This was written in the spring of 2023, with my second episode of COVID 19.
Reading it over, I see there is little I would change even now in 2025 with COVID still mutating around the world. I hope you find useful suggestions here. Feel free to contact me with your thoughts or questions.
Sore throat. Mild cold. COVID. This is how last week progressed for me. It was likely COVID all along, but I didn’t realize it until five days after the initial sore throat. I decided I should do a test to make sure it was not COVID before visiting family, and was shocked to see the bold, positively positive indicator line!
I am very glad I tested myself, as I then changed from my “herbs-for-a-cold” to my “herbs-for COVID” protocol. I do feel the difference! As I write this, I am on day 8 since the start of my sore throat. I know COVID is still with me, from the continuing, low-level symptoms and because I felt a marked improvement shortly after taking my tinctures aimed at COVID.
Keep in mind that this list is the herbs I turned to for me based on how I was feeling. This is not to say these particular herbs will help every person in the same way, but it will show you how I land on which herbs to use in each situation.
As I said, my symptoms began with a sore throat, which is how my colds always start. Thinking this was just a typical cold virus, this is how I responded:
I squirted Spilanthes tincture onto the back of my tongue and throat to ease the pain and to coat the area with the wonderful antiviral constituents of spilanthes. (Check out “Herbs A-Z” for more information on the antiviral, “anti-everything” support of spilanthes.)
I made a combination of Fire Cider, Garlic-Onion-Honey-Syrup and Elderberry tincture. I tend to use the Elderberry tincture often throughout the winter, but had not been doing so lately. I added some Boneset tincture to the blend. (Check out “Herbs A-Z” for more information on why I went with boneset).
In an effort to keep my husband healthy, I made a similar concoction for my him, adding Mullein Leaf for lung support as that is the area where he typically gets hit the worst. I also added some elderberry-infused honey to enhance the taste. He gargles with a small amount and then swallows it to coat the throat and increase absorption into the bloodstream.
I also increased my Vitamin C intake.
My sore throat was never too bad, but as I felt my sinuses joining the party — the typical progression when I get a cold — I referred back to the article I posted previously, “Are You a Hacking Victim?” (Yes, one of the reasons I write these is so I can refer back to them, too.) I didn’t have much of a cough, and didn’t want to include herbs useful for a wet cough which could dry out my nasal passages. Along with sips of my fire cider blend, every 3 to 4 hours I took a few drops each of:
Mullein Leaf tincture for respiratory system support.
Burdock Root tincture for moistening and liver support.
Calendula tincture for lymph support.
After finding out I actually had COVID, I switched to herbs aimed more specifically at COVID and have felt an improvement. The first time I had COVID, I noticed debilitating joint pain very similar to when I was first diagnosed with Lyme disease several years ago. Both diseases seem to have parasitic characteristics, spreading deep into varying parts of the body and thus difficult to manage. I decided to approach this bout of COVID with that in mind.
Based on research from other countries using plant-based medicines to treat COVID, I tried out Sweet Annie, Artemisia annua, which was found to be effective early on with COVID-19. Sweet Annie has been used for decades in the treatment of malaria, which is a parasitic infection, according to this National Library of Medicine page. (Sweet Annie is one of my favorite landscaping plants due to its lovely scent, which you can also taste in the tincture.)
I was also fascinated by research I had done recently on Japanese Knotweed, Polygonum cuspidatum. (Check out “Herbs A-Z” for more information on Japanese Knotweed. I encourage you to also take time to read the monographs listed there about how its key constituents are able to cross the blood-brain barrier as well as reach other parts of the body that are deeper and harder to access.)
So, here is the treatment I landed on after realizing I was dealing with COVID instead of a common cold! Three times a day:
Japanese Knotweed tincture (4-6 drops), which I found tastes very bitter and astringent, but not as bitter as boneset, which is also a good option. But I switched to Japanese Knotweed as it is often beneficial with Lyme disease.
Sweet Annie tincture (3-4 drops) is also a bit drying, but the taste is pleasant and it helps balance the astringency of the knotweed.
Licorice Root tincture (3 drops) helps balance the dryness of the other two; acts as a synergist to help them work better together; and improves the taste greatly.
Calendula tincture (3-4 drops) supports the lymphatic system and provides additional balancing of the dryness of this blend.
Melatonin tablets (3 mg in the morning and 3 mg two hours before bed). A conversation with my daughter-in-law prompted me to research the connection with COVID and I was amazed to learn about melatonin’s benefits beyond being a natural sleep aid. (This National Library of Medicine page provides more information about Melatonin and COVID-19.)
I ran out of my Fire Cider blend that I made when I thought I just had a cold and didn’t bother making more. But I continued my higher doses of Vitamin C (in the form of ascorbic acid crystals to avoid the fillers in solid supplements).
Throughout the day, I continued to drink an assortment of teas, into which I added a variety of tinctures:
Elderberry
Spilanthes
Mullein Leaf to support the respiratory system
Star Anise tastes good and contains oseltamivir, the active ingredient in the antiviral product Tamiflu. Star Anise is quite strong, so only a drop or two is needed in a mug of tea.
Lemon would be a great addition, too, but my digestive system reacts negatively to lemon.
Other actions I took include:
Eliminating almost all sugar from my diet.
Eating more curry-type dishes for the strong anti-inflammatories naturally present in all those spices.
Gentle rebounding on my BOSU ball to encourage the movement of lymph in my joints.
If you read this entire article, I congratulate you and thank you for joining me on my journey to health!ng me on my journey to health!
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