Echinacea can safely prevent respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and associated complications, thereby decreasing the demand for antibiotics an April 2024 study has concluded. The results also support the beneficial effects of long-term, preventative echinacea supplementation. Despite medical advances RTIs are still the most frequent illnesses worldwide and are the leading cause of antibiotic prescriptions, primarily due to the risk for secondary bacterial infections. Approximately one-third of all RTIs affect children below five years of age, of which a disproportionally high number of 0.7 million cases are lethal. A higher fatality rate is also reported for elderly people and immunocompromised patients (these numbers do not account for the recent COVID-19 pandemic).

The prevention of RTIs may be achieved by taking echinacea species as antiviral and immunomodulatory actions have been reported. Recent literature has found a wide spectrum of activity for alcoholic extracts against enveloped respiratory viruses, including influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2. Clinical benefits manifest not only in a reduced risk of RTIs but also of RTI relapses and secondary complications.

In the systematic review and meta-analysis a comprehensive search identified 30 clinical trials (39 comparisons) studying echinacea for the prevention or treatment of RTIs in 5652 subjects. Echinacea significantly reduced the monthly RTI occurrence, risk ratio and number of patients with RTIs. Echinacea reduced the risk of recurrent infections, RTI complications and the need for antibiotic therapy, with total antibiotic therapy days reduced by 70%. 

References

Gancitano G, Mucci N, Stange R, Ogal M, Vimalanathan S, Sreya M, Booker A, Hadj-Cherif B, Albrich WC, Woelkart-Ardjomand K, Kreft S, Vanden Berghe W, Hoexter G, Schapowal A, Johnston SL. Echinacea Reduces Antibiotics by Preventing Respiratory Infections: A Meta-Analysis (ERA-PRIMA). Antibiotics (Basel). 2024 Apr 16;13(4):364. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics13040364. PMID: 38667040; PMCID: PMC11047471.

Buchu, a fragrant evergreen shrub native to South Africa (particularly the Western Cape Province)belonging to the genusAgathosma, has a long history ofuse in traditional Khoisan medicine.The Khoisan people (indigenous people of the western region of South Africa) have utilised buchu forcenturies for various medicinal and spiritual purposes, including dance rituals, anointment, andbeautification.The traditional use of buchu encompasses the treatment of kidney and urinary tractinfections, cold, stomach ailments, rheumatism, gout and fever.

Externally, buchu was used as an antiseptic wash for wounds and as a compress for swelling, bruising,and sprains.A. betulinawas commonly consumed as an aqueous infusion (sometimes sweetened) or atincture in brandy. Vinegar infusions were used externally for antiseptic washes and embrocations.

Early European settlers in South Africa adopted the use of buchu andits use spread to Europe and theUnited States.Buchu was included in compendia until the 20th century for its diuretic effects and urinarytract applications but fell out of favour due to the emergence of antibiotics and synthetic diuretics. The Eclectics, a 19th-century medical school of thought in the US, considered buchu an aromatic stimulantand tonic for poor appetite, flatulence, and nausea.

References

HEC Monograph

Winning the “mushroom with the most unique appearance award” lion’s mane, with its beautiful cascading white icicles, is extraordinary in more than just its looks. Typically it is known for its ability to support the health of the brain and nervous system along with supporting gut health.

Lion’s mane played a role in Asian culture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) long before it was introduced to the West. In Chinese and Japanese medical systems lion’s mane has traditionally been used to fortify the spleen, nourish the gut and as an anticancer herb. It is said to be nutritive to the five internal organs (liver, lung, spleen, heart and kidney), and promotes good digestion, general vigour and strength. Traditional use of lion’s mane in China and Japan has focused on its benefits for the gut, in particular its antimicrobial and immunologic properties as applied to conditions such as gastric and duodenal ulcers, chronic gastritis and gastric and oesophageal cancer. 

Lion’s mane is also known for its effects on the central nervous system and is used for insomnia and weakness which are characteristic symptoms of Qi (life force) deficiency in TCM. Buddhist monks were said to have made tea using lion’s mane mushroom powder to enhance brain function and heighten their focus during meditation. Human clinical trials, though still relatively small at this stage, have reinforced the ability of lion’s mane to support brain health, revealing significantly improved cognitive function and a reduction in depression and anxiety. The ability of lion’s mane to promote nerve growth and protect the brain from Alzheimer’s-related damage may explain some of its beneficial effects on brain health. However, it is important to note that most of the research has been conducted on animals or in test tubes. Therefore, more human studies are needed.

