Guest guest Posted October 28, 2003 Report Share Posted October 28, 2003 >Echinacea works on pus conditions. Cysts and the like as well as boosting >immune system. Echinacea can be one useful herb for immune issues, but the way the herb industry promotes it is far removed from traditional usage. The actions of herbs are much more complex than the simple correspondences we hear about (echinacea for colds, St swort for depression, etc) Regarding echinacea as an immune stimulant, it stimulates only the middle part of the immune process, the production of white blood cells, but does not first strengthen the immune system, nor does it do anything about cleaning up the toxins released by the immune response. That's why these herbs are traditionally given in complex formulas to address all the different aspects. If someone has a compromised immune system to begin with, stimulating only the middle part of the process won't be very effective and may only weaken the person and worsen the condition. There are other herbs like astragalus, that can actually build up a weakened immune system so that when stimulated there will be something to work with. If someone wants to use echinacea and doesn't have access to a medical herbalist to recommend an individualized formula, a reasonable place to start might be an echinacea/astragalus formula. Echinacea is quite safe, but I'd always consult an herbalist in the case of pregnant/nursing mothers. - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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