Botanicals for immunity

In last week’s column we investigated how certain supplements that support the digestive tract also help improve immunity. This week we will look into botanical medicines that support the immune system, kill viruses and bacteria, and prevent recurrent colds and flu’s.

Naturopathic physicians are trained to use botanical medicines in a preventative manner that supports and nourishes the body and in a more aggressive way that may change physiology and combat disease. Botanical medicines can help to prevent recurrent colds and flu’s by promoting cellular immunity, enhancing the immune system’s reserves, and acting as antimicrobial agents.

There are two different types of immune-enhancing herbs, ones that immediately promote increased immunity and ones that act as deep immune tonics. The most well-known and well-researched fast-acting immune-enhancing herb is Echinacea. The polysaccharide constituents of Echinacea stimulate macrophages, a specific type of white blood cell that engulfs and destroys pathogens like strep, staph, and influenza. It raises the levels of other white blood cells like neutrophils and B lymphocytes that fight off acute infections. Echinacea also helps to reduce the spread of infection by preventing damage to healthy tissue during an infection. It does this by inhibiting the hyaluronidase enzyme that many pathogenic bacteria use to penetrate into different compartments of the body.

The most well-known and well-studied herb for enhancing deep immunity is Astragalus membranaceus. It has been used for centuries by traditional Chinese medical doctors to strengthen the immune system of those who are overstressed and immunocompromised. Astragalus strengthens both the specific and non-specific arms of the immune system and increases the body’s own production of interferon, which promotes communication between white blood cells. Astragalus is known as a deep immune tonic because its medicinal actions generally occur over weeks to months. This makes it a great botanical for strengthening immunity and preventing colds and flu’s.

Botanical medicines can be very effective at supporting the body’s ability to cope with and handle stress. When the stress-coping mechanisms of the body are overtaxed the immune system lacks the energy it needs to function optimally. A class of botanicals known as adaptogens can play a crucial role in strengthening immunity. Adaptogens like licorice, ginseng, and ashwaganda support the adrenal glands and help to normalize the production of stress hormones. While these herbs may not directly increase white blood cell activity they may play a crucial role in boosting the energy available for the immune system to function optimally. Similar to Astragalus, the adaptogenic herbs work over the course of weeks to months and thus strengthen immunity over the long-term.

Antiviral and antimicrobial botanicals like garlic, oregano oil, tea tree oil, and eucalyptus among others can be used effectively to combat many upper respiratory tract infections. These herbs get a lot of attention because they can reduce the severity and duration of colds and flu’s. They are great to use during acute infections and some of these herbs like garlic and oregano oil may have some long-term immune-enhancing effects. Dosing during acute infections must be aggressive enough for the desired effect yet not excessive enough to cause toxicity.

In next week’s column we will investigate the use of physical medicine therapies like neural therapy, Bowen Therapy, and hydrotherapy to support the immune system and prevent recurrent colds and flu’s.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.