Most health and nutrition experts would agree that in order to be able to beat infections it helps to have a strong immune system. Boosting the immune system can be as simple as keeping the body pure and fortified with the nutrients it needs to restore and maintain balance, thus building up resistance to colds, viruses, infections, and disease.

Keeping the Body Pure

A good practice to engage in is regular detoxification. Some find this is beneficial annually, some semi-annually, and some even monthly. Some of the best foods and herbs to help detoxify the system are as follows:

Best Detoxifying Herbs

• Garlic – blood cleanser, lowers blood fats, natural antibiotic and antiviral.
• Red Clover Blossoms – blood cleanser, hormone balancer, good during convalescence and healing.
• Echinacea – lymph cleanser, improves lymphocyte and phagocyte actions, immunity supporter, antimicrobial.
• Dandelion Root – liver and blood cleanser, diuretic, filters toxins, a tonic.
• Cayenne Pepper – blood and tissue purifier, increases fluid elimination and sweat, a natural stimulant.
• Ginger Root – stimulates circulation and sweating, relieves congestion.
• Licorice Root – the "great detoxifier," biochemical balancer, mild laxative.
• Comfrey – intestines, hypertension, osteoporosis.
• Yellow Dock Root – skin, blood, and liver cleanser, contains vitamin C and iron.
• Burdock Root – skin and blood cleanser, diuretic and diaphoretic, improves liver function, antibacterial and antifungal properties.
• Sarsaparilla Root – blood and lymph cleanser, contains saponins which reduce microbes and toxins.
• Parsley Leaf -- diuretic, flushes kidneys.
• Goldenseal Root -- blood, liver, kidney, and skin cleanser, stimulates detoxification.

Best Detoxifying Fruits

• Lemon – liver, gallbladder, allergies, asthma, cardiovascular disease (CVD), colds.
• Citrus – CVD, obesity, hemorrhoids, varicose veins.
• Apple – liver, intestines.
• Pear – gallbladder.
• Grape – colon, anemia.
• Papaya – stomach, indigestion, hemorrhoids, colitis.
• Pineapple – allergies, arthritis, inflammation, edema, hemorrhoids, anti-parasitic.
• Watermelon – kidneys, edema.
• Black cherry – colon, menstrual problems, gout.

Best Detoxifying Vegetables

• Greens – CVD, skin, eczema, digestive problems, obesity, breath.
• Spinach – anemia, eczema.
• Parsley – kidneys, edema, arthritis.
• Beet greens – gallbladder, liver, osteoporosis.
• Watercress – anemia, colds.
• Wheatgrass – anemia, liver, intestines, breath.
• Cabbage – colitis, ulcers.
• Carrots – eyes, arthritis, osteoporosis.
• Beets – blood, liver, menstrual problems, arthritis.
• Celery – kidneys, diabetes, osteoporosis.
• Cucumber – edema, diabetes.
• Jerusalem artichoke – diabetes.
• Garlic – allergies, colds, hypertension, CVD, high fats, diabetes.
• Radish – liver, high fats, obesity.
• Potatoes -- intestines, ulcers.

The Best Immunity Boosting Herbs

These are the best medicinal herbs for building up the immune system and fighting off infection:

• Garlic - anti-viral and anti-bacterial, the best overall immunity supporter.
• Echinacea - anti-microbial.
• Dandelion Root - general health tonic.
• Wild Oregano - especially beneficial for the sinuses.
• Goldenseal - used for throat infections.

Sometimes illnesses attack and getting sick can’t be avoided. Having a supply of medicinal herbs on hand can come in handy when battling a cold or flu. Following are some of the most readily available herbs, most of which can be gathered and used fresh or stored for future use by drying or making into tinctures.

• Yarrow - reduces fever, relieves cold symptoms, anti-inflammatory, relieves aches and pains, relieves hay fever and pollen based allergies.
• Feverfew - relieves muscle aches and pains, headaches.
• Elder Flowers - used to relieve cold and flu symptoms, anti-catarrhal, relieves inflamed mucus membranes.
• Daisy - cough reliever, anti-catarrhal.
• Dock - blood purifier.
• St. John’s Wort - anti-inflammatory.
• Mullein Oil - used to treat ear infections.
• Ginger Root - stimulates circulation, helps to sweat out a fever, relieves congestion.