Native Americans traditionally used echinacea for a variety of disorders, primarily infections and other conditions where enhancement of the immune system was needed. Echinaceas therapeutic efficacy was recognized by Western medical science in the late 19th century. Today, echinacea is best known as a non-specific, immuno-supporting botanical.

Zinc is an essential trace element required for the activity of over 300 enzymes and is involved in most major metabolic pathways. Zinc participates not only in catalytic processes, but also in the structure and stability of some regulatory proteins.

Eleutherococcus senticosus may support stimulating the production of interferon, thus enhancing the functioning of macrophages, natural killer cells, and cytotoxic T cells.

Nutrients such as garlic and Korean ginseng can also play important roles in the support of healthy immune function.

REFERENCES
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Bohn B, Nebe CT, Birr C. Flow-cytometric studies with eleutherococcus senticosus extract as an immunomodulatory agent. Arzneimittelforschung 1987;37:1193-6.
MacDonald, RS. The role of zinc in growth and cell proliferation. J Nutr 2000;130:1500S-8S.
McCall, KA, Huang, C, Fierke, CA. Function and mechanism of zinc metalloenzymes. J Nutr 2000;130:1437S-46S.
Steinmuller C, Roesler J, Grottrup E, et al. Polysaccharides isolated from plant cell cultures of Echinacea purpurea enhance the resistance of immunosuppressed mice against systemic infections with Candida albicans and Listeria monocytogenes. Int J Immunopharmacol 1993;15:605-14.
Tubaro A, Tragni E, Del Negro P, et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of a polysaccharidic fraction of Echinacea angustifolia. J Pharm Pharmacol 1987;39:567-9.