your body absorb the trace element zinc, which is an immunity booster. Garlic also contains anti- cancer properties, effective in destroying the cells in glioblastomas, a type of deadly brain tumor, potentially a powerful antibiotic, helps protect the heart during cardiac surgery and after a heart attack.

GILOY (GURCH)

Giloy is an Ayurvedic herb that has been used and advocated in Indian medicine for ages. In Sanskrit, Giloy is known as ‘Amrita’, which literally translates to ‘the root of immortality’, because of its abundant medicinal properties.

Giloy is a universal herb that helps boost immunity. It is a powerhouse of antioxidants which fight free-radicals, keep your cells healthy and get rid of diseases.

Giloy helps remove toxins, purifies blood, fights bacteria that causes diseases and also combats liver diseases and urinary tract infections, is used by experts in treating heart related conditions and is also found useful in treating infertility, helps get rid of recurrent fevers, is very beneficial in improving digestion and treating bowel related issues, helps reduce mental stress as well as anxiety, helps get rid of toxins, boosts the memory, calms you down and makes for an excellent health tonic if combined with other herbs.