Against cough, cold and flu? A help comes from echinacea, capable of strengthening the immune system by increasing the release of white blood cells able to eliminate viruses. This is what emerges from a very recent scientific research published in the Journal of Medicinal Food by a Korean team (Park et al, J Med Food, 2021).
Echinacea, true or just presumed properties?
How many times have we heard or read that echinacea, scientific name Echinacea Purpurea, is a useful remedy to strengthen our defenses and prevent seasonal flu, colds and coughs. Maybe we didn't believe it, thinking it was just a belief without scientific basis. Instead we have to change our mind, because echinacea is really able to strengthen the immune system against the attack of viruses.
Echinacea stimulates the immune system, here is the study
The scientists of the study we are talking about today performed a research in which the effects of taking an echinacea supplement were analyzed. What emerged was that, already after two weeks, echinacea was actually able to stimulate the body's natural defenses. In particular, following the intake of echinacea, the levels of natural killer cells have increased, which are white blood cells responsible for the recognition and elimination of viruses but also of tumors. Not only that, echinacea has also increased the proliferation of B cells, which are responsible for regulating the immune system by releasing cytokines, which are substances capable of blocking the onset and progression of a disease. Finally, the scientists were able to isolate the active ingredient of echinacea that gives this remedy the immunostimulating properties we have just seen, namely the chicoric acid.
Conclusions
Once again we have had proof that nature offers a remedy for various diseases or conditions that can affect us. In fact, science has been able to demonstrate the beneficial properties of echinacea, capable of supporting the natural defenses against coughs, colds and flu.
