Elina Bakr was stuck in a dizzying cycle of battling chronic viruses. Then she started taking Korean red ginseng -- and has never felt better.

"I am forever running my two sons to and from school, sports practices and other activities. That means they're exposed to a lot of different people and are frequently bringing home some sort of illness that runs through the entire household. Every month or two, I would come down with congestion, achiness and sinus pressure that lasted anywhere from a few days to a week.

Constantly sick and worn out

"Because I try to live a natural lifestyle, instead of over-the-counter cold medicines, I drank a lot of hot water or tea with honey to both soothe my sore throat and boost my immune system with its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. I'd even add a splash of lemon for its vitamin C, which can also improve immunity. While those warm sips were tasty, they did little to prevent me from getting sick.

"I was looking for natural remedies that would work for me and my sons, in an attempt to break the cycle of us catching so many colds and viruses. Then one afternoon, I had some extra time while my son was taking his karate class, and I spotted a health-food store in the shopping center where we were. I wondered if they might have a holistic option to finally put an end to all the illness.

"I spoke to the owner, who suggested I try supplementing with Korean red ginseng because it's been found to increase the production of antibodies in your blood to help you fight off illness. I did some research on my own and learned that Korean red ginseng, like American ginseng, comes from a plant, but it's stronger and more stimulating, so it can also boost energy. Plus, it has cardiovascular benefits.

"I had heard great things about Jung Kwan Jang Korean red ginseng, so I ordered some online (JungKwanJang.us) and began taking it daily, per the label's dosing recommendation. After a few weeks, I was a little disappointed because I didn't notice any benefits, but I read online that enhancing your immune system can take time, so I stuck with the Korean red ginseng and hoped for the best.

"Over the next few weeks, I also experimented with a couple of different Korean red ginseng tonics, extracts and teas. I found one -- a preportioned pouch I can rip open and drink without mixing in another liquid -- that has a flavor I really enjoyed.

Small change, big difference

"I didn't have a strict timing regimen for taking the supplement -- I simply made sure to drink one pouch every day. Because I love the flavor, I didn't have to mix it with water, which made it easy to toss a pouch in my purse and drink it anytime, anywhere.

"After about three months, I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that it had been a while since I even had the sniffles, let alone battled a cold or sinus infection. My daily Korean red ginseng habit was the only change to my lifestyle, and that's when I knew it was the key to maintaining great health.

"Thankfully, I found an option that's safe for kids and started giving it to my oldest son because he was constantly bringing home colds and viruses from school or his activities, and then my younger son would also get sick. When my younger son is old enough, I'll give the supplement to him as well to keep his immune system as healthy as possible.

"After about five months of daily use, I was able to scale back to taking the supplement a few times a week. But on the rare chance I do feel a little run-down, I go back to taking it daily for a few days, and suddenly I feel terrific again.

"Today, I'm thrilled that I'm able to stay healthy using something that's all-natural and has no unpleasant side effects. I especially love that thanks to this homeopathic option, I don't have to turn to prescription medication or over-the-counter ­remedies to feel my best.

"As an added bonus, I found that I no longer need to refill my coffee cup in the morning. On a day when I'm feeling a little sluggish, Korean red ginseng provides me with a terrific energy boost that doesn't leave me feeling jittery like that second -- or third -- cup of coffee does!"