Common Flu Blend PLUS Kit

Description

This is a kit based on the “Common flu blend” Stephen Buhner mentions in his book Herbal Antivirals and the “Antiviral blend” in Thomas Easley’s The Modern Herbal Dispensatory. It provides baseline support for flu and adds potent brain and cardio protection for the inflammation that comes with Covid. Updated in 2025 to add Isatis tinctora root, which is a standard flu treatment in both Western and Chinese Traditional Medicine. If you have ongoing health issues, especially diabetes, consider the Common Flu Blend Kit, which has fewer antiviral ingredients but also fewer contraindications. 

PLEASE NOTE: These are Buhner’s and Easley’s assertions, not mine. I am making no claims about efficacy; I’m simply providing materials for people to easily follow his protocols. Please see “Buhner Kits” for important information about this herbal blend.

Contraindications: Diabetes, pregnancy, bleeding issues (e.g., DON’T take red root or isatis if you’re on blood thinners), sulfa drug allergies. Licorice can increase blood pressure if taken in high doses and/or for a long time (be especially careful if you have high blood pressure, low calcium levels, low testosterone levels, or high blood sodium). Baikal skullcap is known to mess with blood sugar – diabetics take extreme caution! It may cause changes in how many common medications (including, but not limited to, insulin, ribavirin, albendazole, ciprofloxacin, amphotericin B) are metabolized, so you may need more or less of them. n very rare cases, lomatium can cause an alarming but apparently harmless full-body rash that goes away on its own after a couple days. Really, truly – TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR if you have any ongoing health issues or medications before taking this.

Ingredients: Isatis (isatis tinctora), red root (Ceanothus americanus), licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis), red sage (Salvia miltiorrhiza), kudzu (Pueraria lobata), lomatium (Lomatium dissectum), .

Preparation instructions: Suggested preparations are included for making tinctures, non-alcoholic decoctions, and teas from this kit. Download Buhner Flu Kit Info Sheet. The short version, for making a tincture is:

• Dump contents into a 16 oz jar (like a pint canning jar).
• Fill the jar with 80 proof alcohol, like vodka. Spiced rum is also nice!
• Shake the jar occasionally – or better yet, after about a week, blend the contents in a blender, then return to the jar.
• Let sit for 4-6 WEEKS.
• Strain through a sieve into a clean jar.
• You can add honey to improve the flavor.
• Will keep without refrigeration for several years.

Dosage: Start with 1 teaspoon 4x/day; can go up to 6x/day in acute cases. This kit makes about 72 teaspoons (12oz) of finished tincture – should make plenty for one adult “bout” lasting 10 days. Alternately, you can take 1 dropper every 15 minutes for the first hour, then once per waking hour for the next few days. Don’t take it for more than 10 days – licorice should not be used long-term.