9 Plants That Support Your Immune System

Plant medicine has been around for centuries, all over the world. Everything from herbs, flowers, weeds, fruits, vegetables, and plenty of other things in between were utilized in the pursuit of health and wellness.

In a famous Chinese Medicine book on roots and grasses “Pen-ts’ao,” written by Emperor Shen Nung circa 2500 BC cites 365 medicinal plants, many of which are used today such as the following: camphor, geranium, ginseng, jimson weed, cinnamon bark, and ephedra. Ayurvedic Medicine books mention treatment with plants such as numerous spice plants used even today: nutmeg, pepper, clove, marjoram, thyme, etc.

The Ebers Papyrus, written in 1550 BC, is a collection of 800 prescriptions referring to over 700 plant species used for therapy such as pomegranate, the castor oil plant, aloe, senna, garlic, onion, fig, willow, coriander, juniper, oregano, and so on.

Not only that but according to data from the Bible and the holy Jewish book the Talmud, during various rituals accompanying a treatment, aromatic plants were utilized such as myrrh and frankincense.

While autumn is a beautiful time of year with many wonderful things happening, cold weather often comes with more cases of the cold, flu, and viruses. It is important to know what you can use from your garden, the grocery store, supplements,  or in the form of essential oils to help boost your immune system! 

1. Basil is an incredible herb that can help to alleviate nausea, reduce inflammation in the body, and fight various bacteria. Basil can be used fresh or dried, in plant form or essential oil form but will be the most potent as an essential oil. Basil was widely used in India as part of Ayurvedic Medicine to treat diarrhea, coughs, indigestion, and colds. Basil is antibacterial and provides relief from colds, flu, sinus infections, and fevers. It is an antispasmodic plant and has been used as a treatment for whooping cough.

2. Cinnamon bark is quite the powerhouse of a plant, not only in flavor, but also in medicinal abilities. It has been used for gastrointestinal issues, for infections caused by bacteria and parasites, for menstrual cramps, and for the common cold and flu. Cinnamon is full of highly potent polyphenol antioxidants and those potent antioxidants mean that cinnamon is also anti-inflammatory. Cinnamaldehyde, one of the main active components of cinnamon, may help fight various kinds of infection. Cinnamon bark essential oil has been shown to effectively treat respiratory tract infections and inhibit the growth of some bacteria, including listeria and salmonella. 

3. Copaiba is a beautiful tree with a host of benefits. Copaiba is anti-inflammatory, fights free radical damage, is antimicrobial, can provide topical pain relief, and can have the ability to help treat various infections such as, bladder infections and strep throat. This is most commonly used in the form of an essential oil.  

4. Coriander seeds can lower blood sugar. They are rich in ​​terpinenes, quercetin, and tocopherols (antioxidants) which may have anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, and neuroprotective effects. According to test-tube and animal studies, they can lower “bad” cholesterol, promote healthy digestion, and contain antimicrobial compounds that help fight infections and certain foodborne illnesses. Coriander is so easy to add to your diet, which makes it a great go to! 

5. Frankincense has a multitude of uses and has been around forever, in many forms. It has been widely used for illnesses that deal with inflammation and for many people who live with cancer. It has the potential to reduce cancer cells and stop their growth, reduce arthritis pain, maintain oral health, and improve stomach function.  The boswellic acids that come from frankincense have good antibacterial and antifungal properties which make them great to use for a variety of ailments.

6. Marjoram is one of my favorite herbs and has been used as an herbal medicine for centuries and it is actually more potent when it is used fresh. Marjoram has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobia,l and antioxidant properties.  It can be used to treat a variety of digestive issues, painful menstruation, and infections. It is easy to use this herb while cooking or add it to tea! 

7. Oregano might actually be ahead of marjoram, but both are great. Oregano is known for being antiviral, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and being full of antioxidants such as; carvacrol, thymol, and terpinene. Oregano essential oil is often used to help treat cold and flu symptoms, especially fevers and respiratory symptoms and it’s analgesic effects could be what helps with some of the physical symptoms of illness as well. 

8. Pink pepper is a great natural remedy for its antiviral, diuretic, antiseptic and disinfectant properties. It is used in cases of rheumatism, menstrual cramps, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, and common colds. 

9. Thyme is a powerful herb that has been used and loved all over the world. Thyme has antibacterial and antifungal properties and is great for infections and acne! Thyme is often used in teas to help reduce coughing and it is full of vitamin C which will boost your immune system in no time.

Every person is different and our bodies will all respond differently to what we put in them.  This blog is not meant to act as professional medical advice. It is just interesting to learn more and talk about how we can use plants, event those in our gardens to benefit our health and well being.  

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