References

Lion’s Mane Mushroom. NatMed c2024 Therapeutic Research Center.  (updated 19 Jan 2024; accessed 12 Jun 2024). Available from https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=1536

Spelman K, Sutherland E, Bagade A. Neurological Activity of Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus). Journal of Restorative Medicine. 2017 March 6(1)12:19-26 (8)

Julson E. 9 Health Benefits of Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Plus Side Effects) c2024 Healthline Media  (updated Jan 12 2024; accessed 26 Mar 2024). Available from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lions-mane-mushroom

Cordyceps is a genus of parasitic fungi that grows on the larvae of insects. A vast amount of literature exists about cordyceps mushrooms, some of which is scientific, and some popular myth and even hype. Also known as caterpillar fungus, the fact that cordyceps grown in the wild consumes insects’ bodies from the inside out inspired the hit HBO series The Last of Us and the video game from which it is adapted. The terrifying premise of this television drama, which made cordyceps infamous, is that a pandemic started by mutant cordyceps causes a zombie apocalypse where next door neighbours become mushroom monsters. However, we can rest assured that humans are not the natural host for cordyceps as it has not adapted to infect or colonise us. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that we will ever face the same fungal plague as seen in the award winning show, which caused the collapse of society and nearly decimated the entire human race. On the contrary, cordyceps is well known for its ability to stimulate the immune system and reduce fatigue in humans. 

The remains of the insect and the cordyceps fungi Ophiocordyceps sinensis (formerly referred to by its synonym Cordyceps sinensis) have been hand-collected, dried and used as a combination in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat fatigue, sickness, kidney disease and low libido. The long-term process of symbiosis between the fungus and insect is time-consuming, the harvesting from its natural site makes it expensive and the growing demand for this species made it endangered so this led to the search for alternative sources. The solution to this issue is the related species Cordyceps militaris, which has a similar composition but does not present the same sustainability issues. This fungus is cultivated on a large scale in various substrates including rice, corn, soybean or barley, which are used in the culture medium instead of insects. 

Nowadays, cordyceps is known as a functional mushroom for energy and endurance because of its adaptogenic and tonic effects. Herbalists and naturopaths prescribe it to support energy levels and for convalescence after infection or illness, stress, improved vitality, general daily health prophylaxis regimes, including for healthy aging, lung and kidney support, cardiovascular health and arthritis. 

References

Tuli HS, Sandhu SS, Sharma AK. Pharmacological and therapeutic potential of Cordyceps with special reference to Cordycepin. 3 Biotech. 2014 Feb;4(1):1-12. doi: 10.1007/s13205-013-0121-9. Epub 2013 Feb 19. PMID: 28324458; PMCID: PMC3909570.

Sruthi M. Can Cordyceps Fungus Infect Humans? c1996-2024 MedicineNet, Inc. (updated 2 July 2023; accessed 22 Mar 2024). Available from https://www.medicinenet.com/can_cordyceps_fungus_infect_humans/article.htm

Wu P, Qin Q, Zhang J, Zhang H, Li X, Wang H, Meng Q. The invasion process of the entomopathogenic fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis into the larvae of ghost moths (Thitarodes xiaojinensis) using a GFP-labeled strain. Front Microbiol. 2022 Sep 2;13:974323. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.974323. PMID: 36118238; PMCID: PMC9479185.

Cordyceps. The Herbarium. The Herbal Academy. (accessed 5 Jun 2024). Available from https://herbarium.theherbalacademy.com/monograph/cordyceps/

Hsieh SA, Lin TH, Wang JS, Chen JJ, Hsu WK, Ying LC, Liang ZC. The effects of Cordyceps militaris fruiting bodies in micturition and prostate size in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients: A pilot study, Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine, 2022;Volume 4.

HEC Cordyceps monograph. https://ypi.bmw.mybluehost.me/sites/default/files/2024-05/extract_cordyceps_monograph.pdf

A 2024 Italian review article focused on the therapeutic effect of lion’s mane extract in the treatment of conditions of the lower urinary tract in which intestinal inflammation may play a role. The researchers hypothesised that lion’s mane, in combination with conventional drugs or other supplements, might be considered a therapy to be used in chronic inflammatory conditions of the lower urinary tract, including chronic prostatitis, to improve inflammation, decrease symptoms and potentially as a prostate cancer prophylactic agent.

