Three Immunity Boosting, Anti-Viral Herbs

by Dr. Mao Shing Ni

As the coronavirus rages on in China and elsewhere in the world, drug makers are rushing to produce vaccines against the virus. However, at best it will take three months for any viable vaccine to become available. Many patients have asked what they can do for the prevention of the illness. 

We can take a lesson from the last pandemic with SARS or severe acute respiratory syndrome. The disease was later renamed Corona Virus Pneumonia. With draconian quarantine measures instituted by the Chinese government, SARS was contained 9 months after it appeared in 2002, infecting over 8,000 people and killing around 800 of them. 

According to researchers, what prevented millions of more people in China from getting SARS, particularly healthcare workers, was the mass consumption of immunity-boosting antiviral herbs. We knew it well because, during the year of SARS, we experienced a shortage of this class of herbs from China. 

I will introduce in this month’s Herb Corner three commonly used immunity-boosting herbs that possess antiviral properties. 

Honeysuckle Flower (Jin Yin Hua) is a popular Chinese herb traditionally used to expel and hasten the resolution of symptoms of common cold and flu including fever, chills, and respiratory congestion. Researchers have found that honeysuckle contained a molecule called MIR2911 which is particularly potent in directly targeting different influenza A viruses H1N1, H5N1 and H7N9.

Isatis Root (Ban Lan Gen) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for colds and flu, and in particular, sore throat. Studies have shown that isatis improves immune response and is effective against several strains of virus namely influenza A and B, Coxsackie virus, and adenovirus. 

Pueria (Ge Gen) or commonly known as kudzu root. Kudzu is another in a class of herbs traditionally used to expel external pathogens like cold and flu, and relieve symptoms like stiff neck and body ache. Studies have found that kudzu root has antiviral properties against human respiratory syncytial virus that often is the cause of bronchitis and pneumonia. Additionally, it has been studied for its antiviral action against HIV. 

These three herbs are some of the main ingredients in our Immunity Formula. With this new pandemic, we will not be caught flat-footed as we have stockpiled immunity-boosting and antiviral herbs for our staff and patients.