Echinacea, the purple cornflower, is the best-known herb for stimulating the immune system. Millions of people throughout hr world use Echinacea preparations against colds and flu, minor infections, and a host of other ailments. This native herb has an impressive record laboratory and clinical research and thousands of doctors currently use Echinacea for treating infectious diseases.
BENEFITS - 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 infections. Unlike antibiotics, which are directly lethal to bacteria, Echinacea makes our own immune cells more efficient in attacking bacteria, viruses, and abnormal cells.
Echinacea facilitates wound healing and speeds recovery from viruses. Anti-inflammatory effects make it useful externally against skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. It may also increase resistance to candida, bronchitis, herpes, and other infectious conditions.
More than 500 scientific studies document 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.
Specific Actions - increase the number and activity of immune cells, including antitumor cells; promotes T-cell activation; stimulates new tissue growth for wound healing; reduces inflammation in arthritis and inflammatory skin conditions.
Mild Antibiotic Action - bacteriostatic, antiviral anti-fungal; inhibits the bacterial enzyme hyaluronidase, to help prevent bacterial access to healthy cells.
SAFETYEchinacea has an excellent safety record and is well tolerated by most people. There is no known toxicity.