Synergistic Effects Of Echinacea & Goldenseal

Echinacea and goldenseal are two traditional remedies that have benefits for a number of ailments. Because each herb acts in a specific yet somewhat different way to help maintain your health and speed recovery from illness, they may have synergistic effects greater than if you took one or the other herb by itself. Talk to your doctor about echinacea and goldenseal to decide if one or both herbs might be helpful for your situation.

Echinacea

Echinacea purpurea, sometimes called cone flower, is a traditional remedy used for centuries by Native Americans as an antibacterial treatment for wounds and infections. Today, herbal practitioners recommend echinacea as a general health tonic and to treat various types of illness, especially sore throat, colds, influenza, vaginal or urinary infections, fungal infections and, as a topical preparation, for wounds that are slow to heal. Echinacea contains a number of natural compounds that are responsible for its biological activity and its medicinal properties.

Echinacea Properties and Actions

Echinacea contains volatile oils, flavonoids, glycosides and other natural chemicals. Some of these compounds are antioxidants, protecting your cells from damage by toxins and harmful metabolic byproducts. Its components also help your natural defenses overcome infection by boosting your immune system, stimulating your immune cells to engulf and destroy pathogens and to secrete molecules that destroy invading microorganisms. Several clinical trials with echinacea support its usefulness in treating colds and flu, such as one published in the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" in 2000. In that study, subjects with early cold or flu symptoms who consumed echinacea tea for five days recovered more quickly than did a placebo group. Consult your doctor about echinacea to decide if it might be appropriate for you.

Goldenseal

Goldenseal, or Hydrastis canadensis, has also been used by Native Americans as an herbal remedy, generally to treat skin and digestive problems and as an aid for inflamed eyes. The plant grows wild in temperate regions and is also farmed commercially. Today, practitioners generally recommend goldenseal as a treatment for respiratory and intestinal infections, fever, heart disease and muscle spasms. The plant contains a natural antibacterial compound called berberine and several other biologically active ingredients that are responsible for its medicinal properties.

Goldenseal Properties and Actions

Like echinacea, goldenseal also strengthens your body's own defense system by stimulating your immune system. In addition, the Unversity of Maryland Medical Center summarizes findings of several laboratory studies showing that compounds in goldenseal attack and destroy many types of disease-causing organisms, providing some evidence for the herb's effect in preventing infectious diseases, or improving their outcome. However, clinical studies verifying its actions in human subjects are still needed. Talk to your doctor about goldenseal to discuss its possible uses and benefits.

Combining the Herbs

Preparations are available that combine goldenseal and echinacea in one supplement. These supplements may provide a benefit beyond that obtained from taking each herb by itself, since echinacea and goldenseal apparently stimulate separate immune-specific responses, as shown by a study published in "Immunology Letters" in 1999. This suggests that taking the herbs in combination may have an additive effect on your ability to avoid or fight off illness.

Both echinacea and goldenseal are generally considered safe, although each may cause mild side effects such as gastric upset or mouth irritation in some people. Do not take either herb if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and consult your doctor before adding echinacea or goldenseal, either individually or in combination, to your regimen.