The best proactive approach to staying healthy is preventative care. The benefits of diet, exercise and vitamin supplements are well known. Not as well known are herbal immune system boosters. Herbal immune stimulants are not related to specific pathogens, so their actions are non-specific. This allows them a wide range of use. Echinacea and ginseng are excellent immune system boosters.
Echinacea for Use in Flu
Echinacea’s use for flu began in the 1800s. From the 1890s to the 1920s the Lloyd Brothers Pharmacists developed a large number of popular products for use in cold and flu. Echinacea contains echinacoside, which is a natural antibiotic comparable to penicillin in its broad spectrum activity. It remained a popular remedy until the 1920s when it was ousted by modern antibiotics.
Echinacea exerts its antiviral effect by stimulating an immune response. It raises the white blood cell count and increases the cells' ability to resist infection. Contemporary herbalists use echinacea as a botanical antibiotic and immune system stimulant for colds and flu. Studies in Germany have reported success using echinacea to treat flu symptoms, colds, tonsillitis, bronchitis, wounds, abscesses and ear infections.
Commission e studies recommend that echinacea should be taken for eight weeks at most. Health Canada recommends that echinacea be taken at the first sign of infection and that a health care provider be consulted for use beyond eight weeks.
Immune System Benefits of Ginseng
Ginseng has been used for centuries as a therapy to treat failing vitality. However, the immune system benefits of ginseng include use against viruses, free radicals and even radiation. Siberian ginseng has been shown to help the body counteract and adapt to stress, increase vitality and strengthen the immune system. Ginseng works by increasing the activity of white blood cells, which fight bacterial and viral infections.
A Russian study gave 1500 factory workers four milligrams of ginseng a day. They then compared the days absent due to cold and flu, tonsillitis, bronchitis and sinus infection against the workers not receiving the ginseng. It showed that fewer days were missed by those workers receiving the ginseng daily.
Panax ginseng is more recommended for men, while Siberian ginseng is recommended for women. Although they are not the same genus, they have similar properties when it comes to fighting infection.
Commission e studies recommend that ginseng should be taken for three months followed by a break. Health Canada recommends that a health care provider be consulted for use beyond three months.
Interactions and Contraindications of Using Herbs
Many people are under the misunderstanding that because a remedy is herbal it is “natural” and therefore harmless. In the case of healthy individuals, this is for the most part a safe assumption. However, many herbs do have an interaction with both prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins and even with each other. It is always a good idea to research interactions prior to self medicating with herbal remedies.
Echinacea interacts with:
- chemotherapy
- econazole
- speclazole
Ginseng Interacts with:
- Warfarin
- chemotherapy
- digoxin
- flu vaccine
- ticlopidine
Treat Yourself to Good Health with Herbs
Herbal treatments are always a good choice for preventative health care. Both echinacea and ginseng preparations are available at most health food stores, herbal pharmacies and in fact are readily available at most drug stores. Most preparations list the dosage on the label. Consult an herbal pharmacist is you have any questions.
References:
Rational Phytotherapy a reference guide for Physicians and Pharmacists 5th ed. Schulz. Hansel. Blumenthal. Tyler Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2004
Bartrams Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine Thomas Bartram FNIMH Marlowe & Company New York. 1st published in the UK 1998 by Grace Publishers
The Healing Herbs Michael Castleman Rodale Press 1991
A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin interactions Healthnotes Prima Publishing Schuyer W. Lininger et al 1999
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