Herbs that stimulate the immune system? - Alternative Medicine Message Board

Just-A-Boy · 02-20-2003, 07:20 AM

Can you guys tell me if there any herbs that stimulate the immune system, besides that echinicea, I read that echinicea was found not effective!

Sarah68 · 02-20-2003, 08:00 AM

Echinacea does stimulate the immune system if taken for short periods only, for about a month, so you could try that.

Also, I have just read some research that has shown that Milk Thistle does the same thing. Although it is primarily good for liver function and can help hepatocyte re-generation, this research demonstrated that it promoted lymphocyte proliferation too - an increase in immunity.

You could also just take good old Vitamin C in a high dose. This has been shown to be just as effective and what you body does not need, it will get rid of. Taken in doses of about 1500 to 2000 mg, can be an immune stimulant.

Good luck.

Farmer Sue Tickle · 02-20-2003, 10:02 AM

Astralagus (or astragalus, I forget which) is also a stimulant. When you say you want to boost immune function, is it just to ward off colds at the front gate (NK and T-cells) or fight an existing condition (Ig antibodies, H-helper cells, etc.) Histamine boosts NK cells also but I'm sure you don't want to go dosing with that.

The immune system is very complex (and frankly little understood in my opinion) and anything expected to have a potent effect may just do that (!) so be careful you're not just doing something in isolation, and see someone qualified.

fairnymph · 02-20-2003, 02:08 PM

You should only take echinacea when you first start feeling sick...you should not take it every day or it is not effective. If you take a LOT of echinacea AS SOON AS you start feeling the tiniest bit sick, it will often prevent you from getting more sick, IME.

Zinc, vitamin C, alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin E...all of these are very good for you and strengthen the immune system. Also, laughter, sex, and exercise are AMAZING immune system boosters!

Eating a healthy diet -- organic, lots of fresh vegetables and fruit, whole grains, avoiding processed and refined foods...will go a long way.

kat721 · 02-20-2003, 05:10 PM

Enchinacea is so incredibly effective in stimulating the immune system that the American Diabetic Assn. recently published an article in their magazine stating that Echinacea was contraindicated for people with Type 1 Diabetes sice Type 1 is considered an autoimmune disorder and with an autoimmune disorder the problem is an immune system that is already over stimulated.
So I think with that recognition that we could possibly assume that Echinacea does a very good job at immune system stimulation.
Also Garlic.
Garlic is contraindicated for people who have the Autoimmune disorder called Pemphigus.
Pemphigus is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks it's own skin as a foreign invader.
Garlic, even cooking in the air is pungent and powerful enough to create a Phemphigus reaction and breakdown of the skin.
Kat