Breaking news: Summer is over. If there were any doubts before, there certainly aren’t any now, not when temperatures registered in the single digits in the east last night.

While I enjoy the changing of the seasons, I don’t enjoy the array of illnesses that pop up as the temperatures drop. The flu is perhaps the most loathsome of them all.

As many of us suspected – but never actually KNEW – there are a greater number of flu cases in the winter than in the summer because of the nature of the influenza virus itself. Scientists say that the virus is able to survive longer in colder weather because cold weather forms a shell around the virus itself wherever it attaches itself to, protecting it and keeping it alive. Once we touch a door knob or light switch that’s infected with the strain and then rub our eyes, nose or mouth, the virus infects us, eventually amalgamating around the body’s cells upon entering the respiratory tract.

The key to preventing this is by taking preventive measures, which is why the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the overwhelming majority of Americans get a flu shot, particularly those young and advanced in years (In 2007, approximately 72 percent of people 65 and older were vaccinated; only 38 percent of children ages 6 months to 5 years were fully vaccinated).

While a flu shot is important, it’s not a “get out of jail free” card, as I wrote recently. There are some other natural ways in which one can avoid the flu, the easiest being regular exercise and proper diet. Today, though, I want to focus on three natural herbs anyone can introduce into their regular routine that will say “Boo!” to the flu.

Echinacea

This ‘Ech’cellent herb has been used for flu-related symptoms 200 years before America was even an idea, never mind a country. It’s particularly effective in clearing up the throat and nasal passages, as studies indicate a 120 percent improvement in cold and flu-related symptoms when used. And that’s with treatment! Imagine how effective it is in warding off the flu?

Astragalus

This herb is like equipping the body with a highly sensitive fire alarm and crime prevention system. Astragalus heightens the body’s production of interferon. Interferons are like guardians of the watchtower, proteins that signal the alarms as to when the body’s cells need to mount a defense due invading viral forces.

Garlic

This odiferous herb is not just for cooking. In fact, it’s one of the most well known, long established and highly effective herbs available in warding off colds and flu, primarily due to a chemical it’s rich in called allicin (the Latin equivalent of garlic is Allium sativum). Whether it’s consumed from the clove itself or in capsule form, garlic is important to maintaining circulatory health, particularly with regards to lowering blood pressure.

The flu accounts for approximately 200,000 hospital visits and 36,000 deaths each year. For this reason, one should always consult with their doctor on how best to counteract the flu, as conditions and symptoms vary on a case by case basis. But generally speaking, these are some of the best natural ways to stay free of the flu, as temps take their interminable slide this winter season.