This year’s cold and flu season has been rough, and finding natural ways to stay healthy is on everyone’s mind. Medicinal herbs that boost immunity and relieve colds and flu can help strengthen your defenses and provide relief if you do get sick. Adding these beneficial herbs to your survival garden or victory garden will give you a potent source of natural medicine in your back yard, in addition to providing your family with nourishing, wholesome food to support overall health. Let’s look at some of the top immune-boosting herbs to plant from seed that will provide a sustainable, homegrown defense against seasonal sicknesses.
Top Immune-Boosting, Cold & Flu Fighting Herbs
There are so many herbs you can grow to create a wellness garden, and most of them are fairly easy to grow and use. They can offer both preventative and relief benefits for seasonal illnesses like colds and flu. We urge you to add as many of these to your victory garden as you can:
Calendula - These lovely cool weather flowers are easy to grow and are best known for skin healing and often used in making calendula oil, salves, and creams for external use. Calendula blooms can also be used dried or fresh in teas or tinctures to reduce inflammation and boost immunity.
German chamomile - The dried flowers of this herb have a lovely honey-like flavor when steeped in an herbal tea. A calming cup of chamomile tea is mildly anti-inflammatory and can help ease sore throats, soothe irritated nasal passages while relieving stress and supporting sleep.
Echinacea - Also known as Purple Coneflower, this immune system booster is famous. The roots and flowers are used in teas, tinctures, and even capsules to boost immunity and potentially shorten the duration of airborne sickness like colds and flu if taken at the first sign of illness.
Elecampane - This ancient healing herb has supported respiratory health for centuries. The dried root is simmered into a concentrated tea known as a decoction or used as a syrup to thin mucus and support lung health.
Horehound - The leaves and flowers of this strongly flavored herb are known as an expectorant and traditionally used for cough syrups and lozenges to relieve dry, hacking coughs, soothe scratchy throats, and clear mucus.
Hyssop - A healing herb since Biblical times with mild antiseptic and antiviral properties, hyssop is an excellent addition to any garden. Use hyssop leaves and flowers brewed into a tea or as a steam inhalation for easing congestion and respiratory problems.
Lavender - Relax and sleep better with the soothing aroma of lavender. The flowers can be steeped as tea, infused with honey, or used in essential oil preparations to calm nerves, relieve headaches, and open sinuses. Growing your own lavender from seed is a great way to save money, too!
Lemon Balm - A member of the mint family, lemon balm is super easy to grow both indoors and outdoors. The fresh leaves have mild sedative properties and are wonderful in teas, tinctures, and infused honey to soothe nerves, fight viruses, and ease cold symptoms. (You can also use dried leaves, but they do lose some potency.)
Mullein - This biennial plant is an ancient therapeutic herb that sends up a tall stalk of yellow flowers during its second year. Mullein’s dried leaves and blooms can be steeped into tea or used in steam inhalation to clear mucus, soothe coughs, and support lung health. Mullein flowers can also be used in ear oil for earaches caused by colds or flu.
Thyme - The tiny leaves of this culinary herb are rich in thymol, a powerful antiseptic compound found in some over the counter cough syrups. Thyme leaves can be used in teas, syrups, and steam to loosen mucus, fight respiratory infections, and calm coughs.
Oregano - This very easy-to-grow herb does more than spice up your Italian dishes. Oregano is a potent antiviral and antibacterial herb that’s great for fighting all sorts of infections. Brew the leaves into a tea or infuse in oil to use it as a medicinal herb.
Rosemary - Another popular culinary herb that supports lung health is rosemary. The menthol scent helps clear sinuses, congestion, and stimulates circulation to relieve the tired, achy joints and muscles that go along with the flu. Use the leaves in teas, steams, or infused oils.
Sage - White sage and common garden sage both have antimicrobial properties. White sage’s strong aroma is used in steam inhalation to clear respiratory passages, but using white sage for smudging could be irritating during illness. Culinary sage has a milder flavor and is better for teas and gargles to soothe sore throats. (Victoria blue sage also has some therapeutic properties, but is less commonly used for respiratory illness.)
Self-Heal - Also known as all-heal, you probably won’t be surprised to learn this medicinal herb is traditionally considered a natural remedy for almost everything under the sun thanks to its wide range of healing benefits. The leaves and flowers can be used for teas, tinctures, and poultices to boost immunity and speed healing.
Yarrow - The pretty little flowers and leaves are used in tea or tinctures to reduce fevers or support immune function. Yarrow is a highly beneficial herb that’s native to North America (as well as parts of Europe), is very easy to grow, and supports local pollinators.
Common Evening Primrose - Fresh or dried seeds and leaves of this North American native herb are used in teas and infusions to support immunity and to fight inflammation. Its seeds are also pressed into evening primrose oil to support female hormonal balance and skin health, which are important during flu season and beyond.
Boost Your Health Naturally with Medicinal Herbs
By planting immune-boosting herbs in your survival garden, you’ll be making another step towards self-sufficiency and resilience. These herbs are easy to care for and super budget friendly when grown from seed, especially compared to the price of buying herbal teas or remedies at the store. As a bonus, many can even be grown in containers or small spaces. Take control of your health this year and start a wellness garden with immune-boosting medicinal herbs today!
