Seeking A Natural Stomach Flu Remedy? Try These Herbs

Antimicrobial Herbs for Stomach Flu

Echinacea is a commonly used herb when infections occur. It enhances the body’s abilities to fight illness. Use echinacea at the first sign of illness for maximum effectiveness. Only use organic echinacea as it is an at risk plant due to over harvesting.

I prefer to use echinacea as a tincture as it needs a strong alcohol base to extract the maximum amount of healing components. Teas and glycerin based extracts are effective for children, however they are not as powerful as the alcohol based tinctures.

Echinacea effectively treats bacterial and viral causes of illness. It strengthens the body, making it more resistant to illness. Do not use echinacea for long periods of time. Reserve it for times when illness is actually present.

Cinnamon kills viruses and other microbes which cause gastrointestinal ills. Combine it with other herbs to improve their flavor and stop diarrhea and ease cramping.

Barberry root and Oregon grape root destroy bacteria in the digestive tract. They contain a compound called berberine which can help to calm the digestive system as well. Take a tincture of either one at the first sign of illness. If the stomach flu is severe, consider taking goldenseal. I reserve it for times when the other herbs are not effective as goldenseal is an endangered plant. Use only cultivated organic goldenseal. Contact the American Herbalist’s Guild for a list of responsible suppliers.

If stomach flu is severe, prolonged or if the patient is elderly or a child, contact a health care professional for guidance.

Author

This article was written for Insights-on-Health.com in Oct 2013 by Patricia Bratianu RN PhD RH-AHG. Patricia has been a Registered Nurse for almost forty years in a wide variety of settings. As a Registered Nurse, she realized that conventional healthcare was not meeting the needs of all patients. She became an herbalist and obtained a PhD in Natural Health. Patricia is a professional member of the American Herbalist’s Guild, passing the stringent peer reviewed process to become a Registered Herbalist.

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