Benefits
- Provides a clinically established dose of ECHINAMIDE®, a formulation of Echinacea purpurea triple-standardized to its active components (alkylamides, polysaccharides, and cichoric acid levels) using the whole herb (roots and flowers)
- ECHINAMIDE is extracted from certified organic, Canadian-grown echinacea, with seed-to-shelf GLP and GMP standards
- Proprietary blend of ECHINAMIDE with potent anti-viral plant extracts of lomatium, astragalus, reishi mushroom, and licorice for a synergistic effect on immune function
- Easy-to-swallow softgels
Feature Summary
Anti-Viral Formula provides a synergistic combination of five clinically validated herbal extracts, standardized to ensure optimal potency and effectiveness. ECHINAMIDE is a well-established formulation of organically grown Echinacea purpurea, triple-standardized to the key constituents (alkylamides, cichoric acid, and polysaccharides) shown to enhance immune function, and demonstrated to significantly reduce symptoms of the common cold in randomized clinical trials.1 ECHINAMIDE stimulates the non-specific immune system, increasing total leukocyte, neutrophil, monocyte, and natural killer cell counts.2 Its alkylamides have both anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, in part by binding to cannabinoid receptors on immune cells.3 The polysaccharides and polyphenols induce cell-mediated immunity and help stabilize secretory IgA levels.4 While meta-analyses typically support the use of echinacea as an anti-viral, standardization of its key components is essential to ensure clinical benefit.5,6
This potent anti-viral formula also includes lomatium and reishi mushroom extracts, anti-viral plants with a long history of traditional use. Reishi contains triterpenoids that inhibit both viral penetration into the cell as well as viral replication, and lomatium has in-vitro inhibitory effects on rotavirus and blocks production of CXCL10, a key signalling molecule for influenza and other viral infections.7,8,9 Echinacea, licorice, and astragalus extracts have all been shown to upregulate CD25 production and to act synergistically to induce greater CD69 expression, both indicators of immune cell activation and regulation.10,11 The broad anti-viral and adaptogenic properties of these herbs support their combined use for optimizing immune function and supporting upper respiratory health.12,13,14
Medicinal Ingredients
Each Softgel Contains: | |
Echinacea 25:1 Extract (Echinacea purpurea) (herb top and root) | 44 mg |
Lomatium 25:1 Extract (Lomatium dissectum) (root) | 18 mg |
Astragalus 25:1 Extract (Astragalus membranaceus) (root) | 29 mg |
Reishi Mushroom 25:1 Extract (Ganoderma lucidum) (fruiting body) | 29 mg |
Licorice 25:1 Extract (Glycyrrhiza glabra) (root) | 7 mg |
Non-Medicinal Ingredients
Softgel (gelatin, glycerin, purified water, carob powder), sunflower oil, yellow beeswax, lecithin
Allergens:
Contains no artificial colours, preservatives, or sweeteners; no dairy, starch, sugar, wheat, gluten, yeast, soy, corn, egg, fish, shellfish, salt, tree nuts, or GMO.
Recommended Use:
Recommended Adult Dose: 1 softgel 3 times per day or as directed by a health care practitioner. For acute needs, 1 softgel every 2–3 hours, up to 4 times per day, or as directed by a health care practitioner. Take at the first sign of infection. To avoid digestive upset, take with food. Consult a health care practitioner for use beyond 6 weeks.
Contraindications
Has not been thoroughly evaluated for use during pregnancy, and should be avoided. Echinacea products are contraindicated in those requiring immune suppression (such as organ transplant recipients), and should be used with caution in those with autoimmune disease. Individuals with atopy are more likely to have a hypersensitivity to echinacea. Licorice consumption should be carefully monitored in those with hypertension and/or hypokalemia.
Drug Interactions
No known drug interactions exist. Echinacea has been shown to reduce the required steroid dosage in inflammatory conditions and to improve the efficacy of anti-fungal treatments for infection with Candida sp. , , Echinacea is also a weak inhibitor of CYP1A2 and minor inducer of CYP3A4, and may have slight effects on drugs metabolized through these pathways. Lomatium contains coumarin compounds and may theoretically potentiate anticoagulants.
- Goel, V., Lovlin, R., Barton, R., et al. (2004). Efficacy of a standardized echinacea preparation (Echinilin) for the treatment of the common cold: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Pharm Ther, 29(1), 75-83.
- Goel, V., Lovlin, R., Chang, C., et al. (2005). A proprietary extract from the echinacea plant (Echinacea purpurea) enhances systemic immune response during a common cold. Phytother Res, 19(8), 689-94.
- Chicca, A., Raduner, S., Pellati, F., et al. (2009). Synergistic immunomopharmacological effects of N-alkylamides in Echinacea purpurea herbal extracts. Int Immunopharmacol, 9(7-8), 850-8.
- Hall, H., Fahlman, M.M., &Engels, H.J. (2007). Echinacea purpurea and mucosal immunity. Int J Sports Med, 28(9), 792-7.
- Shah, S.A., Sander, S., White, C.M., et al. (2007). Evaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatment of the common cold: a meta-analysis. Lancet Infect Dis, 7(7), 473-80.
- Barton, R. (2005). Efficacy of echinilin for the common cold. Clin Infect Dis, 41(5), 761-2; author reply 763-4.
- Zhang, W., Tao, J., Yang, X., et al. (2014). Antiviral effects of two Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids against enterovirus 71 infection. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 449(3), 307-12.
- Zamechek, D., &Wenner, C. A. (2014). Lomatium dissectum inhibits secretion of CXCL10, a chemokine associated with poor prognosis in highly pathogenic influenza A infection. J Restor Med, 3(1), 104-11.
- McCutcheon, A. R., Roberts, T. E., Gibbons, E., et al. (1995). Antiviral screening of British Columbian medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol, 49(2), 101-10.
- Brush, J., Mendenhall, E., Guggenheim, A., et al. (2006). The effect of Echinacea purpurea, Astragalus membranaceus and Glycyrrhiza glabra on CD69 expression and immune cell activation in humans. Phytother Res, 20(8), 687-95.
- Zwickey, H., Brush, J., Iacullo, C.M., et al. (2007). The effect of Echinacea purpurea, Astragalus membranaceus and Glycyrrhiza glabra on CD25 expression in humans: a pilot study. Phytother Res, 21(11), 1109-12.
- Zheng, Q., Zhuang, Z., Wang, Z.H., et al. (2020). Clinical and preclinical systematic review of Astragalus membranaceus for viral myocarditis. Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2020, 1560353.
- Liu, H., Wang, Z.Y., Zhou, Y.C., et al. (2020). Immunomodulation of Chinese herbal medicines on NK cell populations for cancer therapy: A systematic review. J Ethnopharmacol, 113561.
- Ghaemi, H., Masoompour, S.M., Afsharypuor, S., et al. (2020). The effectiveness of a traditional Persian medicine preparation in the treatment of chronic cough: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Complement Ther Med, 49, 102324.
- Coeugniet, E., &Kuhnast, R. (1986). Recurrent candidiasis: Adjuvant immunotherapy with different formulations of Echinacin(TM). Therapiewoche, 36, 3352-58.
- Freeman, C., &Spelman, K. (2008). A critical evaluation of drug interactions with Echinacea spp. Mol Nutr Food Res, 52(7), 789-98.
- Neri, P.G., Stagni, E., Filippello, M., et al. (2006). Oral Echinacea purpurea extract in low-grade, steroid-dependent, autoimmune idiopathic uveitis: a pilot study. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther, 22(6), 431-6.