Herbs to Avoid Catching a Cold & Sore Throat

In an age when medication for harmless ailments is prevalent, many are turning to more natural remedies such as herbs. These have many advantages: they're less likely to harm the body through prolonged use, as medication might; they're usually inexpensive; and, if you've got space, you can even grow them in your backyard or kitchen. However, knowing which herb is useful for which ailment isn't always as easy as it sounds.

Echinacea

• By boosting your immune system, echinacea, a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family Asteraceae, is said by U.S. researchers to halve the risk of catching a cold. If you already have a cold, echinacea may reduce the time it sticks around. More than 800 products containing echinacea are available -- different parts of the plant, flower, stem and root, are used in different products. The nine species of echinacea are commonly called purple coneflowers.

Siberian Ginseng

• A month-long study found that those who took Siberian ginseng extract had improvements in their immune system thanks to the active ingredients in the ginseng, called eleutherosides. In Russia, the Siberian ginseng is traditionally used to prevent colds and flu and to increase energy, longevity and vitality, and is believed to be an adaptogen -- a substance that helps the body better cope with stress, either mental or physical. This herb grows to between 3 and 10 feet high.

Garlic

• Allicin, the active part of garlic, will help you avoid a cold and sore throat.

  Garlic, a species in the onion family Alliaceae, may not be the best thing for your breath. But its anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties are known for reducing your chances of getting a cold and the associated sore throat. Eating a raw clove of garlic a day will provide you with allicin, the active part of garlic which protects you from colds; ensure it's raw as cooking it will destroy allicin.

Organic Potato Blossoms

• The blossom of the potato, a starchy, tuberous crop from the Solanaceae family, can prevent a sore throat. Organic potato blossoms should be collected and dried in a cool, dark place and kept out the sun. Cover 1 1/2 tbsp. of herbs with about 500ml of boiling water until the mixture resembles strong coffee, and divide the mixture into three parts. Gurgle three times a day for more than a week. Note that the potato blossom is only used as a preventative measure.