What’s the secret to a long and healthy life? Giving your immune system the care it needs to keep you protected.
Your immune system works for you day and night. Immune cells are constantly scouring tissue and blood to find and eliminate potential threats. Like silent warriors, these cells and organ systems work to defend your health – often without a single sniffle!
But just like us, our immune systems need support from time to time. Rest, a healthy diet, exercise, and sleep are all excellent ways to give the immune system the energy to keep watching out for you. Sometimes, however, we need extra support. That’s where Chinese herbs come in!
Chinese herbs are a natural and effective way to support your immune system from the root. They act as both preventative tonics and disease-fighting medicinals.
Chinese Herbs that Boost the Immune System
Herbal medicine has been used to support and enhance the immune system for centuries. Ancient Chinese medicine scholars developed entire schools of thought to understand how to cure issues like colds and infections. It’s no wonder why so much attention was placed on building a strong immunity; in a time before modern antibiotics, a minor issue could quickly escalate and become life-threatening.
Thankfully, we do have modern medicine to tackle the severe problems we face. However, we can still use Chinese herbs to stay naturally resilient to stress and disease.
Here are some of the most popular and useful Chinese herbs to support the immune system and conquer mild illnesses:
Astragalus (Huang Qi)
Astragalus is both an immune-boosting herb and an energy tonic. When the body has plenty of energy, it is much more likely to be able to defend itself against invading pathogens, toxins, or allergens.
Aside from being an antiviral and antioxidant herb, astragalus is also considered an adaptogen. This means that it helps the body adapt to stress better.
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Plum Flower – Jade Screen Teapills (Yu Ping Feng Wan)
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Take Jade Screen Teapills (which contain astragalus) during cold and flu season to help preserve your energy and improve your odds of staying healthy.
Shen Qi Da Bu Wan (Codonopsis Combo)- by Lao Wei
You can also take formulas that include astragalus, like Shen Qi Da Bu Yin Wan, to prevent getting sick during a particularly stressful or taxing time. As an added benefit, you’ll stay energized and more resilient to stress, too!
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Triple Immune Support – by Bravo Tea
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Did you know you can improve your immune health, simply by enjoying a warm cup of tea? This immunity tea combines several immune tonic herbs – including astragalus – to give your immune system a gentle daily boost.
Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying)
If you thought dandelion was just a pesky weed, think again! This humble flower can help fight viruses, cool inflammation, and support the immune system. Its cold nature is best suited for issues that involve excess heat, like infection, sore throat, fever, or rash. Dandelion also has a cleaning effect on the liver and encourages healthy detoxification.
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Pu Gong Ying (Asian Dandelion)- Liquid Extract (Tincture)
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Dandelion herbal extract is an antimicrobial tonic that supports immune health and healthy detoxification. Use it at the onset of a cold, sore throat, or if your lymph nodes feel swollen to speed up your healing process.
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Wu Wei Xiao Du Wan – Honeysuckle and Chrysanthemum Extract – Lanzhou Traditional Herbs (KGS)
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You can also find dandelion in formulas like Wu Wei Xiao Du Wan for inflammatory skin conditions like shingles or Herpes Simplex.
Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua) & Forsythia (Lian Qiao)
Honeysuckle and forsythia make up a powerful immune-boosting duo. Honeysuckle has been shown to reduce fevers and moderate harmful inflammation. Similarly, forsythia has anti-inflammatory effects as well as antiviral effects. Both herbs help to moderate the immune response and keep colds, flus, and sore throats under control.
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Yin Qiao Tang (Honeysuckle and Forsythia) – Liquid Extract (Tincture)
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Together (along with a few other helping herbs) honeysuckle and forsythia create Yin Qiao San, a go-to formula for the early onset of a cold and sore throat.
Elderberry (Jie Gu Mu)
Elderberry is one of the best known natural immunity remedies. This tiny berry is packed with a high amount of antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory compounds – not to mention 60% of your daily recommended vitamin C.
