Kitchen Herbs & Spices for the Immune System

Herbalist Dr. Linda Kingsbury Ph.D.      drlinda@IdahoHerbs.com

To order herbal products listed here call 208-596-4353

Mastercard and visa accepted.

To have Immune boosting herbs in your backyard, plant the following herbs (with an *) in your garden. Buy liquid herbal extracts (tinctures) of these herbs to have on hand when needed for prevention and to reduce flu symptoms. Drinking teas and adding the bulk herbs to cooking can boost your immune system. Tinctures have a 5 year shelf life and are Herb Tea concentrates that can be added to any beverage or taken directly in your mouth.

*BASIL LEAVES – Helps ease Colds, flu, nausea, chills, fever, stomach cramps. To make a tea: Steep 1 Tablespoon fresh or 1 teaspoon dried leaves in 1 cup of boiling water for ½ hour. Drink the tea, eat pesto.

*CAYENNE/CHILI PEPPERS – Helps to ease digestive upset, Coughs. High in A and C for prevention. To make an herbal vinegar: Buy 1 quart of Bragg's or Hain brand apple cider vinegar. Pour off about 1/2 cup. You can add the herbs directly to the bottle that the vinegar came in. Now add 1 bulb of garlic peeled and chopped plus 2-3 whole chili peppers that have been pierced with a knife (to release the active ingredients) into the bottle of apple cider vinegar. If there is still space add some of the vinegar back into the jar. Allow to sit for a least 3 days in the cupboard. You can keep the herbs in the bottle or stain them off.  For additional antibiotic effect and to ease sore throat add 1-2 sprigs of fresh Sage or Oregano. To use: Add 1 tablespoon to 1 cup of water 1x a day for prevention. Use the herbal vinegar base as a marinade and for salad dressings. Enjoy.

CINNAMON STICKS – Helps ease Chills, cold, coughs, IBS, digestive cramps, diarrhea, abdominal & low back pain. New research shows it helps the body use insulin efficiently To make a tea: Simmer 2 sticks of cinnamon in 3 cups of water for ½ hour. Add a touch of honey and milk. Sip 1 cup a day.  Sprinkle cinnamon powder on toast or cereal.

CLOVE BUDS  -Helps ease nausea pain, cough, congestion, cold, sinus problems, candida. Anti-inflammatory. High in eugenol which can protect against cardiovascular disease. To make Chai tea simmer the following herbs in 4 cups of water for ½ hour: 2 slices of fresh ginger root, 4 cardamom pods or ½ teaspoon seeds, 8 whole cloves, 6 peppercorns, 1 cinnamon stick. Add milk and honey

*GARLIC CLOVES – Helps ease Colds, flu and cancer prevention, mono, staph, rids the body of parasites, Amebic dysentery, antibiotic resistant bacteria, TB, Salmonella. To use: Add 1 chopped clove per portion size (exp. 1 clove to 1 c. cooked rice) to foods. Soak chopped cloves in olive oil for 3 days to make garlic oil. Add a drop of strained oil to a cotton ball and place in both ears if there is a sore throat or earache.

GINGER ROOTS– Helps ease coughs, muscle cramps, nausea, cold hands and feet, sinus congestion. Active against: staphyloccus, streptococcus, candida, Shigella dysentary To make a tea: simmer 3 slices of fresh root in 4 cups water for 20 minutes. The tea can also be used as a compress for chest congestion.

*OREGANO LEAVES- Helps ease stomachache, menstrual pains, nervous headache. Make a tea: Steep 2 teaspoons fresh or 1 teaspoon dried leaves in 1 cup of boiling water for ½ hour. Drink the tea, use on the skin as a compress, footbath, or skin wash as an antiseptic agent.

*ROSEMARY LEAVES - Helps ease Headache, colds, flu, digestive upset, aches and pains. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties Make a tea: Steep 1 Tablespoon fresh or 1 teaspoon dried leaves in 1 cup of boiling water for ½ hour. Add to soups, bread, fresh melon and citrus salads.

*SAGE LEAVES – Helps ease sore throat, headache, fever, sinus congestion, colds, flu, diarrhea. Active against: penicillin resistant bacteria, Streph, Staph, Candida, Salmonella. Natural antibiotic. Make a tea: Steep 1 Tablespoon fresh or 1 teaspoon dried leaves in 1 cup of boiling water for ½ hour. Drink 1 c. a day as needed. Add to salad dressing, poultry dishes. The tea makes an effective sore throat gargle.

*THYME LEAVES - Coughs, sore throats, post nasal drip, anti parasitic. Natural antibiotic. This is best kitchen herb for coughs, bronchitis, and chest infections. Drink the tea and use it as a mouthwash.

TUMERIC ROOTS – Eases Sore joints, slow digestion, flu-like symptoms. Improves liver function

To use: Take 1-2 capsules 2-3x a day as needed to ease pain and nausea. The active ingredients curcumin adds yellow to Curry powder. Eat Middle Eastern foods with curry.