Echinacea Purpurea - Certified Organic

Echinacea is a coneflower native to the Western Hemisphere. Historically, Native American Plains Indians and European migrants used Echinacea for numerous conditions. Like many herbs, Echinacea fell out of favor with the advent of modern antibiotics, particularly in the US. However, in Europe its use has continued to the present, where 1.3 million prescriptions for Echinacea are written annually in Germany alone.

Echinacea has made a comeback over the past several decades in the US as an immune system support supplement. It is thought that Echinacea supports the immune system’s ability to clear infections by promoting T-cell activity, the cell type critical to cell-mediated immunity. Echinacea also stimulates interferon molecules in the immune system that are characterized by their antiviral properties.

The best data on Echinacea use has been in species Echinacea purpurea and supports its use within the first 48 hours. Echinacea is optimally used for 5-7 days and no longer than 2 weeks.

References:

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jan 25;(1):CD000530.

Lancet Infectious Dis. 2007 Jul;7(7):473-80.

Zinc Acetate - The Most Bioavailable Form of Zinc

Zinc is an essential trace metal with a wide range of critical functions in the human body. These include processes fundamental to life such as metabolism, gene expression, and enzyme function. As such, zinc is involved in virtually every aspect of our immune system’s function. The US RDA is 8 mg daily for women and 11 mg daily for men.

The preponderance of data on the subject of zinc supplementation is positive and the use of zinc in moderately higher doses for short periods of time is generally safe and well tolerated. The most positive data on the subject suggests that zinc supplementation, especially in the form of zinc acetate (zinc + acetic acid, which is commonly found in vinegar), initiated within the first 24 hours can decrease the duration and reduce the severity of illness.

Dosage in supportive studies has ranged from 50-100 mg daily, generally over a 5-day period. Zinc supplementation in otherwise non-zinc deficient patients is generally not recommended for greater than 5 days.

References:

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jun 18;6:CD001364. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001364.pub4.

Vitamin C - Nature's Antihistamine

The use of vitamin C was initially popularized in the 1970′s. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin critical to a wide range of metabolic reactions in the body, including the formation of collagen in bones, cartilage, muscle, and blood vessels, as well as the absorption of iron. Vitamin C is also found in high concentrations in cells of the immune system and is consumed during infections. It is thought that vitamin C is involved in the modulation of several immune cells that are involved in the clearance of viruses and bacteria as well as the propagation of cytokines that support the mounting of immune responses to infections.

Consuming five servings of fruits and vegetables a day can provide more than 200 mg of vitamin C. The US RDA is 75 mg daily for women and 90 mg daily for men. Smokers require an additional 35 mg daily. Taking excessive amounts of vitamin C as recommended by some popular cold and flu products has been known to cause diarrhea. Others have questioned excess vitamin C intake's role in kidney stones.

The best data in vitamin C’s use comes from the Cochrane Collaboration. The team reviewed five trials involving individuals undergoing heavy short-term physical stress (marathon runners, Swiss children in a skiing camp, Canadian soldiers during a winter exercise) and found that vitamin C halved the incidence of illness. Regular vitamin C supplementation further reduced the duration of illness in adults by 8% and in children by 18%.

References:

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jul 18;(3):CD000980.

Vitamin D – the Sunshine Hormone

Vitamin D is a pro-hormone critical to human health. While it is best known for its role in maintaining calcium levels and bone health, vitamin D has a broad range of critical functions in the body and our immune system. Despite its critical importance, vitamin D deficiency remains a global health problem implicated in osteoporosis and bone deficiencies, poor immune system function and autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Low vitamin D levels have been found to be worst in older people, individuals not exposed to sufficient sunlight (especially common in winter months & people living in Norther latitudes), as well as in individuals with darker skin tones. During the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have shown that patients with low vitamin D levels have a higher risk of severe disease and higher mortality.

Vitamin D plays a role in modulating both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Supplementing in the form of Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) has been shown to stimulate interferon production critical to the immune system’s response to viral and bacterial infections.

References:

Science. 2006 311(5768):1770–3. doi: 10.1126/science.1123933

Front Immunol. 2022 Feb 24;13:790444. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.790444.