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| immune stimulants and immune tonics because of the concern that increasing the activity of various immune functions can actually increase the body's attack on itself. For this and other reasons, it presents a difficult scenario and the whole picture has yet to unfold. Many herbalists consider echinacea an important part of managing occasional opportunistic infections in people with AIDS on a short term basis, but otherwise consider it of limited value in an overall HIV/AIDS treatment protocol. |
| There are at least three specific concerns regarding the use of echinacea in HIV and AIDS. One is regarding oxidative stress. As mentioned earlier, oxidative damage caused by free radicals is associated with a deterioration of cellular health. The AIDS virus actually uses free radicals as a means to activate itself. One of echinacea's mechanisms of action as previously mentioned is through the increased production of oxygen radicals via peritoneal macrophages as a means to combat pathogens such as Candida albicans. Oxidative stress is one of the primary factors associated with the progression from HIV+ to, AIDS. Oxidative stresses are prevalent in our everyday lives through poor dietary habits or through contact with environmental pollutants. These are likely to have a far greater negative impact on our health than that caused by echinacea. However, substances known to stimulate free radical production should generally be avoided whenever possible unless when medically indicated. |
| Conversely, echinacea also exhibits significant protection against oxidative stress as observed in its ability to prevent tissue necrosis by inhibiting free radical-induced degradation of collagen, and in protecting against radiation poisoning.14 It provides this |
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