Herbs provide an impressive array of culinary and medicinal benefits and have been used for thousands of years. Research has revealed numerous compounds in herbs, many of which provide benefits for the immune system. Check with your doctor before using herbs to treat an infection or other medical condition.
Immune Activation
Echinacea, a native North American herb, is used mainly for respiratory infections, such as colds and flu, though professional herbalists may recommend this herb for other types of infections and for relief of pain or inflammation. Echinacea works by activating your immune system so that it does a better job of fending off invading pathogens. Echinacea increases levels of certain white blood cells and also stimulates production of interferons, which are named for their ability to interfere with virus replication. Also, potential antifungal properties of echinacea were reported in a study published in the November 2010 issue of the journal "Medical Mycosis." Echinacea was observed to disrupt cell walls of fungi in the study.
Anti-Microbial
Elderberry, a shrub that grows in both northern and southern hemispheres, exerts direct antimicrobial activity against certain bacteria and viruses. By killing pathogens, elderberry relieves stress on your immune system while helping fight infection. A study published in the February 2011 issue of the journal "BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine" found that elderberry inhibited the flu virus H5N1 and several kinds of bacteria. The researchers concluded that elderberry may offer a viable natural alternative in the management of colds, flu and other types of infection.
White Blood Cells
Aged garlic contains a compound known as fructan, which boosts your immune system by activating immune cells called macrophages -- large white blood cells that engulf foreign particles and pathogens, according to a study published in the February 2011 issue of the journal "Phytochemistry." In the study, immune-modulating effects of aged garlic were similar to those for two known immune-modulating compounds found in plants.
Antihistamine
Ginger offers a variety of antimicrobial effects. This warming herb kills E. coli, Streptococcus and Salmonella bacteria and promotes the growth of the friendly bacteria Lactobacillus, according to Satyesh Chandra Pakrashi, author of the book "Ginger: A Versatile Healing Herb." Ginger has also been found to have similar antihistamine activity to codeine, an ingredient in many cough syrups, and has comparable anti-inflammatory effects as over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
References
- "Medical Mycology"; Disruption of Fungal Cell Wall by Antifungal Echinacea Extracts; N. Mir-rashed, et al.; November 2010
- "BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine";Inhibitory activity of a standardized elderberry liquid extract against clinically-relevant human respiratory bacterial pathogens and influenza A and B viruses; C.Krawitz, et al.; February 2011
- "Phytochemistry"; Isolation, Structural Elucidation and Immunomodulatory Activity of Fructans from Aged Garlic Extract; P.M. Chandrashekar, et al.; February 2011
- "Ginger: A Versatile Healing Herb"; Satyesh Chandra Pakrashi; 2003
- AskDrSears.com: Feeding Your Immune System
