Valentine’s Day seems like an appropriate time to discuss Rosehip (Rosa canina) tea. Rose hips are the fruits that remain on the bush after the flowers are gone. Rose hips were called “the Food of the Gods” by the ancient Greeks and regarded as beneficial for a number of health reasons. Rose hips are, indeed, a valuable food source as one of the richest sources of vitamin C, complete with flavenoids.

Because of the abundance of vitamin C and flavenoids, rosehip tea is useful for fighting colds and respiratory infections.  It is also helpful against stomach problems involving inflammation and/or diarrhea with infection or because of food-borne illness, and is a common ingredient in colic remedies. It also has astringent properties and may be used cosmetically, but the rose oil derivatives are more commonly used for cosmetic purposes.

Elderberry (Sambiacus nigra) is another wonderful immune system herb with a variety of other uses as well. It works as an anti-viral and so is helpful to fight colds and flu, but if one is already ill, it also works as an expectorant, soothes throat inflammation, and helps fight fever. It also helps stimulate blood flow, and has been used as a mood enhancer as well.

The berries are very nutritious, offering high levels of vitamin C, biotin, beta carotene, protein, fiber, sugars, and tyrosine.

Elderberry syrup is also popular for colds and flu. It soothes the throat, helps with coughing up mucous, and helps fight infection.

Echinacea (usually E. angustifolia and E. purpurea) is a well-known herb commonly used for its immune-boosting properties. Native to the United States, Echinacea was used by the Plains Indians more than any other herb. Echinacea is useful for treating infections, and also as an immune system stimulant. It has both anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, as well as being somewhat anti-inflammatory.

All of this makes it perfect as a tea to use when you expect to be around groups of people or to enter a place where the likelihood of encountering infection is high. It is also very beneficial if used as soon as you begin to feel ill.

The effectiveness of echinacea in treating  an illness decreases with the length of time a person is sick before they begin taking it. Using echinacea immediately or within the first 12 hours is best. If you have been sick for 4 days, it is probably too late for it to do any real good and you should consider a different herb. Additionally, it is best not to use echinacea continuously for more than 2 weeks, or intermittently for more than 2 months, or else the immune-boosting effects will be lost.  In some individuals, the immune system can even begin to be compromised if echinacea is used at fairly high doses continuously for long periods.

Astragalus root (Astragalus membranaceus) is often used as an immune system tonic. What this means is that it helps to stimulate the immune system, and is able to be used on an ongoing basis. (Many herbs which stimulate the immune system can only be used for a limited period of time before they lose that effect or even have the reverse effect, but tonic herbs can be used continuously.) It also functions as an adaptogenic herbal tea, helping the body to deal with the physical effects of stress. It is often found in combinations that are intended to increase energy.

Astragalus has long been used as a Chinese remedy, and is a key herb in “FuZhen” therapy. FuZhen is concerned encouraging the body to use its natural healing abilities to maintain health and rejuvenate itself.

Astragalus provides the body with several isoflavone compounds, helps with production and secretion of interferon, works as an antiviral in the body, dilates coronary arteries, and has a diuretic effect.