Bob Morgan wrote in a message to Alex Vasauskas:
 AV> I and others I know who have tried it have found that taking echinacea
 AV> and garlic when you feel the first hint of a cold or the flu helps to
 AV> avoid the cold or flu, or at least substantially decrease the
 AV> severity of the disease.
 BM>  We use the same combination and it has worked well for us too. 
 BM> The  good thing about garlic is that it strenghthens your immune
 BM> system  whereas antibiotics weaken it.  In the 80's I had chronic
 BM> bronchitis  and strep throat.  I'd take a round of Cephalexin then
 BM> six weeks later  get it again.  It was a vicious and expensive
 BM> cycle until I had had  enough and decided to try the garlic and it
 BM> broke the cycle.  I haven't  had bronchitis since.  I've had strep
 BM> throat maybe once because the  kids bring it home from school but
 BM> extra garlic took care of it.  I use  this on my kids too.  I got
 BM> the diagnosis from the Dr and chose the  garlic, echinacea and
 BM> pycnogenol (I believe) and she was better in two  days.  That's my
 BM> experience.
There is one other major herb I forgot to mention for conditions
involving respiratory weakness or infection.  It is elecampane
(Inula helenium).  It is useful as a tonic to take during the times
of year (or even all year) when you may be inclined to get
respiratory problems (it also strengthens the rest of the body
against disease), or as your treatment or part of your treatment
if you do get a condition involving respiratory effects.  The root
is the part that is used.
For the common cold and the flu in general, boneset (Eupatorium
perfoliatum) is right up there with echinacea and garlic, either
alone or in combination with the others.
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