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Copyright © 2025 Foodies Only
Copyright © 2025 Foodies Only
6 Min
05/11/2025
When one’s sick of chavanprash and honey but the seasonal flu period is still ongoing, medicinal, or rather magical, Indian herbs come to the rescue! Whole herbs like ginger, garlic, and even tulsi come in handy, which can be crushed to extract their healing juices and mixed into tea, tonic, or milk to warm your throat, insides, and your soul.
Autumn might be your favourite season, but it comes with the dreaded flu that congests your nasal pathways and makes your chest heavy. Your grandmother’s ‘nuskhe’ can be your saviour in the dreaded months of September and October, as the weather goes through mood swings of hot, cold, and everything in between. So, until winter arrives and shrouds the landscape in fog, the herbs listed below will keep your cold tamed and your sinuses happy.
Tulsi boosts your immune system by increasing T helper cells and natural killer cells, which are your body's defence soldiers. It helps fight viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. The leaves contain compounds that stop viruses from multiplying in your body. It also reduces inflammation in your respiratory system, making breathing easier when you're sick. Chew 5-7 fresh tulsi leaves on an empty stomach each morning. Or make Tulsi tea by boiling 10-15 leaves in water for 5 minutes. Drink 2-3 cups twice a week or more, especially during flu season. You can also add tulsi to your regular chai.
Fresh ginger is effective against respiratory viruses and offers powerful antiviral effects against flu and respiratory infections. It heats your body from inside, creating an environment where viruses struggle to survive. Ginger reduces inflammation in your throat and airways, easing coughs and sore throats. Its compounds block viruses from entering your cells. It also makes you sweat, helping your body flush out toxins and viruses naturally.
Cinnamon or dalchini contains powerful antiviral oils that attack flu viruses directly. Its warming nature helps your body fight off infections by increasing circulation. The compound cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon stops viruses from multiplying and spreading. It also has strong anti-inflammatory effects that reduce fever and body aches during the flu. Cinnamon helps clear respiratory passages and soothes coughs. When combined with honey and ginger, its flu-fighting power multiplies, making it a staple in traditional Indian kadha recipes.
Cloves contain eugenol, a powerful compound that kills viruses and bacteria on contact. Eugenol, found in cloves, inhibits viral interactions and helps induce therapeutic responses. When you chew cloves or drink clove tea, these oils coat your throat and respiratory passages, creating a hostile environment for flu viruses. Cloves also reduce pain and inflammation, easing sore throats and body aches. Their warming properties increase blood flow, helping your immune cells reach infected areas faster.
Black pepper particularly contains quercetin, which constantly improves your body's immunity due to its antiviral properties. It makes other herbs like turmeric work up to a thousand times better by helping your body absorb them. The compound piperine in black pepper also has its own germ-fighting powers. It increases your body temperature slightly, which helps kill viruses. Black pepper clears mucus from your airways and reduces congestion when you're sick with the flu.
Giloy has natural antimicrobial and antiviral properties that help your body fight infections, making it effective against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. It fortifies the immune system of your respiratory tract, making it easier to fight off infections like flu, colds, and respiratory infections. Giloy works by cleaning your blood and removing toxins that weaken your immunity. Take one teaspoon of giloy powder mixed with warm water or honey every morning. Or boil a 6-inch giloy stem in two cups of water until reduced to one cup, strain, and drink.
Ajwain contains thymol, a powerful compound with strong antimicrobial properties that kills bacteria and viruses on contact. Its antimicrobial properties help combat bacteria and fungi, and it is effective in alleviating respiratory issues and reducing symptoms of asthma and bronchitis. The warming nature of ajwain increases blood circulation, helping your immune cells reach infected areas faster. It also loosens mucus in your chest and throat, helping you expel germs more effectively through coughing. Swallow half a teaspoon of dry roasted ajwain seeds with warm water on an empty stomach. Or make ajwain water by soaking one teaspoon overnight, strain and drink in the morning.
Also known as liquorice root, Glycyrrhizin in mulethi provides immune stimulation and antiviral effects. The anti-microbial property of mulethi helps bolster immunity and shields the body from various microbial infections. It reduces inflammation in your airways, making it easier to breathe when congested. Chew a small piece of mulethi root (about half an inch) after meals. Or make mulethi tea by steeping half a teaspoon of powder in hot water for 10 minutes. Don't use for more than 4-6 weeks continuously.
Curcumin in turmeric stops many viruses, bacteria, and fungi from multiplying. It blocks the flu virus from attaching to your cells and strengthens your natural immunity. When flu viruses enter your body, turmeric stops them from causing excessive inflammation in your lungs. It calms down your immune system's overreaction while still fighting the virus. Studies show it directly prevents influenza viruses from spreading between cells. Taking it with black pepper helps your body absorb it better.
These nine herbs offer a natural way to strengthen your body's defences during flu season. The beauty of these remedies is their accessibility – most are already sitting in your kitchen. Whether you make a warm kadha with tulsi and ginger, add turmeric to your milk, or simply chew a clove when your throat feels scratchy, you're tapping into centuries of proven wisdom.