When it comes to boosting immune health and taking care of our bodies sometimes exactly what we need can be found in the simplest of places. Whether you are all about natural alternatives or simply looking for a little help, plants when using the right ones can work wonders in your life.

In Chinese medicine, there are tons of different plants that are used to promote health and really give us the extra benefits we need. Adding at least one to your day to day life can really promote a lot of positive change when done properly. While our immune systems usually do quite well on their own giving it a helping hand especially when we’re sick can be crucial.

Keeping our immune system healthy is important because it protects our body from infection and so forth. When a pathogen comes forth our immune system is the thing that fights it off, when compromised our immune system doesn’t do much good and we end up seriously bad off and sometimes worse. Your immune system affects every single part of your body. It controls your health, literally.

Below I am going to go over some of the most amazing plants in regards to working to give your immune health a bit of an extra kick. Some of these can support your immune system on a long-term basis and others are not as potent. That being said, all will help you to really become stronger in regards. Just a little bit of each of these can go a long way.

While these supplements are great to use to help things along, they are not to be supplemented with advice from your Doctor. We are not a medical website and we make no claims. If you are sick please go to your doctor.

5 Powerful Immune-Boosting Plants:

(Please keep in mind these are in no specific order.)

1. Echinacea

Echinacea is quite the medicinal plant and is available in many forms. It has been found in numerous studies to have positive effects on the immune system and can in a sense work as a seasonal booster. Those who use it in their day to day lives are at a much less chance of catching a cold than others and are in better health for it. It has also been found to encourage skin health as well as oral health.

Because it is an anti-inflammatory as well as an antibacterial it promotes wound healing big time and is able to stimulate healthy cell growth. When your body needs white blood cells this plant can add those in on some level which is truly fascinating.

2. Garlic

Garlic reduces inflammation and improves heart health. It is known for its antiviral and antibacterial properties but goes much further than most realize. Antioxidants found in garlic have even been noted as able to fight off free radicals which means they help prevent the damage cancer does within the body.

Abstract:

Immunomodulation and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Garlic Compounds

The benefits of garlic to health have been proclaimed for centuries; however, only recently have Allium sativum and its derivatives been proposed as promising candidates for maintaining the homeostasis of the immune system. The complex biochemistry of garlic makes it possible for variations in processing to yield different preparations with differences in final composition and compound proportion. In this review, we assess the most recent experimental results, which indicate that garlic appears to enhance the functioning of the immune system by stimulating certain cell types, such as macrophages, lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells, and eosinophils, by mechanisms including modulation of cytokine secretion, immunoglobulin production, phagocytosis, and macrophage activation. Finally, because immune dysfunction plays an important role in the development and progress of several diseases, we critically examined immunoregulation by garlic extracts and compounds isolated, which can contribute to the treatment and prevention of pathologies such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disorders, gastric ulcer, and even cancer. We concluded that A. sativum modulates cytokine secretion and that such modulation may provide a mechanism of action for many of their therapeutic effects.

Dr. Mercola wrote as follows in regards:

The combination of biochemicals in garlic, including tannins, saponins, phenols, flavonoids, and essential oils, has even been found to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Some of the superbugs killed by garlic were resistant to more than 10 different antibiotics.

Even more intriguing, the garlic used in the study was whole, simply ground with a mortar and pestle, and the researchers recommended adding garlic to your diet as a way to help prevent infections. According to researchers:

“…use of spices (garlic/ginger) in diet can reduce the risk of food contamination, protect the consumer from different foodborne diseases, improve their health status and combat with the foodborne diseases by using small quantity of spices (garlic/ginger) in diet

…it is recommended to use garlic …in different raw forms like pickle, garlic/gingerbread, curry powder, sauces, raw juices and without extensive cooking.

In conclusion, the results of the present study have provided the justification for the therapeutic potential of spices. The practice of using spices as supplementary or alternative medicine… will not reduce only the clinical burden of drug resistance development but also the side effects and cost of the treatment with allopathic medicine.”

3. Astragalus

While not as popular as some of the others on this list astragalus can work wonders in our lives. This herb in China has many different names and is used for tons of things. It helps those with anemia, prevents the cold and flu, and can even manage diabetes on some levels.

It is used in an ointment form to heal wounds and prevent infections and can be ingested to give the immune systems of those who need it a little extra help. Studies have also shown that it works great for reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and preventing fatigue. In regards to immune support, this kind of plant is one you should get your hands on.

Effects of Astragalus Polysaccharide on Immune Responses of Porcine PBMC Stimulated with PRRSV or CSFV:

4. Elderberry

Conclusion/ Study:

Elderberry Supplementation Reduces Cold Duration and Symptoms in Air-Travellers: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Although the occurrence of the common cold for this trial in travellers was low overall, a significant effect of elderberry on cold duration and cold associated symptoms was detected. Travellers using elderberry from 10 days before travel until 4–5 days after arriving overseas on average experienced a 2-day shorter duration of the cold and also noticed a reduction in cold symptoms. Physical health may stabilise during air travel due to elderberry, but further studies are needed to confirm this. No elderberry effect was observed on mental health of the participants. The incidence of adverse events was low overall and no adverse effects could be directly attributed to elderberry. Based on these results it seems worthwhile to undertake more clinical research with high quality elderberry preparations to better understand beneficial health implications of this nutritional traditional medicine.

5. Ginger

While the fragrance is not as pleasing to most people as others might be. It is a great source of vitamin C, potassium, manganese, and so much more. It promotes the release of intestinal gas and is able to soothe the intestinal tract in itself. Many studies have shown that it works great in regards to pain relief and is also able to even help those with asthma in reducing the effects.

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