Immune System Herbs Flashcards
adaptogen
increases the body’s ability to adapt to stresses- whether physical, emotional, or mental
Take into account the particular adaptogen’s energetics, secondary and tertiary effects, and organ affinities
some particularly helpful:
- ashwaganda, reishi, ginseng, tulsi
Alteratives
enhance the health and proper functioning of the body’s eliminative channels, promoting healthy changes in the organism due to lowered toxic load
Especially helpful when recovering from infection, as they assist in clearing all the metabolic by-products and dead cells that have accumulated as you fought it off
Combines with (and sometimes can be) lymphatics
- burdock, nettles, chickweed, dandelion, red clover, sarsaparilla, echinacea
Antiseptics
prevents growth of microorganisms, usually refers to surface action (on the skin)
-oregon grape, barberry, myrrh, calendula, yarrow, goldenseal, lavender
Astringents
Causes contraction of the tissues, decreasing fluid loss and tissue permeability. reduces inflammation topically,
- oak, rose, yarrow, witch hazel, geranium, raspberry leaf
Immune Stimulants
stimulates the production of immune cells and other markers of immune activity. May not be appropriate for autoimmune conditions
-echinacea
-spilanthes
-prickly ash
-myrrh
-boneset
Immunomodulators
regulates and balances immune response, WITHOUT stimulating
appropriate for high and low immune response
-astragalus
-rieshi
-shiitake
-maitake
-ashwaganda
Lymphatics
supports health of the lymphatice organs and system
-improves health function and clearance of immune activity by products (cytokines, dead cells, etc)
-burdock, calendula, echinacea, cleavers, red root, ocotillo, poke root
Antimicrobials
Destroys or supresses the growth of a wide range of microorganisms: bacteria, viruses, fungi
Sometimes they have an immune supportive effect, sometimes not
-chaparral, garlic, myrrh, usnea, thyme
