Mononucleosis treatment - herbs

Mononucleosis treatment - herbs

It is a fact that prescription medications can cause more harm than good while treating mononucleosis. Luckily, there are some fantastic herbs you can take to boost your immune system and relieve your symptoms naturally.

Let's look at the most popular ones:

Echinacea

Echinacea stimulates the immune system by increasing white blood cell activity. It has been shown to support the lymphatic system and relieve glandular swelling.

Echinacea is usually taken as a tincture (alcohol-based). It is also available in capsule or tablet form for those who do not like liquids. During mononucleosis treatment, you can take echinacea every 2 hours, gradually reducing the frequency to three times a day as symptoms improve.

When purchasing Echinacea, try to purchase a mixture of Echinacea purpurea root with Echinacea augustifolia. This appears to be the most effective combination for mono treatment.

Olive leaf extract

One of the most effective herbs for treating mononucleosis is olive leaf extract. This wonderful herb stimulates phagocytosis, the process by which white blood cells absorb harmful microorganisms and foreign substances.

Olive leaf extract can be taken as a capsule or liquid three times daily.

Astragalus

Astragalus is particularly useful for the treatment of chronic mononucleosis as it strengthens the immune system and restores strength and endurance. It is the herb of choice for persistent or recurrent infections.

Astragalus should not be used in children with fever because, according to traditional Chinese medicine, it can prolong or worsen the fever. The effects of Astragalus on the immune system make it unsuitable when taking corticosteroids, antiviral or immunosuppressive medications.

Herbs against mucous membranes

If you have a lot of mucus in your respiratory tract, garlic, horseradish, fenugreek, golden seal and licorice are particularly suitable. Sage or thyme are also ideal when prepared as a tea and drunk three times a day.

Herbs for fever

If you have a high fever, cilantro tea or cleavers can bring down the temperature and make you feel a little more comfortable. You can make a tea from 2 teaspoons of crushed coriander seeds steeped in 1 cup of boiling water for 20 minutes. For cleaver tea, use 2 to 3 teaspoons of the dried herb (stems and small leaves) per cup of water. Drink 1 cup three times a day.

Herbs for anxiety, insomnia and depression

Certain herbs called “nervins” may help reduce the anxiety, tension, and stress associated with treating mononucleosis. Valerian is the best-known nerve sedative and mild, non-addictive sedative. Skullcap, hops and passionflower are also helpful. St. John's wort (Hypericum) is particularly good for mild depression. Ginseng is an herb known to protect the body from stress and fatigue. It is particularly useful for the treatment of mononucleosis because it strengthens the adrenal glands, which are often exhausted or depleted in this disease.

Buy herbs

You can buy your herbs alone or combined in a commercial preparation from your health food store. They can also be specially formulated for you by an herbalist. Most herbs are available as teas, liquids, tablets or capsules.