Why we selected this company:

Wise Woman Herbals is proud to offer only traditional whole-herb supplements; they do not produce standardized extracts, which strive to attain certain concentrations of a single chemical component at the expense of losing essential cofactors. They believe that all of the plant constituents are required in order to provide a completely beneficial herbal product as intended by nature.

They only use the finest organic, ethically wildcrafted, and/or best quality plants, and then preserve their integrity by adding only natural ingredients. Organic grain alcohol, certified kosher vegetable glycerin, organic cold-pressed olive oil, and/or mountain spring water are added to extract the desired plant properties through a time-intensive maceration process.

Wise Woman Herbals chose their name to honor the early European herbalists. Our extensive line of superior herbal products is comprised of liquid extracts, solid extracts, glycerites, capsules, teas, salves, essential oils, syrups, elixirs, and suppositories. Healthcare practitioners choose our products for their renowned strength, quality, and efficacy.

The most important components of their products are the extraordinary plants and other raw materials that they select from their growers and other suppliers.  They adhere to strict quality control standards and comply with Good Manufacturing Practices. Their plant ingredients are grown organically (mostly on local farms), supplied by local ethical wildcrafters, and they represent the best quality available. They perform ongoing inspections from initial plant identification through finished product verification.

Why we selected this product:

Efficacy of a standardized echinacea preparation (Echinilin) for the treatment of the common cold: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Goel V, Lovlin R, Barton R, Lyon MR, Bauer R, Lee TD, Basu TK.

Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Recently, echinacea has regained popularity as one of the treatments chosen most commonly by consumers with the expectation that it will reduce the severity and duration of the common cold. However, the results from a limited number of clinical trials for this application have thus far been inconclusive. This incongruity may be the result of investigators utilizing poorly standardized echinacea products, likely devoid of sufficient quantities of active constituents necessary to exert a definitive clinical effect. Therefore, a formulation containing alkamides, cichoric acid, and polysaccharides at concentrations of 0.25, 2.5, and 25 mg/mL, respectively, was prepared from freshly harvested Echinacea purpurea plants (commercially available as Echinilin, Natural Factors Nutritional Products, Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada). The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of this highly standardized formulation in reducing the severity and duration of symptoms of a naturally acquired common cold. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 282 subjects aged 18-65 years with a history of two or more colds in the previous year, but otherwise in good health, were recruited. The subjects were randomized to receive either echinacea or placebo. They were instructed to start the echinacea or placebo at the onset of the first symptom related to a cold, consuming 10 doses the first day and four doses per day on subsequent days for 7 days. Severity of symptoms (10-point scale: 0, minimum; 9, maximum) and dosing were recorded daily. A nurse examined the subjects on the mornings of days 3 and 8 of their cold. RESULTS: A total of 128 subjects contracted a common cold (59 echinacea, 69 placebo). The total daily symptom scores were found to be 23.1% lower in the echinacea group than in placebo in those who followed all elements of the study protocol (P<0.01). Throughout the treatment period, the response rate to treatments was greater in the echinacea group. A few adverse event profiles were observed in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Early intervention with a standardized formulation of echinacea resulted in reduced symptom severity in subjects with naturally acquired upper respiratory tract infection. Further studies with larger patient populations appear to be warranted.

PMID: 14748902 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
J Clin Pharm Ther. 2004 Feb;29(1):75-83.

Immune Modulation of Macrophage Pro-Inflammatory Response by Goldenseal and Astragalus Extracts

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadenisis) is a native American medicinal plant used as an immune stimulant. Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) is a widely used herbal product in China, other Asian countries, and the United States as an immune stimulant to be taken on first clinical signs of infection. In this study, the innate effects of goldenseal and Astragalus on pro-inflammatory cytokines produced by cultured macrophages were examined using two different commercial preparations of goldenseal and Astragalus. Both goldenseal and Astragalus were found to exhibit little to no direct effect on stimulation of mouse macrophages (J774A.1 cells), with only Astragalus able to affect production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α when used in high concentrations. However, both goldenseal and Astragalus were able to modify responses from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages, with identified immunomodulatory effects to reduce production of TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and IL-12 in a dose-dependent manner. The results obtained indicate that both goldenseal and Astragalus exhibit abilities to modulate macrophage responses during stimulation. Therefore, it is hypothesized that their historical use as therapeutic agents may be due to reduction in the pro-inflammatory response that indirectly leads to limiting of clinical symptoms during infection. Both products differ in their immune stimulatory patterns, offering insight into differential use and therapeutic potential of these products to regulate macrophage immune responses and activation events.

Stacia Clement-Kruzel, Shen-An Hwang, Mark C. Kruzel, Amitava Dasgupta, Jeffrey K. Actor. Journal of Medicinal Food. September 1, 2008, 11(3): 493-498. doi:10.1089/jmf.2008.0044.

Benefits for the body:
Supports a healthy respiratory tract.
Supports normal immune system function.

Interesting facts:
This formula is a decongestant, anti-inflammatory, drying, antimicrobial and supports the immune system.  It soothes mucous membranes and thins and assists with expectoration of mucus.  This formula is used for irritation and inflammation due to infectious conditions of the lungs, throat, ears, nasal passages and the entire respiratory tract.  It is specifically made for children, although adults can use it also. 

Ingredients:
Echinacea angustifolia & purpurea (echinacea)
Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal)
Prunus spp. (wild black cherry bark)
Eriodictyon californicum (yerba santa)
Inula helenium (elecampane)
Ligusticum porteri (osha)
Verbascum thapsus (mullein)
Zingiber officinale (ginger)
bitter orange essential oil.
(Also appropriate for adults.)

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.  If in doubt consult with a licensed naturopathic physician before use.  Physician’s at Genesis Health Systems can be reached at 480.284.8155 and we are happy to consult with you about this product and helping you achieve optimal health.