Medicinal Plants: What is your cold/flu killer.

[cybrok]

I started to use medicinal plants last summer for minor injuries/sickness. Now I'm looking for a cold/flu killer.

What I have right now is an infusion of mint, birch bark and pine needles. I might add some mullein flowers it it gets down to my lungs, like H1N1.

It can still be perfected. What do you use?

I know of echinacea, but I ask more about stuff you can find by yourself.

 

[wildmike]

Astragalus.

 

[sizzler]

I don't know about a flu/cold killer. I don't think it exists.

There are good things for symptoms though.

The only things I know about where I am now are pine needles, wild rose hips, and blackberries. Mostly for the vitamin c.

Of course moonshine whiskey is my favorite. Not a plant, but it is one of the major food groups and it is grown in the woods. Works a trick on most things that ail ya!

 

[theedge13]

Emergen C

has plant stuffs in it..right? good to keep on ya this time of the year...

 

[Toucan Oasis]

Pau d' arco or chamomile.
Infusions of Hamelia patens works too.

 

[DavG]

chilis (don't necessarily have to be the hot ones)
ginger root

 

[jdhoward315]

Black elderberry prevents the virus from being able to replicate, therefore shortening the lifespan of the virus. Take it at the onset and in my experience it wont last more than a day. If you cant locate the plant most health food stores sale sambucus elderberry extract. If you are really lucky your local liquor store will have elderberry based wine.

John

 

[C_Kyle]

Not really a medicinal plant; but, plenty of oranges or grapefruit and green/black tea works good for me. I know it's not really what you were asking for, but similar in thought.

Are you looking for something you can gather, or purchase?

 

[acemaster]

Hops, barley, wheat...

 

[mcjhrobinson]

ginger root, honey, bitter melon leaves....boil water and throw them all in there....

 

[PayetteRucker]

spicy foods... clear out your sinuses real fast honey and tea work real well, and Vitamin D fortified OJ for boosting your immune system. I drink probably a quart a day, if not more, and have not been sick yet this season.

 

[jca21]

chamomile tea is a widely known remedy for cold/flu symptoms that has been around for a long time.

if you're looking for plants that could help cure cold/flu symptoms in the wild devil's club tea would be at the top of my list. it is part of the ginseng family and is considered to be a good cure-all for cold/flu symptoms as well as body aches. you could flavour the tea with licorice fern if that grows in your area.

i believe, the innu people of eastern canada used labrador tea as a treatment for cold/flu as well as a preventative measure.

the vitamin C in pine needles could also help fight off cold/flu symptoms.

honey is also a very important health remedy.

thats all i can think of off the top of my head.

 

[greenwoods]

Red sumac tea with honey and lemon, if I even feel slightly sick I drink gallons of it. I remove about 6 bunches of berries and add to boiling water for a few minutes, let cool and strain and add honey and fresh lemon juice.

Green hot chili. As green chili with pinto beans, onions and oregano. Stuffed with goats cheese and herbs. As salsa, or just chopped on eggs

Mark

 

[H2H907]

Elderberry extract/syrup, cordyceps, astragalus, ginger, garlic. Also minced onions simmered in honey for a cough.

 

[Anrkst6973]

Dewberry roots, henbit,rabbit clover,rose hips, and most of the other stuff mentioned (dandelion,elderberry,blueberry) seem to stave off the worst of it for me..boiled up with plain tea and sweetened with honey. Not sure its a "cure" but more like a "preventive". According to my reading the tannin's(what gives tea the brownish color) and the caffine help carry the super high doses of vitamins these things contain into your system..kind of like the B12 shot the doc gives but more fun and less painful!!