Herbal substances such as echinacea, andrographis, astragalus, elecampane, olive leaf, elder and thyme are often used to support immunity. Just like the complexity of the immune system, the specific mechanisms of action of these herbs on immune activity is heterogeneous and complex.
Cold sores are one of the most common recurrent viral infections in the world, with 20 to 40% of adults infected at some point during their lifetime. With concerns over the rise of drug resistant viral strains, researchers have been investigating efficacy of natural alternatives such as lysine, zinc, Echinacea purpurea (echinacea) and Melissa officinalis (lemon balm).
A recent study has shown that formulae containing Echinacea purpurea may be as effective as Oseltamivir, an antiviral medication used to treat and prevent influenza A and influenza B, in the early treatment of clinically diagnosed influenza virus.
Getting sick when pregnant is a nightmare because normal medical therapies often cannot be used. Instead traditional remedies are called upon to offer relief from illness.
There's nothing worse than getting sick whilst pregnant. Our fertility expert, Stacey Roberts takes us through the safe approaches pregnant women can take if they're faced with acute illness.
Recent research shows echinacea can reduce recurrent respiratory tract infections by 50% when compared to placebo.
Despite extensive research, the true value of echinacea may yet be undiscovered. Esteemed German researcher and echinacea specialist Rudolph Bauer believes he knows why science has failed this medicinal herb.