Herbal Support for Immunity this Fall with Em Postl, Community Herbalist
Fall means a lot of beautiful things are coming our way, but it also means we are entering a
season of peak illness. Thankfully, herbs are here for us (as always), with their medicines
and magic to help our bodies adjust and prepare for this seasonal shift. Like with most
things, there’s a lot of nuance around which herbs are best suited to specific illnesses, and
people, but the herbs and suggestions below are a good place to start.
PREVENTATIVE herbal support:
Astragalus, reishi and turkey tail are examples of tonics that help build up your immune system so that you’re less likely to get sick in the first place.
These are long term herbs that you take daily over 3+ months and can be taken as a
decocted tea (simmering on the stove), powders, capsules, or tinctures (make sure your medicinal mushrooms are double extracted).
If you become acutely sick, take a break from
these and shift to the acute herbs mentioned below.
Lifestyle shifts for PREVENTATIVE purposes:
Prioritizing sleep, fluids, activities that slow your brain and body down (think crafting with your hands), gentle movement, keeping your feet, neck and lower back warm as the weather shifts, and wearing a mask in busy public places to slow the spread of respiratory illnesses.
ACUTE herbal support:
Echinacea, garlic, elderberry, yarrow and thyme are examples of herbs that help activate and stimulate your immune system and/or offer solid antimicrobial support. Echinacea is great to start taking as soon as you think you might be coming down with something to help bring your immune system online, but once you are in peak sickness, it’s helpful to switch to other herbs that offer more anti-microbial support (garlic, elderberry, yarrow, thyme etc). These herbs can be prepared in many ways including as tinctures, glycerites, vinegars, capsules, in food, in a herbal steam, or in tea.
Rule of thumb for immune support while sick is taking many, frequent doses of your immune herbs throughout the day instead of only in the morning and evening.
Lifestyle shifts for ACUTE purposes:
Getting as much sleep and fluids as possible, taking a break from caffeine, alcohol, and refined sugar, and upping your nourishing broths, soups and warming foods. Perfection is never the goal though, even making small decreases, drinking one more glass of tea or water, and hopping in bed 20 min earlier can all offer support. Please stay home if you are actively sick, both for your own health and recovery, and to lessen the spread of illness within your community.
Immune support advice is not for folks with autoimmune conditions.
Need some support for your immune health this fall? Want a custom tea or tincture formula to support your unique immune system?
Book a consult with Em on
FRIDAYS from 11:00am -3:00pm.
