It’s hard to stay healthy, especially when our bodies’ natural defenses aren’t up to the task. From temporary illnesses like a cold or flu in adults and children to more serious digestion issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Crohn’s Disease, people may find themselves searching for immune system support.

If flu season has you running for the hills, echinacea might be your new BFF. With its impressive array of benefits on the immune system, this powerhouse herb deserves attention from anyone looking for an affordable way to keep their body feeling balanced! Read on to learn about echinacea. 

Echinacea and Prevention

A recent meta-analysis showed that consuming echinacea can help to significantly reduce the risk of recurrent respiratory tract infections (Source). How might echinacea accomplish that?

Though the jury is still out, the current theory is that echinacea upregulates the production of specific immune system cells, like natural killer cells (which help manage viral infections) and certain white blood cells. Echinacea may also inhibit viral proteins, meaning the viruses can’t accomplish their job of making you sick quite as easily (Source).

This could be great news for those of us who are constantly getting the flu, RSV, or the common cold. But let’s dig a little deeper and ask: why are you constantly getting sick?

Immune Cells

When pathogens invade the body, they begin causing damage to our cells. To prevent them from harming us extensively, cells of our immune system kill invaders. Once they’re gone, they can no longer wreak havoc on our bodies. 

Part of making sure we stay healthy is preventing invaders from getting into our bodies in the first place. The gut is one of the most accessible entrances to the body for invaders. Think about it – we’re always putting germ-covered foods and items in our mouths. 

When was the last time you replaced your toothbrush? What about thoroughly washing your fruit? Yeah… same here.

That’s why we have so many immune cells concentrated in our guts. Germs enter the digestive system 24/7. 

The tricky part for immune cells is identifying invaders. First, they must be able to differentiate pathogens from our native cells. Mixing this up can cause autoimmune conditions. Determining probiotic microbes from harmful microbes living in the microbiome is even more challenging. 

So, how does our immune system “learn” which microbes are dangerous and which are not? This identification process is where gut health comes into play.

Identifying Invaders 

We have several types of immune cells in the body, but one type is particularly crucial for gut immunity: B cells. B cells create antibodies and deploy them in the intestines. Quick reminder: antibodies are proteins that bind to and help kill their target. You can think of them as bullets that work against enemies. 

Each B cell identifies an enemy, manufactures a bullet (an antibody), and pulls the trigger. 

B cells’ antibodies also act as signals to other immune cells; other immune cells notice that bullets have been fired and migrate to the site to help out. This process allows other immune cells to “learn” which pathogens are harmful.

So, B cells are the star of the show. Without them, pathogenic bacteria reign (relatively) free. We must protect them at all costs!

This is where echinacea might come into play. If the current theory is correct – that echinacea can help increase levels of specific immune cells, mainly white blood cells – echinacea may increase levels of B cells or the other cells they call on.

B cells are precious to our gut health, and anything that harms them dampens our immune response and may propel dysbiosis.

If you seem to have a “weak immune system” or are too sick too often, talk to your healthcare provider about addressing your dysbiosis and bolstering your immune system.

Supplements like echinacea, a multivitamin, bovine colostrum, probiotics, and IgY Max may be worth a shot. Check out our blog to learn about ways to support your digestive system.

A healthy gut microbiome fosters a healthy immune response. Tag us in your digestive health journey @igynutrition on Instagram! Happy mixing.