Good morning, Asheville. Brook here. I always thought I had a strong immune system until I started living with the tiny human I made who is strangely adept at coughing + sneezing directly into my mouth as often as possible. I know my fellow parents out there will feel me.
In addition to washing my hands on the reg + wiping all surfaces down with Clorox wipes, I’ve started upping my intake of locally made holistic supplements in an effort to better protect me and my family against the relentless onslaught of elementary school cooties.
It makes sense that Asheville and WNC would be the place many of these products are produced. In addition to all the smartypants folks who live here, the mountains are an endlessly fertile place (it’s one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, and nearly 80% of the plants used in North American herbalism are native to the region) to grow many of the plants + herbs that help comprise these products.
While I still break out the big pharmaceutical guns like Alka Seltzer and Nyquil when I get super sick, I appreciate that holistic supplements have been used for centuries and are designed to boost my immune system so I don’t get sick in the first place (as opposed to over-the-counter medicines that treat the grody symptoms of the common cold). Similarly, I like that medicines made from plants that grow regionally often have fewer side effects than pharmaceutical drugs.
That’s why I’ve compiled a list of my favorite locally made products that will help you kick cold + flu season to the curb.
Wanna whet your appetite for wellness? Read on:
Fire tonic I Image by @purefirefoods
Reading about its ingredients (raw organic apple cider vinegar and organic fruits, spices, herbs, and veggies — including seven varieties of mushrooms) and knowing how good spicy fare is for you when you’re sick prompted me to get some when I felt myself coming down with something.
I tossed some back, instantly began to sweat, and felt energized. I feel like it shortened my cold so I got some for my Daddy, too. Now we both take it. Bonus: The regular flavor with some olive oil and veggie broth makes a terrific tofu marinade, and it’s delightful in a virgin Bloody Mary, too.
Immuni-Broth kit I Image by @redmoonherbs
For more than 20 years, this biz has handcrafted small batch products for the whole family (even pets) using local organically grown + wildcrafted herbs. From teas to extracts to kits, their products are designed to treat folks holistically. Their immunity kit, for example, features dried ashwagandha root, reishi mushroom, herbal vinegar, and ramps, nettles + local salt for a sippable broth teeming with potent trace + macro minerals and nutrients your body needs to get and stay well. Bonus: It tastes great alone or as a base for soups.
Elderberry Chai Elixir I Image by @pinesherbals
Whether you need help sleeping, focusing, relaxing, or something else entirely, there’s a good chance Pine’s Herbals makes something to help. From oils + salves to single formula extracts, blends + more, these sustainably sourced herbs come nearly exclusively from WNC and work together synergistically for effective, potent results. Their Elderberry Chai Elixir combines the immune supporting superpowers of elderberry + the warming spices cinnamon, ginger, clove, cardamom + fennel (plus honey) for a tasty way to nix a cold.
Clean Juice Immune Booster I Image by @cleanjuice
I’m no scientist, but I’m pretty sure simply entering Clean Juice will boost your health, in part because it’s physically impossible to look at all their offerings and not want everything. Speaking of, everything — from the shots + juices to the smoothies + acai bowls — it’s all 100% USDA-certified organic. The nutrient-dense cold-pressed wellness shots, like the Immune Booster, Hotshot, and Elderberry, deliver instantaneous, full-potency benefits of vitamin C, elderberry, cayenne, and more to your body for a speedy dose of wellness.
Quick Defense I Image by @gaiaherbs
If it’s an herb with medicinal properties, there’s a good chance it’s grown on this 350-acre farm in Brevard. Purveyors of some of the best-selling herbal products in the country, Gaia routinely tests their farm’s soil for nutrients to ensure healthy crops. Their products, like immune-supporting Black Elderberry, come in multiple varieties — including powders, capsules, tinctures + syrups for both kids and adults. Bonus? Gaia’s products are found online, as well as in stores like Whole Foods, making them fairly accessible. My daughter also actually likes the way their medicines taste.
As always, this list is nowhere near exhaustive, but rather a glimpse at some of my personal favs. Knowing we likely missed some fab products, we wanna know what you rely on to maintain good health. Do us a solid and tell us here. ⬇️
