THE USE OF ECHINACEA PURPUREA

Is The Use Of Echinacea Purpurea To Boast The Immune Systemand Prevent Infections Like Colds And Flu Supported By Sound Evidence

Echinacea Boost The Immune System

Echinacea, the purple coneflower, is the best known and researched herb for stimulating the immune system. This native American herb has an impressive record of laboratory and clinical research.

Echinacea increases the 'non-specific' activity of the immune system. In other words, unlike a vaccine which is active only against a specific disease, echinacea stimulates the overall activity of the cells responsible for fighting all kinds of infection. Unlike antibiotics, which are directly lethal to bacteria, echinacea makes our own immune cells more efficient in attacking bacteria and viruses

Hundreds of scientific studies have documented the chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical applications of echinacea. The most consistently proven effect of echinacea is in stimulating phagocytosis - encouraging white blood cells and lymphocytes to attack invading organisms. Specifically, echinacea increases the number and activity of immune system cells. It increases the amount of T-cells and macrophages in the bloodstream. It also increases the amount of Interferon, Interleukin, Immunoglobulin and other important natural immune chemicals present in your blood.

In the first clinical study of the popular herb's effects on healthy men, UF nutritional scientist Susan Percival found that echinacea stimulated white blood cells, which fight infection.

In her preliminary study, Percival gave 10 healthy, college-age men an echinacea supplement for 4 days, taking measurements of immunity on day 1 and day 4. In just 4 days, she found a stimulation of the immune system in the form of a threefold increase in the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria.

Echinacea and White Blood Cells

Studies show (1-4) that one of the key manners in which echinacea enhances immune function is by enhancing the ability of macrophages to engulf and destroy foreign matter. By enhancing the activity of these 'garbage collectors' of the body, in essence the blood is purified. The specific components of echinacea responsible for this effect are the polysaccharides, alkylamides, and cichoric acid. While each of these components is effective alone, the greatest degree of enhancement noted in research by Dr. Tapan Basu at the University of Alberta when the 3 active components are used in combination in an echinacea supplement (5). This synergy, where 1+1+1=6 is very powerful and found often in nature.

Other studies have shown echinacea's action on another type of white blood cell known as natural killer cells.(6,7) Natural killer (NK) cells got their name because they can destroy cells which have become cancerous or infected with viruses. Typically NK cell numbers or activity will be reduced in individuals suffering from either chronic viral illness (such as chronic fatigue syndrome or chronic hepatitis) or cancer. Also, a decline in NK cell activity or number is also a common feature of aging. A recent study revealed that echinacea has the capacity to increase NK cell numbers, in aging mice, reflecting increased new NK cell production in the bone marrow, leading ...