The best protection against the invasion of bacteria, viruses and other germs into our bodies is prevention. Finetuning your immune system is an effective method of prevention and can be accomplished with support from herbal immune boosters like these.
Astragalus
Astragalus has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years and is thought to replenish your qi (or energy,) which is linked to immune system health.
According to a 2020 study, modern herbalists use astragalus as an immunostimulant to prevent infection and to aid in recovery after an infection.
Astragalus has adaptogenic properties and is used alone or in combination with other adaptogens to combat stress, an issue that is a known risk factor for many chronic disease conditions.
Taken daily, an astragalus supplement supports immune system health and improved energy levels.
For best results, take according to the directions on the product label and talk to your health practitioner about a dose that is right for you.
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Oregon’s Wild Harvest Organic Astragalus Capsules
Echinacea
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the U.S. population suffers from about one billion colds every year.
One of the most commonly used herbs, echinacea has been studied extensively for its ability to both prevent and treat symptoms of the common cold. In fact, in a 2007 meta-analysis of 14 studies with over 1,300 study subjects, researchers concluded that echinacea decreased both the incidence and duration of a cold.
There are nine species of echinacea. The species touted for their medicinal benefits and most commonly found in supplements include Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea purpurea. Like astragalus, echinacea is also noted to have stress-reducing abilities.
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