The body is so smart! Have you ever noticed all the things it does on its own like blink, cough and even sneeze? It is these simple actions we don’t even control which help the body prevent the entry of unwanted pathogens - the cause of unwanted colds and flu.
These physical and chemical barriers are the immune system’s first line of defence, known as the innate immune system. Unfortunately, while these barriers work well, they are not fool-proof and occasionally pathogens can sneak past and enter the body, causing infection and setting up an immune response.
At the first sign of infection, the immune system springs into action calling on a range of mechanisms to help rid the body of the foreign invader. In fact, many of the symptoms a person experiences with a mild upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), such as fever, cough, sore throat and runny nose, are all the result of the activity of the immune system trying to eliminate these foreign invaders from the body.
Often just simplistically referred to as colds or flu, mild URTIs are self-limiting and confined to the upper part of the respiratory system responsible for breathing, including the nose, throat and upper airways. While everyday common colds and flu will mostly just resolve on their own, you wouldn’t be alone if your preference would be to feel better sooner. To support this, there are a range of options available to help relieve the severity of mild URTIs, while also reducing their symptoms.
Andrographis is an ancient oriental and Ayurvedic herb with a long history of use in helping to relieve the symptoms of mild URTIs including a sore throat and cough. Andrographis has also been used traditionally in Ayurvedic medicine to relieve mild fever while reducing the symptoms of common colds and flu.
Herb of Gold Cold & Flu Strike contains high-strength Andrographis in combination with Echinacea, Elderberry, vitamin C and zinc, supporting immune system health and healthy immune system function.
Echinacea is another herb frequently used to support the immune system to fight illness. Echinacea is part of the daisy family and features a daisy-like purple flower, with the two main species being Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea angustifolia. While traditional use of Echinacea has focussed on preparations of the root, commonly from the Echinacea angustifolia species, there is also good evidence to support using whole plant extracts from Echinacea purpurea, which include the use of the leaf, flower and root.
Herbs of Gold Echinacea 4000 contains a high-strength blend of Echinacea from both Echinacea species and is beneficial for supporting both the health and function of the immune system. Echinacea has a long history of traditional use in Western herbal medicine (WHM) to not only support the immune system to fight illness, but also relieve symptoms of the common cold, reduce upper respiratory tract congestion and decrease excess mucus. Echinacea is also traditionally used in WHM to relieve mild fever.
Echinacea is also a great herb suitable for use in children and is available in the Herbs of Gold Children’s Immune Care. This product is a delicious strawberry-vanilla flavoured chewable tablet and features Echinacea with nutrients to support immune system health in children. Echinacea has a long history of traditional use in WHM in relieving the symptoms of mild URTIs in children.
Finally, a solution for the whole family is the Herbs of Gold Elderberry Echinacea and Olive Leaf. This great-tasting blackcurrant flavoured liquid is suitable for use from 2 years and up and contains a combination of Elderberry, Echinacea and Olive leaf in a vegan-friendly formula containing no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners.
Elderberry, like Echinacea, has a long history of traditional use in WHM to relieve symptoms of mild URTIs, while Olive leaf has been used traditionally in WHM to support healthy immune system function.