Modern studies have proven that elderberries can help boost the immune system. Its claim to fame is the ability to shorten the duration and reduce the intensity of a cold or flu.
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Elder Berry (Sambucus Nigra) – Liquid Extract (Tincture)
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Elderberry – Sambucus Nigra – Liquid Extract
Elderberry is a nutritious wild berry that’s packed with immune-boosting antioxidants. It has long been used as a folk remedy to suppress coughs and fight the common cold, especially when taken right at the onset of feeling under the weather.
Andrographis, Chuan Xin Lian
Andrographis is a potent immune tonic and antimicrobial herb. It is used in formulas to treat viral infections, bacterial infections, colds, flus, and even chronic issues like cancer. Studies show that andrographis likely boosts the immune system by stimulating the immune cells that mount an attack on invaders (like T cells and natural killer cells).
In Chinese medicine, andrographis is a cold and bitter herb that quickly and effectively reduces inflammation. As such, it is often used to treat hot-type symptoms like sore throat, swellings, and acute inflammatory conditions.
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Chuan Xin Lian Pian (Tablets)
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This is a must-have formula to manage issues like UTIs, colds, flus, ear infections, and sinusitis. A well-stocked home medicine cabinet will have a packet of Chuan Xin Lian Pian to keep infections at bay.
Ginger (Sheng Jiang – fresh) or (Gan Jiang – dried)
Ginger is one of nature’s most useful culinary medicinals. In Chinese medicine, ginger is used both in dietary therapy as well as in herbal formulas to help improve digestion and boost the immune system.
Ginger builds the body’s immunity by acting as a natural antihistamine and a decongestant. It has also been shown to have antimicrobial effects and can reduce infection. Ginger is also a digestive herb that supports a healthy gut microbiome, laying the foundation for a more robust immune system.
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Xiang Sha Liu Jun Wan – Digestinex Extract – Lanzhou Traditional Herbs (KGS)
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You can find ginger in many immune or energy tonics, including Xiang Sha Liu Jun Wan, which helps improve immunity from the root (i.e. the gut!).
Reishi Mushroom (Ling Zhi)
Reishi mushroom has been used for centuries by Chinese medicine practitioners. In recent times, it has been become a prized adaptogen for its unique benefits and potential to calm the mind, improve immunity, and promote longevity.
Reishi Mushroom Capsules by Real MushroomsTaking Real Mushrooms Reishi 415 is an excellent way to get a daily dose of stress relief and immune power at the same time.
5 Defenders Mushroom Capsules by Real MushroomsFor a more immune health-focused option, choose Real Mushrooms 5-Defenders Formula. This blend contains five essential medicinal mushrooms for immune health including reishi, turkey tail, shiitake, maitake, and chaga.
Gynostemma Leaf (Jiao Gu Lan)
Jiao Gu Lan is an herb known for its adaptogenic and immune-boosting properties. It helps enhance immunity by increasing the body’s resistance to stress and supporting the production of natural killer cells, which play a crucial role in defending against infections. For this reason, it is also considered a key herb for longevity!
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Jiao Gu Lan (Gynostemma Leaf or Penta) – Liquid Extract (Tincture)
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This liquid herbal extract gives you the power of Jiao Gu Lan in an easy daily dose.
Jiaogulan Tea – by Shigu Mountain – (OUT OF STOCK)
Prefer to enjoy the benefits of Jiao Gu Lan as a tea? Simply brew and enjoy 1-2 tea bags per day to help support your body’s immunity and energy.
Preserve Your Immune Health with Chinese Herbs
You’re only as strong as your immune system. The good news is that building up your immunity to stay resilient against anything from the common cold to autoimmune diseases is easier with Chinese herbal medicine.
Along with these amazing herbal remedies and tonics, Best Chinese Medicines carries a wide range of immune-boosting formulas to match your body’s unique needs. Shop our entire collection of Chinese herbs for immune support, Chinese herbs for colds, and Chinese herbs for allergies today!