Herbal Immunity Syrup

This immunity syrup recipe may help strengthen our body’s defense system against catchy infections and is especially helpful around cold or flu season, or when traveling.  Take when you feel a chance of illness because the people around you have caught something.

Immunity Syrup Ingredients

• 8 cloves of garlic, sliced in pieces
• 1/4 cup of ginger root, sliced (or 1/8 cup dry herb)
• 1/4 cup of echinacea root, sliced (or 1/8 cup dry herb)
• 1 Tbsp of fresh oregano (or 1/2 Tbsp dry herb)
• About 2-3 cups of brandy

Immunity Syrup Instructions

Soak all the herbs in a large glass jar with lid, covered in brandy, for 4-6 weeks.  Strain out all herbs using a cheesecloth or coffee filter.  Store the liquid in a sealed glass container for up to a year.  Adults, take 1 ounce 2 times a day for up to one week.  For children 6 and older, soak the herbs in apple cider vinegar for two weeks instead of using brandy, reduce the dose based on body weight, and add honey to improve the taste.

Optional: Add to hot water and honey to make a tea.

Immunity Syrup Research

• Results of the double blind study suggested aged garlic extract in a diet may enhance immune cell function and reduced the severity of colds and flu.  From:  Nantz, M. P., Rowe, C. A., Muller, C. E., Creasy, R. A., Stanilka, J. M., & Percival, S. S. (2012). Supplementation with aged garlic extract improves both NK and γδ-T cell function and reduces the severity of cold and flu symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled nutrition intervention. Clinical Nutrition, 31(3), 337-344.
• One hundred forty-six volunteers were randomized and those taking the allicin-containing garlic supplement, one capsule daily, over a 12-week period between November and February were less likely to catch the common cold.  From:  Josling, P. (2001). Preventing the common cold with a garlic supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled survey. Advances in therapy, 18(4), 189-193.
• A garlic supplement reduced acute respiratory infections in children.  From:  Andrianova, I. V., Sobenin, I. A., Sereda, E. V., Borodina, L. I., & Studenikin, M. I. (2002). Effect of long-acting garlic tablets” allicor” on the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections in children. Terapevticheskii arkhiv, 75(3), 53-56.
• The immunity boosting, antimicrobial actions of ginger were discussed.  From:  Shakya, S. R. (2015). Medicinal uses of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) improves growth and enhances immunity in aquaculture. International Journal of Chemical Studies, 3(2), 83-87.
• A study with 430 young children, showed an herbal preparation containing 50 mg/mL of echinacea, 50 mg/mL of propolis, and 10 mg/mL of vitamin C was effective against the respiratory tract infection.  From:  Cohen, H. A., Varsano, I., Kahan, E., Sarrell, E. M., & Uziel, Y. (2004). Effectiveness of an herbal preparation containing echinacea, propolis, and vitamin C in preventing respiratory tract infections in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine, 158(3), 217-221.
• This meta analysis concluded echinacea reduced respiratory tract infections.  From:  Schapowal, A., Klein, P., & Johnston, S. L. (2015). Echinacea reduces the risk of recurrent respiratory tract infections and complications: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Advances in therapy, 32(3), 187-200.
• In a randomized double blind study of 472 patients with mild influenza, an echinacea drink was more effective in reducing symptoms and had less side effects than oseltamivir, the gold standard for treating the flu.  From:  Rauš, K., Pleschka, S., Klein, P., Schoop, R., & Fisher, P. (2015). Effect of an Echinacea-based hot drink versus oseltamivir in influenza treatment: a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, multicenter, noninferiority clinical trial. Current Therapeutic Research, 77, 66-72.
• A blend of Echinacea angustifolia, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Baptisia tinctoria and Arnica montana showed phagocytosis activity in vitro.  From:  Wagner, H., & Jurcic, K. (1991). Immunologic studies of plant combination preparations. In-vitro and in-vivo studies on the stimulation of phagocytosis. Arzneimittel-Forschung, 41(10), 1072-1076.
• In 755 healthy subjects, echinacea taken for 4 months reduced the number of cold episodes.  From: Jawad, M., Schoop, R., Suter, A., Klein, P., & Eccles, R. (2012). Safety and efficacy profile of Echinacea purpurea to prevent common cold episodes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012.
• A review of human clinical trials and other studies on echinacea, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, St John’s wort, and valerian are summarized.  From:  Barrett, B., Kiefer, D., & Rabago, D. (1999). Assessing the risks and benefits of herbal medicine: an overview of scientific evidence. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 5(4), 40.
• Sixty-five bacteria were tested against 13 essential oils.  Cinnamon bark, cinnamon leaf, oregano, thyme, ajowan, and clove showed strong antibacterial activity.  From:  Mayaud, L., Carricajo, A., Zhiri, A., & Aubert, G. (2008). Comparison of bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of 13 essential oils against strains with varying sensitivity to antibiotics. Letters in applied microbiology, 47(3), 167-173.
• Origanum acutidens showed broad-spectrum activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.  From:  Cosge, B., Turker, A., Ipek, A., & Gurbuz, B. (2009). Chemical compositions and antibacterial activities of the essential oils from aerial parts and corollas of Origanum acutidens (Hand.-Mazz.) Ietswaart, an endemic species to Turkey. Molecules, 14(5), 1702-1712.  Link:  http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules14051702
• In a mega-analysis of over 500 studies on essential oil antimicrobial activity, spices and herbs of thyme, origanum, mint, cinnamon, salvia and clove had the strongest antimicrobial properties. From:  Kalemba, D., & Kunicka, A. (2003). Antibacterial and antifungal properties of essential oils. Current medicinal chemistry, 10(10), 813-829.
• Origanum vulgare (oregano), Thymus vulgaris (thyme), Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) , Mentha piperita (peppermint), and Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) were tested against 32 erythromycin-resistant streptococci; oregano, thyme, and the carvacrol constituent showed the strongest antimicrobial activity.  From:  Magi, G., Marini, E., & Facinelli, B. (2015). Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and carvacrol, and synergy of carvacrol and erythromycin, against clinical, erythromycin-resistant Group A Streptococci. Frontiers in microbiology, 6, 165.
• Oregano oils possessed anti-influenza virus activities, although less than a potent Echinacea preparation, and with greater potential for  toxicity of lung epithelial cells.  From:  Vimalanathan, S., & Hudson, J. (2012). Anti-Influenza virus activities of commercial oregano oils and their carriers. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 2(7), 214.

By: Kathy Sadowski, MS in Aromatherapy, RA, LMT, RYT

4/11/18

This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use. These statements are not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases. The information at this page has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Consult a Doctor before using herbs and essential oils if you have medical conditions, are taking medications, or have questions.