Echinacea and goldenseal are often found together in herbal remedies. The two herbs have synergistic qualities that enhance the overall effectiveness of the combination. While both herbs are great antimicrobial agents in their own right, their merger increases their ability to enhance overall health. Echinacea, for instance, is esteemed for its immune boosting qualities, while goldenseal is known to be toxic to various microorganisms. The combination, therefore, helps the body build resistance while attacking and killing microbes that compromise it.
Echinacea
There are three well-known medical species of Echinacea: Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea pallida and Echinacea angustifolia. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMM) database, the above ground portion of Echinacea purpurea is believed to be the most potent of the immune-boosting species. The immune qualities appear to be attributed to the polysaccharides found in the flowering portion of the herb.
Its notable medicinal properties include the treatment and prevention of infections, namely the cold and flu. The herb also acts as a pain reliever, an anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant, an anti-allergy remedy and hormone balancer. With respect to its ability to stimulate the immune response, Echinacea should not be taken by people who either require the use of immunosuppressant drugs such as steroids or have autoimmune conditions in which the immune system is already hyperactive.
Goldenseal
Goldenseal, like Echinacea is an herb that has been used for centuries by the Native Americans. While the use of goldenseal has not been as widely researched as Echinacea, its constituent berberine has been convincingly shown to kill many different types of bacteria. Berberine appears to not only offer antibiotic effects, but it also kill other infectious organisms, like yeast, tapeworms and Giardia.
Goldenseal, according to its traditional use, is also believed to be attracted to the mucus membranes of the body. The mucous membranes line the gastrointestinal, respiratory, urinary/vaginal tracts, which are areas most commonly susceptible to infection. Therefore, goldenseal is believed to effectively fight infection in these locations. The University of Maryland Medical Center database says goldenseal is useful for skin and digestive problems. It is also useful as an eye wash and remedy for canker sores and sore throat.
Goldenseal is also at risk of becoming an endangered species. It has been overharvested because of its rumored effect in masking positive results of drug tests.
The Combination
Echinacea and goldenseal are used together in many cold and flu remedies. When two herbs are added together to produce an effect greater than either of them alone, this effect is known as synergism. It appears that the herbal combination of Echinacea with goldenseal is based more on traditional herbal medicine than a calculated or studied effect.
A 1998 Immunology Letters journal article found that a treatment group of rats given Echinacea or goldenseal exhibited two different effects on the immune system in response to an introduced antigen. Over a 6 week period, the Echinacea-treated group showed an increase in levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG), which is the most common antibody found in body fluids and tissues. Conversely, the goldenseal-treated group showed an increase in immunoglobulin M (IgM) within the first 2 weeks of treatment. This antibody, according to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, is found mostly in the blood and lymph and is produced at the onset of a new infection.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center -- Complementary Medicine: Echinacea
- University of Maryland Medical Center -- Complementary Medicine: Goldenseal
- Immunology Letters: "Increased production of antigen-specific immunoglobulins G and M following in vivo treatment with the medicinal plants Echinacea angustifolia and Hydrastis Canadensis"
- University of South Carolina Medical School: "Immunoglobulins -- Structure and Function"
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