Winter Immune Support

Winter Immune Support

As the temperature gauge begins to fall, many find themselves affected by symptoms such as: coughing, sniffling and feeling run down.

Don’t wait until you’re already sick to support your immunity! Ginger, lemon and honey tea is soothing at the first signs of a cold or flu, but actively supporting your immune system at the onset of cold weather or stressful periods is the best strategy.

Herbs such as Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia / purpurea), Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa), Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata), and Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus),¹ and medicinal mushrooms, Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)² support immune function by increasing production of white blood cells and other immune factors. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is traditionally used in Western herbal medicine to reduce the symptoms of common colds, flu and mild upper respiratory tract infections.¹

With greater immune resilience, you are less likely to experience severe symptoms if you encounter a bacteria or virus. Proactively taking immune supporting herbs can help keep you well and break the cycle of recurring or chronic infection.

If you would like to find a practitioner to discuss natural immune support, visit our Find a Practitioner page.

References:

[1] Bone K, Mills S. Principles and practice of phytotherapy: modern herbal medicine. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2013. p. 150-1.

[2] Venturella G, et al. Medicinal mushrooms: bioactive compounds, use, and clinical trials. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jan 10;22(2):634.

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