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Rooted

Respiratory · also Immune / Rheum / Allergy

Common cold

4 plants

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Start early or don't bother. Elderberry has small duration trials and an adulteration/sugar problem. Andrographis and Pelargonium have more European acute-respiratory product data. Echinacea is mixed and unimpressive late. Ma huang is a stimulant warning object, not a decongestant prescription.

Primary plants

  1. Black elder (Sambucus nigra)
    1
    Black elderHuman data

    Sambucus nigra

    Berry extracts: small viral-illness duration trials. Cooked/processed berry only.

    Typical. Standardized berry extract as labeled at onset. Flower tea for catarrh.

    Safety. Raw berry: nausea. Sugar load in syrups. Immune-modulating claims oversold.

  2. King of bitters (Andrographis paniculata)
    2
    King of bittersHuman data

    Andrographis paniculata

    Andrographis: several RCTs on cold/flu-like symptom scores. Short course, bitter, GI.

    Typical. Standardized aerial extract as studied, start at onset.

    Safety. GI, rash. Pregnancy avoid.

Supportive plants2
  • Umckaloabo (Pelargonium sidoides)
    UmckaloaboHuman data
    Pelargonium sidoides

    Pelargonium root, acute-respiratory symptom trials.

    Typical. Root extract as labeled, short course.

    Safety. GI. Not pneumonia.

  • Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
    Purple coneflowerHuman data
    Echinacea purpurea

    Echinacea mixed prevention/duration data. Unimpressive if started late.

    Typical. Expressed juice or extract at onset, few days.

    Safety. Asteraceae. Autoimmune theoretical.

When this is not enough

  • Dyspnea, hypoxia, suspected flu in a high-risk host, stiff neck, infant, immunosuppression

Rooted is a private clinical reference for licensed practitioners. It is educational, not a treatment protocol, and not a substitute for the chart, the exam, or pharmacy review. Plant medicines interact with drugs and can harm liver, kidney, heart, pregnancy, and children.

All respiratory diagnoses