08/25/2026
Hand, foot & mouth season is here & with kiddos back in school, I’ve already gotten quite a few messages asking what my herbal protocol would be.
comment “syrup” & I’ll send you the one we make
When my oldest got HFM, my focus was really simple… support her immune system, keep her hydrated & make her as comfortable as possible while her body worked through the virus.
One of my go to’s was this elderberry & astragalus syrup
You’ll need:
2 cups dried elderberries
½ cup astragalus root
8 cups water
1 1/2-2 cups honey
Add elderberry, astragalus & water to a pot. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat & simmer uncovered until reduced to about 3-4 cups. Strain, allow to cool until warm & stir in your honey. Store in the fridge.
I also love lemon balm tea during this time! It’s another antiviral herb known to be effective at supporting sores & it helps calm their nervous system. It’s gentle, soothing & especially nice when their little mouths are uncomfortable. Steep 1 tbsp in 1 cup hot water & cover for 10–15 minutes. Strain & sweeten.
Topically, I used our “sore soother” salve made with fresh St. John’s wort infused oil to soothe those uncomfortable little spots.
Honorable mention to Reishi which has also been studied & shown to be effective against this virus! We also offer this in tincture form.
Also last but certainly not least. Oat meal baths are so soothing to the skin & if you need something topically to put on immediately coconut oil is great!
The recipe is yours to make at home, but if you don’t feel like it you can find them already made in my shop.
