Hey there, viewers! Are you worried about the latest virus?
Me too! Given the last two years we’ve had, that’s pretty reasonable. Well,
luckily for you, there’s hope! There are plenty of herbs that can strengthen your
immune system and help you avoid illness. Let’s take a look at some of them today.
Are you into peppermint? What about garlic? Can basil help your immunity? Wait a second,
licorice? I gotta hear this! We’re talking about all that AND more…
Basil We’re kicking things off with one that’s bound
to give you mixed feelings. Not everyone loves basil. I mean, sure it goes well in some of your
favorite recipes, but it’s not universally praised the way some of the other herbs on this list are.
Nevertheless, the ever so fresh and fragrant basil is very much capable of fighting viral
infections. When we talk about basil as an antiviral herb, we’re relating to all sorts.
One of them is a type of plant that is commonly known and worshiped across
India. This is called Tulsi, and you will find it in many Indian households.
People believe that the Tulsi plant is sacred and promotes positivity and prosperity.
On top of that, it’s also handy for them to pluck a few leaves,
and add it to their tea to help alleviate symptoms of cough and cold. Basil can
increase your immune cells. This will protect your body from all sorts of viral infections.
Peppermint Don’t you just love a good cup of peppermint
tea? It’s enough to brighten up your entire day. Peppermint is not just a powerful herb,
it’s also popular across the world. You may shy away from peppermint as an ingredient, but did you
know that it can treat a lot of viral infections? Peppermint has trusted antiviral qualities.
There are active components like rosmarinic acid and menthol in the essential oil
and leaves. These are the sources of the anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties
that peppermint carries. It’s quite refreshing to have anything with peppermint in it. So,
even if you’re not suffering from any infections, you can still enjoy some peppermint as it boosts
your immune system. It also has many other benefits for your mind and body.
Garlic A lot of you enjoy garlic in
your pasta and noodles. It really adds an exotic flavor to food. On top of that, garlic works well
as a sauce. For those of you who hate garlic, well you might think differently after hearing this…
Garlic has a lot of different health benefits. The first one being the
ability to heal viral infections along with a bunch of other conditions. It’s so good for
your gastrointestinal system. Many doctors even suggest making garlic a part of your regular diet.
Garlic can also successfully boost your immunity. It stimulates protective cells
that are present in your immune system. This safeguards your body against viral
infections. You couldn't expect more from an ingredient. Not only does it take your
food to the next level, it also ends up making you stronger and healthier.
So the next time you pass garlic in the supermarket,
don’t shy away from adding it to your cart.
Oregano Oregano is a herb that
we often find ourselves reaching for. This usually happens when we cook pizza and other tasty foods.
All you need to do is sprinkle a little into your recipe, and you’ve enhanced the flavor.
While that’s all good and well, adding flavor to food is not the only thing you
should appreciate oregano for. You should love it for the many medicinal benefits it provides.
Oregano is a well respected member of the mint family. People love it just for the way it smells.
As far as its antiviral properties are concerned, oregano gets it from carvacrol,
which is an important compound that oregano plants have. Oregano is used as a dry,
grounded herb as well as an oil. It’s your choice how you use it,
but if you want something that boosts your immune system, oregano is a smart
way to go. Oregano has also proven to be effective in relieving children of diarrhea.
Lemon Balm
Lemon, which comes with its own set of benefits, is something most of us have to improve flavor.
Well, let me introduce you to lemon balm, which is one of the best antiviral herbs around.
Lemon balm is a plant. People like to use it in the form of seasonings and tea blends.
Apart from its rich and pleasant taste, lemon balm is proud of its antiviral properties.
The reason why lemon balm is good at keeping viral infections at bay is because the extract
of lemon balm is a concentrated source of plant compounds and essential oils.
These drive viruses away. So, level up your boring tea by mixing in some lemon
balm. It will not only lift your mood, but also defend your body against infections.
Licorice
This is one we teased a minute ago. Most of you were introduced to licorice as a young child.
But it wasn’t in the form of a medicine. It was in the form of a tasty corner store treat. Well,
you folks would be surprised to know that licorice is actually a pretty common herb.
