Lilly Bell & Better Nutrition Editors

St. John's Wort can possibly alleviate depression, help detoxify the liver, reduce scarring, and more. It has many other possible benefits, such as wound healing and scar prevention, relieving symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and hot flashes, and enhancing liver detoxification. Its rich content of antioxidants is also important for the brain, as well as more generalized healing. The herb can possibly activate some liver enzymes, enhancing the breakdown of pharmaceutical drugs and toxins. Overall, the herb might melt away anxiety and lift one's mood.

Research shows that Vitamin C might be able to help maintain skin firmness and elasticity by supporting the construction of collagen, the skin’s primary building block. Vitamin C could also possibly increase skin brightness by reducing the enzymes that cause dark spots and blotches. Humans are unable to synthesize vitamin C, and even if you ingest high doses, only a small fraction will be biologically available and active in the skin. That’s why it might be important to make topical vitamin C part of your skincare routine.

During cold and flu season, good nutrition and basic precautions—such as washing your hands often and keeping your distance from people who are sick—can help keep you healthy, but there are a few supplements that science has backed as helpful boosts. Elderberry is a natural remedy that might be able to help stave off sickness and speed up recovery. In lab studies, scientists have found that extracts of European elderberry work in two ways: They can block the ability of various flu viruses to invade and infect cells, which stops the virus from replicating. And, they can activate an immune response to fight the virus in cells that have already been infected.

As we inevitably age, our metabolisms slow and lethargy begins to sneak its way in. There might be an answer in mitigating this process: forskolin. Forskolin is an extract from Coleus forskohlii, an herb used in Ayurvedic medicine, forskolin could stimulate the thyroid and might reduce thyroid resistance. This supplement might change your life by giving you more energy and amplifying your day-to-day.

Going on vacation is something we usually look forward to, but travel can present its own challenges, and unfamiliar activities can leave you sore, achy, tired, or even sick. Luckily, there are simple ways to treat most common travel-related complaints. A natural medicine chest filled with just a few herbs can help you enjoy the trip. To treat minor injuries yourself, arnica can be taken internally as a homeopathic remedy. It reduces swelling and bruising and decreases the effects of trauma, which helps the body heal. To speed recovery further, apply arnica gel on sore or bruised areas (but not on open wounds).

Echinacea is a coneflower used to increase the number of white blood cells. Among the three most popular types of echinacea, David Winston, RH (AHG), a registered herbalist, recommends taking the strongest, Echinacea angustifolia, alone or in combination with Echinacea purpurea and/or Echinacea pallida. Like andrographis, echinacea stimulates the immune system, but in a different way. The key when taking echinacea is to make sure that you get the correct dose. "There are good German studies," says Winston, "showing that if you drop below a certain threshold of the dose, it just doesn't work."

Holistic paediatrician Elisa Song, MD, has been helping parents navigate cold and flu seasons for years. The mother to two daughters and founder of Whole Family Wellness clinic in Belmont, California, Song knows a thing or two about preventing and treating nasty bugs. “As the cold and flu season approaches, every parent wants to know the same thing,” says Song. “What can I do to boost my child’s immune system?” In addition to common sense measures, such as eliminating junk food from your child’s diet and making sure sleep is a priority, Song has found that certain remedies give a child’s body “that extra defense to more effectively ward off and fight colds and flus.” Here are four of her favorites—be sure to stock up on them now!