Boost Your Immune System with Echinacea

Echinacea is a powerful and beneficial herb used by people around the world to maintain good health, to boost the immune system and help fight viral and bacterial infections. Every part of the plant, from the roots to the flower petals, is bursting with vital nutrients. With a reputation as a natural cold remedy, many people enjoy echinacea in one form or another, whether as a tea, a supplement, tincture, capsule, extract, tablets or even the raw plant.

It is also available in combination with other immune-boosting herbs, vitamins, and minerals.

Although echinacea is commonly used by people to boost the immune system generally, it does tend to lose its effectiveness with lengthy usage. Therefore, it is normally recommended to be taken for no more than 6-8 weeks at a time. The normal dose is 3-4 ml of alcoholic extract or 300 mg of powdered herb tablets taken three times daily at the first sign of infection.

Several clinical trials have shown that people who take echinacea as soon as they start feeling ill reduce the severity of their cold and have fewer symptoms than those who do not take the herb. One study of 95 people with early symptoms of cold and flu (such as runny nose, scratchy throat, and fever) found that those who drank several cups of echinacea tea every day for 5 days felt better sooner than those who drank tea without it. So stock up on ehinacea this winter and fight the cold!