Echinacea can’t have too much
This root of the plant Echinacea purpurea is probably the most widely used immune-boosting herb. It possesses interferon- like properties and 1s an effective anti-viral agent against flu and herpes. It contains special kinds of polysaccharides, such as inulin, which increase macrophage production. These have been shown to destroy cancer cells in the test tube and fight off the undesirable yeast Candida albicans.
But echinacea isn’t just something to take when you’ve got an infection. One study on a group of healthy men found that after five days of taking 30 drops of echinacea extract three times a day, their white blood cells had doubled their phago-cytic’ power. Whether echinacea’s immune-boosting properties are maintained over a long period of time is not yet known. Some researchers recommend just using these herbs to boost immunity when your health is actually under threat.
When you’re fighting an infection, echinacea is best taken either as capsules of the powdered herb (2000mg a day) or as drops of concentrated extract (20 drops three times a day).
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Echinacea can’t have too much
November 22 2008 02:31 pm | Nutrition
