VERIFIED CONTENTAuthor: Dominika Wilk

The effectiveness of herbs and plant extracts is more and more often confirmed by research. They show that natural products are able to inhibit the development of even very dangerous viruses and support our immune system in the fight against the pathogen. Check under what circumstances it is worth reaching for herbal preparations and why they are so valuable.

Echinacea purpurea (Echinacea)

Echinacea purpurea belongs to the Asteraceae plants. The whole herb, flower and root are used in phytotherapy. However, it is the flower in particular that stimulates the immune system to function.

The healing properties of Echinacea are mainly due to the presence of caffeic acid, which has antioxidant properties, and chicory acid, which has antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.

Echinacea-based herbal preparations are most often used in the prevention and treatment of colds, as well as the prevention of chronic infection of the upper respiratory tract.

The positive effect of Echinacea on immunity was confirmed in a randomized placebo-controlled trial in 2002 in which participants were given extracts of two species (E. purpurea, E.angustifolia) as well as arabinogalactan from larch (in in isolation or in combination with Echinacea), as well as the placebo itself.

Study results show that Echinacea actually stimulates the immune system through its complement system, in particular through a protein substance called properdin. It takes part in the elimination of some viruses and gram-negative bacteria.

The beneficial effects of Echinacea related to the complement system relate primarily to increased phagocytosis, cell lysis, opsonization (facilitated destruction of pathogens due to the attachment of specific molecules to them). Participants of the above-mentioned study who consumed Echinacea also felt a general improvement in their physical and mental state.

Echinacea is in the form :

  • extracts,
  • tinctures,
  • capsules
  • or teas.

It is worth remembering, however, that you should use it briefly, and then make intervals between taking it, because using it for too long may have the opposite effect (echinacea instead of stimulatingthe immune system starts to inhibit it).

Suggested dosageof this herb is to drink it e.g. for 10 days every day or for 20 days every other day. After that, you should take a break of at least one month.

Echinacea is not recommended for people who are allergic to Asteraceae plants, have had organ transplants or use immunosuppressive drugs. It is also not recommended for pregnant women.

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Baikal skullcap

Baikal skullcap is a plant found in eastern Russia, as well as in Korea, China, Japan and Mongolia. Its healing properties have been known for over 2,000 years (its root has a healing effect in particular).

In old and present medicine it is used for:

  • calming inflammation,
  • as a cure for fever,
  • bacterial and viral diseases of the respiratory tract,
  • gastrointestinal diseases,
  • biliary tract infections,
  • chronic bronchitis.

Baikal skullcap root extracts are used as a bactericide against:

  • staphylococcus,
  • meningokokom,
  • pneumokokom,
  • streptkowcom,
  • Salmonelli,
  • Escherichia coli,
  • a stick of blue oil.

Studies show that Baikal skullcap has a strong antifungal activity, in particular against Candida tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. albicans, which is primarily affected by the water extract of this plant.

The most important active substances with healing properties are flavonoids and glycosides of the following types in the Baikal thyroid gland:

  • baikalein,
  • apigenina,
  • oroxylin,
  • wogonina,
  • vogonooside,
  • skulkaplafon,
  • koganebanina.

These compounds show a number of positive properties, such as:

  • cytotoxicity,
  • anti-inflammatory effect,
  • antiviral
  • Are anti-cancer.

For example, the anti-cancer effect of vogonin and byalein (confirmed by Somoda et al.) Results from the ability to inhibit the cell cycle of neoplastic cells and accelerate their apoptosis (death).

In vitro studies also show that the substances contained in the Baikal thyroid have a strong inhibitory effect on the replication of various types of viruses, including:

  • HCV (hepatitis C virus),
  • HBV (hepatitis B virus),
  • flu (A and B viruses),
  • EBV (Epstein-Barr virus),
  • herpes viruses types: HSV-1, HSV-2.

They do it e.g. byinhibiting the replication of viruses at the time of their entry into the cell, as well as at the level of the synthesis of viral enzymes.

At the momentBaikal thyroid can be purchased in the form :

  • capsules or tinctures,
  • as well as in the form of dried material, which is suitable for preparing a decoction.

There are also medicinal products containing this plant, which are used only in the treatment of skin inflammation, intimate irritation, or gum disease and periodontal disease (it is worth remembering, however, that the oral cavity is the first barrier against getting into our body If the oral cavity is in good condition, our body will also be more protected against microbes.)

