Herbal Action: Antiviral

Herbs that help the body fight off viruses

See also antimicrobials

What is a virus?

A virus is a microscopic pathogen that invades cells and then replicates itself until the cell bursts and spreads to other cells. The Latin meaning of the word virus is toxin or poison — which gives some insight into why so many diseases today are caused by them. Your immune system is the only thing that will actually destroy a virus in your body. That's why building and strengthening your immune system is the best thing you can do — so that when a virus invades, your body can immediately kick into action to attack and remove it.

What they do:

• Help the body in destroying, inhibiting or resisting viruses.

• Interfere with the viral life cycle — blocking a virus's ability to attach to, enter, or replicate within host cells

• Strengthen the immune system's ability to recognize and respond to viral invaders

• Support and speed up recovery from viral infections

• Modulate inflammation that can accompany viral illness

When to consider them:

As soon as symptoms of a viral illness appear — alongside ongoing immune support, protease-rich foods, and gentle detox support.

Herbs

• Ginger

• Elder

• St John’s wort

• Licorice

• Pine

• Usnea

• Yarrow

• Dandelion

• Basil

• Garlic

• Oregano

• Black walnut

• Plantain

• Thyme

• Lemon balm 

• Lomatium

• Astragalus

• Boneset

• Echinacea

Resources for Further Study

• Immune System - details on viruses and how to treat them

• Herbal Antivirals by Stephen Harrod Buhner

• Anti-vrial Herbs - Dr. Axe