Boosting Immune System

[prot]

Re: Boosting Immune System

wife is a big fan of echinacia... supposed to be a good natural imune booster

It is only useful and safe for a couple of weeks.

[Gooseneck]

Re: Boosting Immune System

It is only useful and safe for a couple of weeks.

That's what I've heard as well. Only take it when you think you may be getting sick or are in an environment where you cant escape people who are. I've never tried it myself, probably would've benefited me well right now.

[orion76]

Re: Boosting Immune System

There are clinics that test for vitamin deficiencies and then formulate a custom supplement for you so you don't have to guess which vitamins you need and which you don't.

Might be worth looking into if you feel your immune system needs a boost.

[DIRTY_SOUTH]

Re: Boosting Immune System

Thanks for the input bro

[T-Man007]

Re: Boosting Immune System

It is only useful and safe for a couple of weeks.

That's bullshit! Show me the clinical study on that one.

DS- I take an Echinacea/Goldenseal combo with the highest "quality" mgs I can find along with a product called "E-mergency" (sp). It's an effervesent packet that you add to water. It's got 1k mgs of C and all the minerals needed to give you fuul absorbtion. I litterally have not been to the doctor for a cold or flu in over 3 years, that's when I started this combo. I only take it when I feel the begining of something coming and I stay on for one full month. I am in people's houses everyday, I go to a gym that has over 18,000 members and I have a 2 1/2 year old boy so I'm introduced to all kinds of things. My son gets the same thing in much lower doses. And it's approved by his pediatrician. When he starts to get sniffles or something I give him echinacea/goldenseal and the emergency. He hasn't had to go to the doctor for illness in over a year.

The echinacea is a natural immune builder that the orient has used for hundreds of years without problems. Goldenseal is a natural antibiotic that assists in killing any infection and the C is jsut another immune builder, which you already know. The orient has used herbs and roots for centuries without any problems. They have the highest life expectency, the lowest death by heart disease, and many other healthier statistics than we do. However, American doctors see the impact it has on their prescription kick backs and state all these undocumented claims without any proof. And if their is proof, it's all done in their serect little lab with their secret little scientists.

Natural remedies will always be better than drugs when it comes to immunity. IMO

[prot]

Re: Boosting Immune System

You are most incorrect regarding lifespans as the longest are in Northern Europe.

In addition every herbal company states that long term usage is not recommended. This includes Solgar who says, "long term usage may lead to host resistance".

www.herbs.org/greenpapers/echinacea.html states that echinacea loses effectiveness after 6-8 weeks.


www.divinefarmer.com/h_t_manual/echin.htm says "it is innapropriate for longterm usage" and should only be taken at the start of an infection.


It is good you are not getting sick and you are appropriately giving echinacea to your son at the start of a problem but it is not effective long term.

I doubt that all the herbal companies are receiving kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies to say this and I too look to natural remedies first but they must be properly used.

[T-Man007]

Re: Boosting Immune System

You are most incorrect regarding lifespans as the longest are in Northern Europe.

In addition every herbal company states that long term usage is not recommended. This includes Solgar who says, "long term usage may lead to host resistance".

www.herbs.org/greenpapers/echinacea.html states that echinacea loses effectiveness after 6-8 weeks.


www.divinefarmer.com/h_t_manual/echin.htm says "it is innapropriate for longterm usage" and should only be taken at the start of an infection.


It is good you are not getting sick and you are appropriately giving echinacea to your son at the start of a problem but it is not effective long term.

I doubt that all the herbal companies are receiving kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies to say this and I too look to natural remedies first but they must be properly used.

My bad, I meant to write that the average lifespan of Asians in the Orient are higher than Americans, not everybody. Thank you.

You wrote that echinacea was ineffective after two weeks. I said "that" was BS. Now you post a site that claim 6-8 weeks. That, I would agree with. But if you look at how I administer the supps I only take for one month, that's it. And that's only at time of cold or flu symptoms. I, and my family, probably take these things about 3 times a year, maybe 4 for my son since he is still prone to more things due to his immature immune system. So, in actuality, I agree with the above post of yours, I disagreed with the 2 weeks comment.

[DIRTY_SOUTH]

Re: Boosting Immune System

I'm glad you two worked this out....... LMAO!!!

[DIRTY_SOUTH]

Re: Boosting Immune System

Ohh, and thanks T-man... Shoot me a PM when you get time with some more info on the emergency stuff.

[orion76]

Re: Boosting Immune System

http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec02/ch019/ch019g.html

Background: Echinacea is a perennial herb, which contains echinoside and several other active substances. Various parts of the plant are used medicinally.

Medicinal Claims: Several substances in echinacea may stimulate the immune system. Echinacea is used to help treat viral infections in the upper respiratory tract, such as the common cold. Applied as a cream or ointment, echinacea has been used to promote healing of wounds.

Many studies have evaluated the effects of echinacea, but none were designed well enough to provide conclusive results. Also, most of these studies evaluated products in which echinacea was combined with other herbs, making evaluation of echinacea's effects difficult. At least two relatively well-designed studies evaluated echinacea's effectiveness in upper respiratory tract infections: In one, echinacea reduced the duration of colds and the severity of symptoms; in the other, it reduced the frequency and number of recurrences.

Possible Side Effects: No significant side effects have been identified. Echinacea may interact with drugs that can cause liver damage, thereby increasing the risk of liver damage. Echinacea may negate the effects of immunosuppressants, which are used, for example, to prevent rejection of organ transplants. People who have type 1 diabetes, autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis), or an impaired immune system (for example, as impaired by AIDS or tuberculosis) should consult their doctor before they take echinacea.

[firstenrgy]

Re: Boosting Immune System

In addition to the suggestions above, Growth Hormone is excellent for boosting your immune system.