3 Easy Immune Building Tips For Fighting The Flu #2

Echinacea is a wildflower that has 9 different species, 3 of which have therapeutic properties.  It works by helping the body to rid itself of microbial infections, both bacterial and viral. (Something the flu shot CAN’T do!) Echinacea is also used in treating many conditions such as sinus infections, sore throats, tonsillitis, coughs, and  bladder and kidney infections. You should look for a product that contains at least 3.5% echinacosides, the active ingredient confirmed in various studies.  The issue with echinacea, is that it must be CYCLED when taking it.Don’t make the mistake of taking it regularly without this following information. The most common protocol is to take it for 2 weeks, and replace it with another immune-enhancing herb, like astragulus for 1 week.  Astragulus is a Chinese herb that acts on the immune system similarly to echinacea. (It’s generally found next to the Echinacea in better health food stores, or in our office) You would then return to the echinacea, for the next 2 weeks, and repeat the cycle. This maintains its potency.  Although there are no known side-effects of Echinacea other than some people’s allergy to its flower, there are patients, however, who should not take it! Those with LUPUS, MS, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, and OTHER AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS, SHOULD NOT TAKE ECHINACEA, as it may worsen these conditions. In my next post, I’ll cover probiotics, and their role in immune support.