I find that most physicians and pharmacists rely on tested, studied, FDA approved medications rather than on herbal, homeopathic or traditional remedies. It’s the old science vs. chicken soup debate. For example, does the herb echinacea relieve the symptoms or shorten the duration of the common cold? You can “google” echinacea and in three seconds get a million answers. I would be willing to bet that most sites on the first two or three pages of results will advise you to stick to “scientifically proven” remedies.
According to a story in USAToday on Monday, December 20, 2010, “Dr. Bruce Barrett and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin tackled the question again, using newspaper ads and posters to find volunteers with colds in the Madison, Wis., area.” Dr. Bruce found that any benefits of taking echinacea were modest at best could have occurred by chance or be attributed to the placebo effect. The article recommends rest, fluids, pain relievers and over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms. You can read the article here: http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/health/medical/alternative/2010-12-20-echinacea-cold-remedy_N.htm
The article says that the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health has spent $6.8 million testing echinacea since 2002. So why do scientists keep testing echinacea? Is it because when you buy it you aren’t buying pain relievers and over the counter cold and cough “medicines”? We have known for generations that echinacea is safe to use so how about using that money to find a cure for, oh I don’t know, cancer, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, Parkinson’s disease . . .
I would suggest to you that regardless of what the National Center of Complementary Alternative Medicine says, thousands of years of study and successful use by Native Americans can’t be chalked up to chance. They used echinacea to lower fever, fight infection and even treat snake bites. It’s probably no accident that echinacea or purple coneflower became a popular garden plant. Today it is a staple herbal cold and flu treatment. According to one of my favorite herb books, The Humorous Herbalist by Laurel Dewey, echinacea is known to boost the immune system by releasing virus fighting chemicals which increase the production of T-cells. Dewey says, “In plain talk, echinacea is like having a big burly body guard who doesn’t let anyone hurt you.”There are a few tricks to taking echinacea so that you get the most benefit from it. The most important thing agreed on by a number of sources, is to start taking the herb the moment you feel the first tickle in your throat or the first sniffle catches your attention. If you wait until you are sneezing your head off and blowing your nose until you look like Rudolph, you’ve waited too long. Secondly, don’t take echinacea all the time. It becomes less effective after being taken for 14 consecutive days. Dewey says that she takes it for two to three days and then lets her body’s own defenses take over. She warns that echinacea should not be given to children under two years old and that you should not take it if you have an autoimmune disease. In Prescription for Nutritional Healing (Third Edition) by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC and James F. Balch, M.D., it is recommended that echinacea be taken in combination with goldenseal in a liquid extract form. Dewey uses a tincture of echinacea.
Here comes the disclaimer. Neither of us sisters here at Sisters 4 Healthy Living are doctors so please do some research on your own. We want to encourage and challenge you to take responsibility for your health care and consider using remedies that are not only safe and have few side effects but are going to be healthier for you in the long term.
In their book Why Do I Feel This Way Christine Gaber, RHN and Charlene Day, RDC recommend using Shaklee’s Defend and Resist Complex. It contains a blend of Echinacea purpurea (168 mg), Black Elderberry Juice Blend (480 mg), Larch Tree (300 mg) and Zinc (15mg). Is there scientific evidence to support the claims of effectiveness?
Recent studies have shown that cichoric acid and alkylamides found in the Echinacea plant have immunoactive properties. It has also been demonstrated that these phytonutrients occur in higher concentrations in the leafy parts of the plant than in the root. In laboratory tests, Echinacea boosts the production and activity of white blood cells. . . Black Elderberries are a rich source of antioxidant compounds called anthocyanidins and polyphenols. . . There is evidence that echinacea’s benefits are enhanced by immunoactive arabinogalactans that are extracted from the heartwood of the Larch Tree. (Claims have not been evaluated by the FDA).
This information was compiled by Shaklee from a 1999 article in The Journal of Family Practice and a 1995 article in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
On our Facebook Page I told you I’d give you the “Sisters’” side of the story. We’d suggest that you give Defend and Resist Complex a try. The great thing about Defend and Resist Complex is that you can swallow it, chew it, or dissolve it in hot water and drink as a tea. For adults take six tablets through out the day at the first sign of a cold for seven days. We think you’ll be pleased with the results. If not, you can always go back to the cold remedy isle. As with all Shaklee products if you are not completely happy with Defend and Resist Complex you can return it for a full refund.For more information and to purchase go to: http://vicki.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=20613 or
