Echinacea for Immune Support
Echinacea. Echinacea. Echinacea. It seems this herb has been on everyone’s mind for the last two years with an increase in online searches. The text accompanying those searches often has to do with one thing: immune support.
As subscribers to this natural health store, you understand that any investment in our health pays dividends in the long term. This is why supporting the foundations of health – sleep, movement, diet, etc. – makes us less likely to develop a myriad of chronic health issues. Preventative care is no longer a fad, it is an active choice millions of Canadians have made. Though even with the strongest foundations, the body needs outside help from medicinal plants like Echinacea purpurea.
Echinacea contains a range of active compounds including caffeic acid derivatives, alkylamides, volatile oils, and polysaccharides. These agents are responsible for the antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects of the herb. The synergy of these actions and compounds is why this herb is a staple against a variety of pathogens including influenza, S. aureus, and H. influenzae.
Choosing an Echinacea product can be confusing work, which is why clinical trials and standardization are crucial. When producing a herbal remedy it is so important to control that seed-to-bottle process. Genetics, soil conditions, moisture, seasonal weather conditions, and harvest times all impact the potency of the final remedy. A.Vogel has decades of data to consult to ensure farms produce the same potent product year after year.
Alfred Vogel knew he had something special when he created Echinaforce®, but modern technology has allowed us to dive deep into what sets the product apart in the market. Over 60 years of clinical research has shown us that the fresh tincture is 10 times more potent than those produced from dried material. There has also been a battery of trials ranging from in vitro to the gold standard of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. We know that Echinaforce has been pitted against Oseltamivir (Tamiflu), a flu medication, and the sore throat spray has been compared to a chlorhexidine and lidocaine blend to treat acute sore throats. In both trials, they were as effective as the tested pharmaceutical drugs, minus the side effects.
In one of the most recent in vitro studies, Echinaforce completely inhibited the replication of coronavirus family members, including the novel SARS-CoV-2 (CoVid-19). This level of data and clinical research is why health authorities like Health Canada, SwissMedic, and the Federal Ministry of Health in Germany give their seal of approval for use in pregnant and breastfeeding women, vulnerable populations, and children.
Remember, all Echinacea is not created equal. Now more than ever, choosing clinically proven remedies like Echinaforce is a way to protect yourself and your families.