Your immune system keeps you safe by fighting off bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and toxins outside your body. A foreign substance could be a threat from the outside, like a virus, or damaged cancer cells inside the body. There are many different ways to strengthen your immune system.
A healthy body starts with an immune system that works well. Botanical remedies are a healthy way to boost your immune system. As part of the original Hippocratic oath, Hippocrates stressed the importance of diet and lifestyle. Your immune system’s cells, tissues, and organs fight off sickness and infection.
Your skin, mucous membranes, and white blood cells all work together to keep germs out of your body or trap them when they do. The intestines are home to a big part of your immune system. This organ in the middle of your body controls 70% of your immune system. The gut microbiome must be in good shape for a healthy immune system.
Therapeutic & Healthy Teas
Polyphenols are antioxidants found in superplants that are very good for you. Free radicals and oxidative stress damage cells every day, but antioxidants can’t do any harm because they bind to them. For immune health and function, various antioxidants and polyphenols are needed.
While the herbs in herbal teas aren’t as potent as those in tinctures, which are used as medicines, herbal teas still have the same health benefits. Tinctures of herbs are more powerful than teas. Usually, 30 drops of tincture are the same as 1 cup of therapeutic-strength tea.
8 Best Herbal Teas For Immune Support
Many cultures worldwide eat traditional herbs daily because they contain potent phytonutrients, antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and other suitable plant compounds for the immune system. Here are my eight favorite herbal teas that will help the immune system and go well with Camellia sinensis teas. For the most health benefits, herbs should be eaten when fresh.
Echinacea Tea
It is one of the herbs studied the most in herbal medicine. It affects the immune system in many ways, such as improving antibodies, raising interferon levels to fight viruses, and making white blood cells grow faster. Polysaccharides, glycoproteins, and alkylamides are all used in medicine to boost the immune system and stop viruses and bacteria from spreading. Echinacea won’t keep you from getting a cold, but some studies show that taking it daily can make a cold disappear faster.
How To Make Tea With Echinacea
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of echinacea flower or leaf
- Boil one cup of water and let it steep.
- You can also boil a teaspoon of echinacea root in a cup or two of water for ten minutes.
Elderberry Immune Support Tea
Elderberry wine is famous for being made from ripe elderberries. Elderberry-based cold and flu remedies contain antioxidants that fight inflammation and are suitable for the immune system. Studies in the lab have shown that elder extracts stop the growth of viruses like the flu.
In one study, 15 people with the flu who took four tablespoons of elderberry syrup, raspberry, glucose, honey, and citric acid (brand name Sambucol) got better faster than 12 people who took a placebo. When given at the first sign of illness, elderberry syrup has been shown to make colds and flu less severe and shorter.
Elderberries have more flavonoids and vitamins A and C than any other berry. They are also better at fighting free radicals. You can use any elderberry. The European elderberry and the North American elderberry are very similar. In Europe, the tree is called Sambucus nigra, and in the United States, it is called Sambucus nigra variety Canadensis.
How To Make Tea With Elderberries
- 2 tablespoons of dried cranberries
- 2 cups filtered water that has been boiled
- Let it cook for 15 minutes.
- Pour into mugs, and if you want, add honey.
Ginger Tea
In Ayurvedic medicine, ginger and turmeric help digestion and reduce swelling. Ginger is a common spice and medicinal plant used often, especially as a general antiemetic. According to research, the compounds in ginger help keep cells and the immune system healthy. During the day, drink fresh ginger tea. Studies have shown that ginger root can kill viruses and bacteria.
How To Make Ginger Tea Right Away
- Cut the fresh rhizome into small pieces that are about an inch long.
- Let it cook for 15 minutes in 2 cups of filtered water.
- Pour it into a mug.
Turmeric Tea
Ayurvedic practitioners often add turmeric to ginger tea to help the liver and blood flow and keep the joints healthy. New research shows that turmeric can help maintain the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response and support immune cells. Turmeric has a very active chemical called curcumin. Curcumin has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body, especially in the digestive tract.
How To Make Turmeric Tea
- Include 2 cups of boiling water and 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder.
- Let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Pour it into a cup. To taste, add honey or lemon.
Peppermint Tea
Mint leaves are often used to help digestion, but studies show they may also help the immune system. Peppermint has potent antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, and antitumor properties and may also help with allergies.
Peppermint and menthol, an active ingredient, are suitable for the lungs. A cup of warm peppermint tea can help thin mucus and loosen phlegm for a stuffy nose. Tea made from peppermint leaves and the oil from the plant are used in traditional medicine.
How To Make Peppermint Tea:
- Boil 1 cup of water over one teaspoon of dried or six to eight fresh mint leaves.
- Let it steep for 10 minutes, then strain it into a mug.
Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus is valued as a mild laxative and diuretic. It is also used to treat colds, coughs, and heart problems, making it an excellent choice for general health. Hibiscus tea is a fantastic drink that contains antioxidants called anthocyanins, Vitamin C, mucilage, and pectins.
Because it contains mucilage and vitamin C, hibiscus tea can help with colds and sore throats. Some research suggests it may help balance the stable system and enhance the body’s natural defenses against pathogens. However, more research is needed to prove that hibiscus tea can fight viruses.
How To Make Hibiscus Tea:
- Boil 1 cup of water and stream it over 2 teaspoons of chopped hibiscus.
- Let it sit for 15 minutes.
- Pour it through a strainer and serve it hot or cold with honey.
Tulsi Tea
Tulsi is used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat coughs and boost the immune system. Ayurveda also uses holy basil as a tonic to help people stay healthy. Five clinical trials show that tulsi may help the immune system work well or boost the body’s natural ability to fight viruses. These studies also show that tulsi can help reduce inflammation. Many bioactive compounds in tulsi can work alone or together to stop inflammatory pathways.
How To Make Tulsi Tea
- Get 1 cup of filtered water to a boil.
- Pour it over one teaspoon of fresh tulsi leaves.
- Let it cook for 15 minutes.
- Pour it into a mug.
- To taste, add honey or lemon.
Buckwheat Tea Or Soba Cha
Buckwheat is called soba in Japanese. It is a traditional Japanese herbal tisane: roasted buckwheat tea or sobacha. Buckwheat tea doesn’t naturally contain caffeine, and it tastes toasty with nutty undertones. It contains a plant flavonoid called quercetin, which can fight viruses. Only a few tea shops in the US sell buckwheat tea, which is primarily sold in Asian markets.
How To Make Buckwheat Tea:
- Get 1 cup of filtered water to a boil.
- Add 1 to 12 teaspoons of roasted buckwheat to it.
- Let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Pour it into a mug.
- Taste and add honey.