Japanese Honeysuckle flower (Lonicera japonica) cold and dry*

A common weedy plant with fragrant flowers. In Chinese medicine the unopened flower buds are used as a powerful antibacterial and antiviral agent. It is effective in treating influenza, sore throats, colds, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

Ground Ivy herb (Glechoma hederacea) cool and dry*

A relatively little-known herb, it has antiviral, antioxident, anti-inflammatory and expectorant activity. Ground Ivy is used for hot/damp lung conditions,  respiratory infections with fever, yellow-green or bloody sputum. It is an effective remedy for hot pneumonia, bronchitis, or sinusitis.

Pleurisy root fresh root (Aclepias tuberosa) cold and dry*

Indicated for lung conditions where breathing is painful and there is a fever with little or no sweating. It has a long history of use for pleurisy, pneumonia, pericarditis, bronchitis and pneumonitis. It increases diaphoresis, expels mucus, slows a rapid pulse and reduces respiratory pain.

Huang Qin/Baikal Skullcap root (Scutellaria baicalensis) cold and dry*

Commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for excess heat symptoms such as fever, hypertension, red inflamed skin or eyes, nosebleeds, acute hepatitis, uterine bleeding and fire poison (shingles, boils, staph infections). This root is antibacterial and antiviral, making it useful for colds, flu, herpes, bronchial infections and sinusitis.

White Sage leaf (Salvia apiana) cold and dry*

An aromatic member of the sage family that is a carminative, antibacterial, antiviral, and analgesic. Used as a gargle, it reduces pain and inflammation caused by sore throats. It helps to dry up damp sinus infections and  enhances expectoration of mucus.

Bibliography:

Chen, J., Chen, T., Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology, Art of Medicine Press, 2004

Felter, H. W.  The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, J.K. Scudder, 1922

Jiao Shu-De, Ten Lectures On The Use Of Medicinals, Paradigm Pub., 2003

Moore, M.  The Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West, Red Crane Books, 1993

Winston, D., Herbal Therapeutics, Specific Indications for Herbs & Herbal Formulas, HTRL, 8th ed., 2003