Herbal Medicine for Cold and Flu Information

The common cold or flu is one of medicine’s greatest mysteries. While there are plenty of pharmaceutical products offered to help ease the symptoms of these illnesses, our local drug stores still offer us no opportunities to rid ourselves of the ailment itself. The pharmaceutical market offers such products as Vicks and Theraflu, but these products are only designed to make you feel better for the duration of your cold. While you may lose the coughing or running nose symptoms, there is still a sickness tugging at your body.

Herbal medicines for cold and flu ailments do not directly attack the viruses. They exist to help boost your immune system since only your own body can help you fight off these problems. Your immune system is the key to fending off viruses, and keeping it in working order can be key to keeping yourself healthy and well.

In traditional Chinese medicine, astragalus root is often used to help the immune system kick out the invaders. A renowned immune system enhancer, this root is also a building tonic. Mainly used for long-term disease prevention, astragalus root also helps in alleviating colds. Another Chinese remedy for the cold is a combination of herbs. Honeysuckle flower, forsythia fruit, platycodon root, peppermint, bamboo leaf, licorice root, schizonepeta, burdock root, and black soybean are used together in a substance referred to as “Yin Chao”. This combination fights off the symptoms of the cold while providing boosted immune system defense.

Elder flower and gentian root are also a classic herbal medicine for cold problems. In a university study, the effects of these herbs were measured against the effects of a leading antibiotic towards helping a cold. The herbs provided faster response, greater effects, and less side effects than their pharmaceutical opponent.

Clearly, using herbal medicine for cold and flu problems can be a great way to clear up your sickness. As an alternative to the modern medicine offered in drug stores today, these substances usually have a greater effect on the problem while resulting in less side effects.