In a study on 16 healthy subjects it was found that Echinacea purpurea, Huang Qi (Astragali Radix) and Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix) were effective in boosting key blood lymphocytes, the basic building block of the immune system. Echinacea and Gan Cao stimulated proliferation of CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells and NK cells, all three herbs (administered either singly or in combination) were able to activate CD8 T cells (Huang Qi causing the most activation), Gan Cao stimulated NK activation, and all the subjects who received Echinacea tincture showed CD25 activation at 24 hours compared to 0 hours, which persisted at seven days. (21st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, August 9-12, 2006, Portland, OR).
Quelle: www.jcm.co.uk