This time of year can be a little unnerving for us mothers as we have many activities where our children are coming and going and possibly being brought low with colds and flu’s. My DIY~ Immune Boosting Herbal Tea is a great weapon in your arsenal to help ward off any possible immune system antagonists.

Sure you still need to eat healthy, stress less and get good sleep each night, but this well help boost that sluggish immune system, or even mellow out an overactive one! How can this same tea do both things? Well, let me tell you.

Key Ingredients: Immune Boosting Herbs

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus):

The first and most important ingredient in this remedy and tonic is an amazing herb called astragalus. Astragalus is actually a Chinese legume and we use the astragalus root when preparing any remedies. This is a key ingredient for the immune system because it is an adaptogenic herb. Not sure what an adaptogen herb is? According to many herbalist, specifically Donald R. Yance, CH, MH, RH in Adaptogens in Medical Herbalism:

“The word ‘adaptogen’ refers to the nonspecific endocrine-regulating, immune-modulating effects of certain plants that increase a person’s ability to maintain optimal balance in the face of physical or emotional stress.”

DIY~Immune Boosting Herbal Tea — Astragalus Root

Basically it is an herb that reads your body; working with your bodies needs. It is safe, improves resistance to stress, and has a balancing normalizing effect on the bodies functions.

If it needs and immune boost, it will give it.
If your body needs your immune system to slow down a bit (think auto-immune here), it will slow it.
It will also work to make other herbs, even prescription drugs, more effective which can be a great thing when you need it.

However sometimes you do not need the extra support from the adaptogen. So be sure that you can take it with other remedies and medications. In this case, astragalus is paired with herbs that are not harsh, but strengthening and healing to the whole system.

Astragalus has possible interactions with immune suppressing drugs, so be sure to speak to your Dr. if you are taking any such drugs. Also, be sure to let them know you are taking astragalus if you are going to be doing blood testing as it will raise your white blood cells.

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica):

Our second most important ingredient is Nettle, aka Stinging Nettle. This is often a plant that is cursed for the painful stings that it can give during harvest, or even if you brush up against it. However, it is one of the most amazing herbs for life. Stinging Nettle imparts an abundance of calcium, chromium, magnesium, protein, vitamin A as beta-carotene, zinc¹, and iron². It is also excellent for hay fever and allergies, and can even alleviate growing pains in children.

Rose Hips:

Rose Hips impart large quantities of vitamin C, more than almost any other herb, which aids in the absorption of calcium and iron. It also has a good amount of vitamin A as beta-carotene.^1,2 This herb/fruit boosts the effects of the other herbs.

Oatstraw (Avena sativa):

One may use Oatstraw or the milky white tops, the milky white tops being the preferred choice. These both are amazing nutritive tonics for the nervous system and are highly recommended for nervous exhaustion, stress and irritation.² Oats are high in silica, calcium, and chromium.

Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citrullus):

Lemon grass helps digestion and can reduce fevers. It can even prevent the growth of some bacteria and yeasts. It is also high in chromium, healthy fats, potassium, selenium, and silicon.^1,3

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis):

Lemon balm is a wonderful addition of flavor and fragrance. It is a member of the mint family and one of the best nervine herbs, often used as a mild sedative. Lemon balm has anti-viral properties and is anti-septic.(2)

Other good but less intense herbs that are in this remedy are cinnamon, ginger and stevia. These are all optional ingredients. To me they improve the flavor and they do impart some other favorable qualities to the tea.

Cinnamon aids in digestion and adds great flavor. Cinnamon has more amazing benefits but these will not be as noticeable in this tea remedy.
Ginger aids in digestion and also adds flavor. It can also help with waning appetites and motion sickness. To find out more about ginger read this article.

Lastly, mainly for flavoring and totally optional, Stevia leaf, not the extract but the leaf. According to many herbalists, stevia is a great herb and used for pancreatic imbalances and high blood sugar levels.