Licorice is such a popular herb, most of us have already used it in some form
without even realizing. And no, I’m not talking about the candy here. I’m talking
about beneficial products in both beauty and health. Licorice can do wonders for your skin,
but that's not what we’re discussing here today. We’re talking about its antiviral benefits.
There are so many substances in licorice that protect you from viral infections.
Like all other herbs we’ve talked about in this video, licorice is not a new discovery. It’s been
around forever. Licorice has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. This is one of the oldest
healing systems in the world. It’s been included in countless other forms of treatment as well.
Ginseng (jin-seng) This is one that some of you
may not have heard of. Heck, I only heard about it a second ago! Ginseng is like a powerhouse
in the world of herbs. It works in not just one or two, but many different fields. For one, it
helps give you a youthful glow. Not only that, it also helps give elderly people more energy. But,
that's not where the benefits of Ginseng end. It’s one of those herbs that fights viruses
effectively. The compounds in Ginseng help fight germs and bacteria, allowing you to stay healthy.
Another popular ingredient in old Chinese medicine,
ginseng is the name of the roots of Panax family plants. So in many ways, we can stay
healthy by keeping in touch with our roots… Okay, bad joke. But seriously, ginseng helps.
Sage If you’re into spirituality,
you’re probably more than familiar with sage. It’s an extremely important part of
many different rituals. On top of that, sage is also important in the medical world. It’s
for this reason that sage is widely used all across the globe to treat viral infections.
It’s a part of the mint family, and needless to say, it smells beautiful and refreshing.
The various compounds found in the stem and leaves of the sage plant help sage
deliver its antiviral benefits. So, the next time you burn some sage,
or consume it in any form, just know you’re becoming healthier by the second.
Just don’t burn too much of it. The strong smell is bound to irritate your roommates.
Fennel While
we did mention before how licorice brings so many benefits to the table,
I think it’s still important to talk about fennel, a licorice-flavored plant. This is
a herb that can fight off some really nasty viruses. You would be happy to know that the
advantages of using fennel don't end here. It’s also good enough to boost your immune system.
What this means is that it will make your body strong enough by itself to fight illnesses.
An important component of the essential oil in fennel is trans-anethole (anet-hole). One
virus shown its power against is the herpes virus. Pretty convenient. As if
that wasn't enough, you also have fennel's anti-inflammatory properties to gush over.
If you have an infection or a wound of some kind, fennel can help you.
Ginger We were
bound to mention this one sooner or later. Let’s face it, most people have ginger in
some form or another. Even if you’re not that into it, you’re using it in
at least one recipe. But there’s more to this ingredient than meets the eye.
It shouldn’t come off as a surprise that ginger is loaded with health benefits. We’ve seen it
being used in lozenges and teas. This isn’t for nothing, you know. Ginger is strong enough to
supply our body with antiviral powers. The reason behind this is the potent plant compounds that are
found in high concentrations of ginger. You know what that means… People will use it in
natural remedies to treat a range of illnesses, left, right and center. Why shouldn't they?
Ginger is so common, as well as affordable. You can get it at almost any food store.
Zingerone and gingerols are two compounds found in ginger that can bring on viral replication.
They also successfully stop viruses from getting into the host cells.
Now that's a lot of benefits coming from something you can find simply
resting in your kitchen. The next time you decide to stay in and cook dinner,
grab a little bit of ginger and sprinkle a teaspoon or so into your pan. Just make sure
ginger mixes properly with the other ingredients. Otherwise, you’re in for one strong taste.
There are so many powerful herbs out there for you, but it’s not just herbs you can take
advantage of. You need to think about the foods you're eating, and how they’re affecting you.
Let’s keep the conversation going with a couple more diet-related videos,
shall we? Here’s what you need to know.
Check out 24 High Protein Foods That You Should Eat Regularly.
You should also take a look at 16 High Fiber Foods That You Should Eat Everyday.
Go ahead, click one. Or better yet, watch both,
and learn more about how diet can improve your health. Have you had any of these herbs? Would
you consider using more of them after watching this video? Let us know in the comments below!