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| remain. In these cases, echinacea, may work to fight the acute infection, but it will not correct the underlying weakness. The use of echinacea in these situations would be similar to using conventional antibioticthe infection may subside temporarily, but it may quickly return. Many herbalists treat people who need frequent doses of echinacea throughout the winter because they keep getting sick. Clinically, this is often observed in those who consume a nutritionally inadequate diet, or who eat large quantities of raw or cold foods during the winter. Rather than using echinacea repeatedly, it would be better to utilize some of the deeper nourishing tonics such as astragalus or ganoderma during periods of relative health to maintain a strong immune defense. |
| Using Echinacea Intermittently |
| Many herbalists believe that the continual everyday use of echinacea should not be recommended. While somewhat controversial, this belief is based on two studies conducted using a homeopathic preparation and at least one other using a combination of mistletoe (Viscum album) and E. purpurea. In both studies utilizing the homeopathic preparation, it was observed that maximum increase in phagocytosis occurred at four to five days of treatment. After this, a rapid decrease in phagocytic activity was observed. Normal values returned on the 11th day.41 In the echinacea-viscum study, a normal therapeutic dose was administered, then followed by a week without any intervention. This resulted in an increase in cellular immunity via the production of lymphocytes and lymphokines. Daily administration of higher doses |
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