Echinacea Protects Immune Function during Intense Athletic Exertion.

A study conducted by researchers from Elmhurst College and Wayne State University and published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine (April 13, 2007) found that supplementation with Echinacea purpurea protected athletes against the normal, exercise-induced reduction of mucosal-mediated immunity factors.

Thirty-two adult subjects participated in an intense exercise session known to affect mucosal immunity. Saliva was collected and the rate of salivary secretion was calculated prior to and five minutes after exercise. Subjects then consumed either an Echinacea purpurea supplement or placebo for four weeks before repeating the exercise protocol. In addition, a record of subject’s symptoms of upper respirator tract infections (URTI) was kept.

After the initial exercise session both groups showed significant exercise-induced reduction in salivary IgA (s-IgA) and s-IgA secretion rate. By contrast, the post-test found that the Echinacea purpurea supplemented group had no reduction in their s-IgA or s-IgA secretion rate while the control group experienced the expected, normal s-IgA reductions. While there was no significant difference in the number of URTI between the groups, the duration of symptoms was significantly different: 3.4 days for the Echinacea group and 8.6 days for the control group. Researchers stated that their results suggest that Echinacea supplementation may attenuate the mucosal immune suppression known to occur with intense exercise and reduce the duration of related URTI.

Echinacea, the purple coneflower, is the best known and researched herb for stimulating the immune system. Thousands of Europeans and Americans use echinacea preparations against colds and flu, minor infections, and a host of other major and minor ailments. Echinacea has a rich tradition of use by North American Plains Indians who used it medicinally more than any other plant. It was prominent in modern American medicine in the early 20th Century, and was discovered by Europeans, who have used it extensively since the 1930s. Today millions of Europeans use echinacea as their primary therapy for colds, flu, infections, and general immune-boosting effects.

Echinacea increases the "non-specific" activity of the immune system. In other words, unlike a vaccine which is active only against a specific disease, echinacea stimulates the overall activity of the cells responsible for fighting all kinds of infection. Unlike antibiotics, which are directly lethal to bacteria, echinacea makes our own immune cells more efficient in attacking bacteria, viruses and abnormal cells, including cancer cells.

Echinacea facilitates wound healing, lessens symptoms of and speeds recovery from viruses. Anti-inflammatory effects make it useful externally against inflammatory skin conditions including psoriasis and eczema. It may also increase resistance to candida, bronchitis, herpes, and other infectious conditions.

Over 500 scientific studies have documented the chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical applications of echinacea. The most consistently proven effect of echinacea is in stimulating phagocytosis, that is encouraging white blood cells and lymphocytes to attack invading organisms. Other specific actions of Echinacea are increased quantity and activity of immune system cells, stimulation of new tissue growth in wound healing, reduced inflammation in arthritis and inflammatory skin conditions, and inhibition of the enzyme hyaluronidase reduces bacterial entry into healthy cells.