| Have
you ever wondered why the only trials on herbal remedies that
seem to be reported in the press are negative ones? How irritating
this is when we know full well that many, many people are
being helped daily by simple, effective herbal remedies with
no side effects. Actually there are many clinical trials showing
the benefits of herbal medicines, but they don’t have
shock value and are rarely reported.
Echinacea
purpurea is probably the most popular herb in the UK.
It is very well researched and, although we don’t know
everything there is to know about it yet, we do have a great
deal of information. This makes it possible for us to dispel
some of the myths that still abound around the medicinal use
of Echinacea purpurea.
Myth: Echinacea purpurea should
only be used for five days/eight days/two weeks at a time.
The time restrictions vary
in this myth, but they are all incorrect. There is no reason
why Echinacea purpurea should not be used long term,
at a maintenance dose, if you have a weak immune system and
want to avoid getting colds all winter.
Myth: Echinacea purpurea ‘stimulates’
your immune system.
This is probably the basis
of the restricted use myth above. If Echinacea purpurea
were stimulating your immune system into hyperdrive, then
obviously it would make sense not to use it long term. If,
however, you are using a fresh herb tincture that has been
carefully produced to ensure that it contains the correct
balance of all the various ingredients in the plant, it will
not ‘stimulate’ your immune system but will help
it to work more effectively if it is not working well
at the time. If your immune system is working perfectly
well, it will not use the Echinacea purpurea –
the herb will pass harmlessly out of the body. This has been
proved by clinical trials on healthy people.
Echinacea purpurea
improves the way the immune system recognises and kills bugs,
jumping on them before they have a chance to cause trouble
in the body. Your immune system should be patrolling your
body constantly, looking out for enemies. If it is doing this
effectively, you are much less likely to fall prey to colds,
flu and other infections. The important thing to remember
is that Echinacea purpurea improves the efficiency
of a weak immune system, which is why it protects you against
colds and flu.
Echinacea
purpurea likes warm, sunny climates. If you try
to grow it in cold, damp places it doesn’t do
well. Anyone who has watched the Echinacea purpurea
plants in their garden struggle to gain height through
a miserable UK ‘summer’ will understand
this.
Echinacea purpurea contains different ingredients
in its various parts, so an extract that contains
both leaf and root (both of which are used in traditional
Echinacea purpurea remedies) will contain a useful
variety of these ingredients.
Trials on Echinacea purpurea are often carried
out on products made with the pressed juice of the
plant, sometimes injected directly into the vein of
the volunteer. This does not reflect the way Echinacea
purpurea remedies are made by most herbal companies,
nor how it is used by people on a daily basis.
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