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| of constriction and could see how someone with a particular sensitivity could react negatively. To avoid this potential problem, simply mix echinacea extract with water, nonacidic juice or herb tea. |
| Mild fever has been associated with the use of injectable preparations. However, some physicians feel this is an indication of the therapy working, as fever is associated with the healing process. |
| Constitutional Differentiation |
| Most people believe that an herb like echinacea would be good for all of the people all of the time. This is not true. Certain herbs will work better for certain people, depending upon their own unique constitutional makeup. One important point to remember is that echinacea is an immune stimulant, not an immune tonic. Its primary activity is to mobilize defenses considered superficial in their action, such as enhancing phagocytosis or fighting inflammation. It does not strengthen deep immune defenses like other immune tonics such as the Chinese herbs astragalus and ganoderma (reishi mushroom) which have the specific effect of increasing the production of immune cells from the bone marrow and increasing energy production. |
| Frequently, I have found echinacea will not work if used by people who are internally weak and run down because they lack the energy necessary to stimulate their immune system. In such cases of debilitation, the number of white blood cells (leukocytes, macrophages) is greatly reduced, so while the efficiency of the existing macrophages might be temporarily enhanced, the white blood cell deficiency will |
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