The Autumnal Equinox is approaching and that means saying goodbye to summer sandals and hello to long layers and cooler temperatures. As the seasons change, our bodies also do. Fall and winter bring drier air and harsh winds that can dry skin and sinuses and usher in the onset of cold and flu season.

Rather than waiting until a bug hits your home or office and you’re addressing the symptoms and discomfort of sickness, why not prepare your immune system now to increase your chance of avoiding illness altogether? Having natural remedies at your fingertips will help you ward off illness, even when those around you sniffle and sneeze. Get your herbal arsenal ready with these immune boosting picks!

Garlic has a long history of being medicinally valuable and is a great herb to have on hand year round. Whether you’re using it in culinary dishes or you’re avoiding the bad breath and taking it as a capsule, garlic is an immune boosting antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral powerhouse that also benefits your cardiovascular system. Hanna called garlic a natural cleanser and tonic with no side effects and said “It maintains a healing factor in the bloodstream for up to 10 hours and doesn’t destroy the body’s friendly bacteria.” Try Odorless Garlic from Now or an extract from Kyolic.

You can apply turmeric to the skin for issues such as ringworm, bruising, and bites (inflammatory skin conditions) mouth sores, and wounds.

Ginger may be best known as a star of a sushi platter but this herb can also address nausea, reduce inflammation, and improve cardiovascular conditions, blood clots, and cholesterol. With a tincture, tea, or capsule to choose from, there’s an easy way to ingest ginger to boost your immune system even if you don’t wish to cook with it. Hanna recommended a compress of ginger tea on the stomach to relieve cramping from stomach flu and noted how effective it is at boosting the immune system against symptoms of cold weather illnesses.

Turmeric contains curcumin, a powerful antioxidant that is also antibacterial. Add Turmeric powder to delicious curry dishes or ingest it in capsule form and get it into your system to benefit your body from the inside out. Stomach ailments, skin issues, inflammation, and the sniffles can be addressed with Turmeric and taking it each day can boost your immune system and help you ward off an illness or cut sick time down.

Echinacea has long been touted for its benefits to the immune system and for good reason! Combined with goldenseal or when taken as a tea, Echinacea has been found to prevent and treat upper respiratory tract infections and the common cold. Keep this herb on hand year round and take it at the first sign of sickness in your home or office to boost your immune system. Echinacea tincture is small enough to keep in your purse or bedside table for easy use but we also have it available as a capsule.

Schizandra is a “wonder” berry/ an adaptogenic herb that can help boost the immune system!

Ginseng, Schizandra, Rhodiola, and other adaptogenic herbs help to boost the immune system by keeping your body healthy as a whole. Stress, anxiety, and exhaustion take a toll on our health and when we are overwhelmed with outside factors like these, our immune system becomes weakened and our chances of getting sick dramatically increase. Adaptogens help us to adapt to changes in stressors or environment, help us to get better sleep, and keep our immune system strong. Learn more about adaptogens.

Taking a daily multivitamin is good idea whether you are feeling ill or the healthiest of folk. A multivitamin will keep your immune system strong as well as helping you to recovery quickly if you are already sick. Be sure to choose a vitamin that suits your specific needs for your sex and age (take a look at our favorites).

Are you concerned about what to give your child to keep their immune system healthy? Echinacea for Children from Oregon’s Wild Harvest or Echinacea Golden Root from Herbs for Kids will help to keep their systems boosted with a great flavor they won’t say no to. Nordic Berries from Nordic Naturals is a great multivitamin to consider for them and when the cold or flu has already struck, try Sniffles ‘n Sneezes 4 Kids or Flu Care by Hyland’s or check out our favorite products from the Children’s Section. Want products for the adults in your home? Take a look at these products from the Cold and Flu section of our store as well as this post on Cold and Flu Remedies or this one with tips for Fighting and Preventing Cold and Flu.