Aloes

Aloe is a lily plant and grows mainly in tropical areas. It is distinguished by pointed, thick leaves from which aloe vera milk and aloe gel are obtained. They differ in their therapeutic application, because e.g. a milk containing anthraquinone glycosides is mainly used for constipation (it has laxative properties), and a gel containing 75 biologically active substances is used e.g. to strengthen immunity or anti-ulcer action.

The main polysaccharide found in aloe vera is acemannan. It is a linear polymer consisting of mannose (93.4)%, galactose (3.1)%, glucose (3.0)%, which shows numerous he alth-promoting effects. As experiments with laboratory animals show, acemannan has the following properties:

  • Immunomodulating

This means that it increases both the number and activity of monocytes and macrophages. And these, in turn, are responsible for the phagocytosis (devouring) of: bacteria, viruses, parasites, foreign antigens and dead tissues. So they are essential in the fight against pathogens.

  • Antibacterial and antifungal

Antimicrobial activity is based on stimulating the activity of macrophages, which remove microorganisms from our body, literally devouring them, and inhibiting the growth of bacteria. In turn, the antifungal activity is based on the mechanism of blocking the duplication of unfavorable fungi, e.g. Candida Albicans.

  • Antiviral

It results from the ability to inhibit the replication of viruses, e.g. HSV-1 or HIV, as well as increase the function and capacity of Tc lymphocytes.

  • Anti-inflammatory

Mainly through the histamine and bradykinin blocking mechanism.

Anthraquinones are also a valuable component of aloe, such as:

  • aloeemodyna,
  • anthranol,
  • aloeic acid,
  • aloin A and B,
  • isobarbaloin,
  • emodyna.

They have a strong anti-cancer effect (aloe-emodine) as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. One of the anthraquinones - emodine has such a strong cytotoxic power against cancer cells that it is currently included in oncological drugs.

Active substances of aloe also show strong antibacterial properties, e.g. against Helicobacter Pyroli and S. aureus, and antifungal against Cladosporium herbarum, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium moniliforme.

Aloe can be consumed in the form of drinks or capsules. However, the recommended way to use this plant to strengthen immunity is takingbiostmin , which is a water extract of aloe vera. Research on biostimin shows that it accelerates the maturation of thymocytes (cells of the immune system that mature in the thymus gland) and acquires their immune abilities.

Its immune system stimulating effect is comparable to drugs such as inoprosine or levamisole. Moreover, Scheller et al. Proved that it leads to an improvement in the clinical condition during the course of an infection and improves the parameters of the immune system.

As you can see, it can be used not only prophylactically, but also when we get sick. This is confirmed by subsequent studies in which metallurgical workers suffer from chronic pneumonia. After administration of biostimin, a reduction in inflammation in the body was noticed.

Biostimin has also been tested for its antiviral activity. As the results show, when given at a concentration of 3.3%, it was able to reduce almost half of the Coxackie virus, and also reduce the development of the influenza virus by 17%.

Barberry

Barberry is a shrub that belongs to the barberry family and is found in central and southern Europe and western Asia. All its parts show healing properties: from the fruit to the bark. The main component that distinguishes this plant is the content of various types of alkaloids, the strongest of which is berberine.

This substance has antiviral activity against:

  • influenza virus,
  • cytomegalii,
  • Herpes (HSV),
  • enterovirus,
  • RSV (Respiratory Scyntial Virus),
  • as well as SARS-coV-2.

In addition, it inhibits the replication (duplication - the method of reproduction of viruses) of herpeviruses such as:

  • HSV,
  • HCMV
  • and HPV
  • and HIV.

It also has a bactericidal effect.

For reinforcementimmunity, it is also beneficial to eat barberry fruits, which are rich in vitamin C, vitamin E and provitamin A. They have antipyretic properties, so they are beneficial in diseases accompanied by fever.

Barberry (in the form of a dietary supplement) comes in the form of tinctures or capsules. You can also buy dried barberry root and use it as an infusion.

It is worth remembering, however, that the substance that supports immunity in barberry is berberine. Therefore, when buying a dietary supplement, you should pay attention to whether it is a standardized product for berberine content.

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