What are the best antiviral herbs to have on hand?
Isatis, Adrographis and the formula called Yin Chiao echinacea which contains the North American herb, Boneset and Eupatorium Perfoliatum. Elderberry extract seems to have a similar antiviral effect in shortening the duration of the flu as the pharmaceutical drug Tamiflu, but without the serious mental and physical side effects. It’s been my experience that once colds or flus are allowed to get a foot hold, with some exception, there’s a certain amount of simply letting it run its course. However herbs can lessen the severity and shorten the duration of these seasonal diseases. In fact, antiviral drugs do no better but they are expensive and they have nasty side effects, which is one reason why they are not more extensively employed. What herbs should be taken to prevent viral infections? The traditional formula since 1481 has been the Chinese Yin Chiao formula containing the anti-bacterial and antiviral herbs Lonicera (honeysuckle blossoms) and forsythia buds. The North American herb
