Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year. It is also the day when my husband doesn’t complain that I have usedevery pot and pan in the kitchen while he - willingly - cleans up behind me! I also herb up everything: yep I put some nutmeg in my bourbon pecan pie (and a little in my bourbon too).

Spice is so nice: knowing that your family is getting a boost of immunity from their “cinnamon” hot cocoa or from adding a little cayenne to your honey for a nice Hot Whiskey?  Boom. Simple right?

This is my rough guide to adding a littleoomph of herbal wonder to your Thanksgiving festivities and a little bit of a why these herbs are so good for you, too.

Elderberryis an immune tonic and something I like to use for the changing of the season, back to school, for traveling and general wellness.  It’s SWEET so it usually is a remedy that kids actually enjoy and I use these immune-boosting berries in conjunction with other herbs: especially for colds and flus. Elderberry is a simple deep black berry, it is a powerhouse of immunity and can really add oomph and vitality to your day-to-day wellness. It is known to build the immune system, shorten the duration of a cold or flu, help with rheumatism and inflammation, reduce the symptoms and duration of a flare up from the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The berries are also supportive of the cardiovascular system and may help lower blood pressure because they are working on helping with inflammation.