Immune System Herbs

This page includes herbs that exhibit actions such as: cooling diaphoretic, relaxant diaphoretic, alterative, immunomodulating, immunostimulating, lymphatic, aromatic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, etc. The herbs listed here do not fall under all of these categories. With each herb I have included what its main effect would be on the immune system, but many of these herbs have more effects on this system, and on many other systems in the body. Additionally, non-herbal interventions like staying hydrated, eating a whole food diet, increasing your supplementation of certain vitamins, minerals, or omega 3s, and getting regular movement in are all wonderful ways to care for your immune system. Please see the Materia Medica page, or Teas & Guides, for more information on specific herbal actions.

A

Achillea millefolium - immune stimulant, antibacterial

Allium sativum - antimicrobial, immune stimulant

Anemopsis californica - disinfectant, diaphoretic

Artemisia spp. - disinfectant, alterative

Astragalus membranaceus - immunomodulant, immune stimulant

B

Baptisia tinctoria - immunostimulant

C

Codonopsis pilosula - adaptogen, blood tonic

Cordyceps sinensis - immune modulator and stimulant

D

E

Echinacea angustifolia - immunomodulator, immunostimulant

Echinacea purpurea - immunomodulator, immunostimulant

Eupatorium perfoliatum - relaxant diaphoretic, alterative

F

G

Ganoderma lucidum - immune modulator, immune supporter

H

I

J

K

L

Larrea tridentata - immune-enhancing (potentially toxic)

Lentinula edodes - immunomodulating

M

Mahonia spp. - immunostimulant

Monarda fistulosa - cooling diaphoretic

N

O

Ocimum tenuiflorum - immune stimulant

P

Panax ginseng - immunomodulant

Panax psuedoginseng, P. notoginseng, P. japonicus - immune tonic and stimulant, antiviral

Q

R

S

Salvia rosemarinus - stimulant, antibacterial

Sambucus nigra - relaxant diaphoretic, alterative

Syzygium aromaticum (clove) - stimulating diaphoretic, antibacterial

T

Thuja occidentalis, T. plicata - immunostimulant

Trametes versicolor - immune support

Trifolium pratense - immune support, alterative

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Zanthoxylum americanum - stimulant diaphoretics, adaptogen

Zingiber officinale - warming diaphoretic