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Page 32
| folia were found to possess bacteriostatic and fungistatic activity including inhibitory effects against Escherichia coliform and pseudomonas. Extracts of both E. purpurea and E. angustifolia also exhibited mild inhibitory activity against trichomonas.8 |
| Echinacea and AIDS |
| Considering that echinacea possesses a wide variety of constituents with immune-stimulating properties, it would appear likely that it would be a natural therapeutic agent to use in the treatment of immune deficiency syndromes such as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). However, with few exceptions, many herbalists consider that echinacea is not appropriate as the primary botanical medicine for the long-term treatment and management of this disease. The German Commission E monographs concur with this opinion and state that the use of echinacea is contraindicated in AIDS. |
| AIDS is a complex disease which is stimulating new research and understanding regarding immune activity. It is characterized by a dramatic decline in T-lymphocytes (CD4s) that significantly decreases immune resistance, thereby increasing one's susceptibility to opportunistic infections. New data suggests that the decline in absolute numbers of CD4s is only part of the picture associated with the progression of the disease, but that the level of activity of the CD4s is a more specific marker of disease progression. |
| Normally, an immune-stimulating herb such as echinacea would be considered appropriate. However there is also a hypersensitive, autoimmune component of AIDS that brings into question the use of |
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