Best immune boosters

No need to fall prey to the nasty coughs and sneezes flying around at this time of year. Read on for some herbs to help boost your immunity

Christmas and New Year are prime times for catching a nasty cough or cold. The reason? Lots of parties and visitors mean you are more likely to come into contact with more viruses. Preventive measures include plenty of hand washing and wiping down doorknobs, surfaces and light switches with an antiseptic wipe or wash. These are the places where viruses tend to thrive and they can live on a surface for around an hour. There are also some herbs that can help to strengthen your defences naturally.

Pelargonium
This herb from South Africa is one to watch. Herbalists are increasingly using it as a natural antibiotic, antiviral and expectorant. It is thought that ingredients in pelargonium help prevent bacteria and viruses from attaching to cell membranes and multiplying. To nip a cold or cough in the bud start treatment as soon as you start to feel symptoms coming on.

Echinacea
Echinacea, otherwise known as the purple coneflower, is widely used to fend off colds and flu. Research shows that ingredients in echinacea increase antibody production, raise white blood cell counts as well as stimulating white blood cell activity. Take it at the first hint of symptoms to ward off a cold or flu or to reduce their severity.

Black elderberry
If you are unlucky enough to go down with a bout of the flu black elderberry may help to cut it short. Recent research, which tested the effects of three different elderberry extracts on blood from 12 healthy donors, showed that they increased production of immune system activators called inflammatory cytokines.

TRY THIS:

•  Keep your distance from people with colds and try not to shake their hands
•  Avoid crowded places such as public transport and city wine bars if you can
•  Try not to rub eyes – the virus can spread as tears from the eye duct drain into the nasal cavity
•  Always sneeze into a tissue and bin it as soon as you can
•  Take probiotics to maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria to boost immunity

Pelargonium is found in Kaloba - A traditional herbal medicinal product used to relieve the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections such as the common cold based on traditional use only.