Many herbs have been studied for immune boosting properties over the past century. The German Commission E, a widespread effort spanning 16 years, produced a set of monographs describing efficacy, toxicity, and usage for many medicinal plants. It can be a used as a good starting place to evaluate an herb’s usefulness. However, studies continue to be conducted all over the globe in an effort to determine which natural substances might be useful in our quest for anti-viral, bacterial, and microbial agents without the adverse effects of antibiotics and which will not contribute to resistance issues. Another great source of information is the compilation of studies found at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed .
A complete review of herbs which have shown efficacy could span many pages. Here is a summary of herbs which have yielded favorable results:
- Echinacea – Especially when taken at the very first sign of cold, this herb can stimulate one’s immune system to chase it off. It should be used in short duration when needed, and less as a preventative herb.
- Astragalus -It’s recommended usage is similar to Echinacea and is best reserved for when a cold is imminent.
- Aloe Vera- Extracts of this herb exhibit anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Its usage is still being studied for a variety of conditions, but in an immune supplement it can act as an anti-inflammatory on mucus membranes.
- Golden Seal – This herb is another stimulatory agent for when our immune system is challenged by a viral infection and is commonly added to herbal combinations.
- Garlic – Its benefits extend well beyond the immune system, to cardiovascular and general vascular health. Be sure to use a product with tested potency for the active component, allicin.
- Elderberry – Another well-rounded herb which is also helpful for cholesterol levels, vision, heart health, and general anti-oxidant activity. It contains bioflavonoids which boost immune strength. The safety profile and pleasant flavor of this herb makes it favorable for use in children’s products.
In summary, I feel the use of herbs when one feels an impending infection can be very valuable. What works for one person may not be as helpful for another, so it is worthwhile to continue experimentation if one preparation does not seem to have much effect. The source of the supplement is crucial as herbs need to be properly handled to maintain potency. Buying from manufacturers who continually test their products and who offer their products up for outside testing is a way to assure one is truly getting a quality product.
One last note, which applies to all the nutrients discussed this week, is that they must all be used in combination with positive lifestyle habits. They cannot fight the infection alone! We need to help our bodies by getting proper sleep, reducing stressors, taking in plenty of water, and maintaining a healthy diet (primarily, one very low in sugar and simple carbohydrates, and high in fresh produce for maximum anti-oxidants).
References
Int Immunopharmacol. 2001 Jul;1(7):1275-84. Acemannan purified from Aloe vera induces phenotypic and functional maturation of immature dendritic cells. Lee JK, Lee MK, Yun YP, Kim Y, Kim JS, Kim YS, Kim K, Han SS, Lee CK.
Clin Ther. 2006 Feb;28(2):174-83. Echinacea in the prevention of induced rhinovirus colds: a meta-analysis. Schoop R, Klein P, Suter A, Johnston SL.
J Med Food. 2008 Sep;11(3):493-8. Immune modulation of macrophage pro-inflammatory response by goldenseal and Astragalus extracts. Clement-Kruzel S, Hwang SA, Kruzel MC, Dasgupta A, Actor JK.
Recent Pat Antiinfect Drug Discov. 2010 Jan 1;5(1):91-3. Antimicrobial effect of garlic (Allium sativum). Goncagul G, Ayaz E.
PLoS One. 2010 Sep 3;5(9):e12561. Regulation of inflammatory gene expression in PBMCs by immunostimulatory botanicals. Denzler KL, Waters R, Jacobs BL, Rochon Y, Langland JO.