The researchers reviewed the available evidence on “pelvic cross-organ sensitisation” (where a problem in one area can lead to a problem in another) as a possible mechanism through which intestinal inflammation and dysbiosis may affect the lower urinary tract. They also reviewed the clinical and experimental evidence supporting the role of lion’s mane extract as an anti-inflammatory agent highlighting the role of several mechanisms which might make this mushroom suitable for the management of “difficult to treat” lower urinary tract disorders.

The researchers postulated that lion’s mane may be a potential therapy in inflammatory conditions involving the gut, such as inflammatory bowel disease (i.e. ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease) because of its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. They said another mechanism where lion’s mane may promote beneficial effects in the gut could be through the modulation of gut microbiota (as a prebiotic), which seems to play a crucial role in the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease, as well as in the treatment of several gastrointestinal pathological conditions. In addition, because of lion’s mane immunomodulatory action and its ability to modulate neurotransmission, the researchers hypothesised that lion’s mane might be able to improve symptoms and inflammation in the lower urinary tract, mainly in those cases arising from an altered gut microbiota, intestinal inflammation and/or increased intestinal permeability. 

References

Romano L, Napolitano L, Crocetto F, Sciorio C, Priadko K, Fonticelli M, Federico A, Romano M, Gravina AG. The potential therapeutic role of Hericium erinaceus extract in pathologic conditions involving the urogenital-gut axis: insights into the involved mechanisms and mediators. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2024 Feb;75(1). doi: 10.26402/jpp.2024.1.01. Epub 2024 Apr 3. PMID: 38583434.

Sharing herbs brings them to life and that is what the Herbal Extract Company did last month, attending two industry events that we were proud to sponsor.

On the last weekend in May we attended the Naturopaths & Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA) Herbal Medicine Summit 2024 on the Sunshine Coast, joining a community of like-minded practitioners who are all as passionate as each other about natural medicine. This is the NHAA’s flagship education event for the year designed to keep practitioners informed, elevate their professional skills and advance patient outcomes. It was a stellar lineup as some of the most skilled and respected naturopaths and researchers in Australia presented over 20 expert-led sessions and panel discussions. More than 200 herbalists and naturopaths gathered to witness these top industry professionals and thought leaders share their knowledge and discuss hot topics such as sustainability, small scale medicinal herb farming, cannabis ethnopharmacology and patient access, oxymels, dosing, medicine making and adventures with alembics (an apparatus used in distillation) to harness plant material aromatics.

A new initiative, called Pearls of Practice, was very well received. This was speed mentoring, rapid fire style, with 20 round table topics including actioning sustainability in practice, genetic testing tips, starting a community clinic, important post-partum care and the new frontier of Artificial Intelligence.

Our practitioner consultants were kept busy giving delegates taste tests of our liquid herbal extracts including our new mushrooms cordyceps and lion’s mane, which we stacked together with reishi, as a special synergistic mix for the Summit. It was a weekend brimming with learning, connection and deep herbal wisdom from some of the brightest minds.

Earlier in the month the Wise Women Gathering 2024 was held at Webbs Creek, 90 minutes north of Sydney. Almost 200 people attended the three-day event which was a heart-warming testimony to the strength of traditional herbal medicine in Australia.

Our sales manager Lara Ryan presented a Herbal Wisdom session called Back to Our Roots: Medicinal Herbs for Women’s Resilience. With autumn being a time to work with root herbs it was very popular with more than 40 women attending to learn about the benefits of roots in women’s health. After sharing some Herbal Extract Company history, and our unique manufacturing process, Lara went on to deep dive into six root herbs: black cohosh, paeonia, shatavari, Siberian ginseng, teasel root and wild yam. Lara said there were two herbalist midwives in the group who shared their wisdom about using the roots medicinally in soups following birth, along with including the uterine tonic blue cohosh root (caution advised unless experienced) into the birth process and after birth support. After some taste testing the women made topical herbal creams using our natural base cream. Lara was also asked to sit on a panel about Wealth Building for Wise Women. The illustrious panel discussed how to monetise their healing skills.

Also known as wild pansy or Johnny-jump-up, heartsease is a common little woodland herb native to Europe and Eurasia. Not to be confused with sweet violet (Viola odorata), which is a close relative with distinctively different purple flowers, heartsease is a valued remedy for skin diseases however it was also used traditionally for its expectorant and anti-inflammatory activities in bronchitis, whooping cough, asthma and rheumatism. It can be taken internally and topically for eczema, psoriasis, hives and itching, acne and topically in babies who have cradle cap. It is also used in the urinary system to treat frequent and painful urination associated with conditions such as cystitis. 

One of the most beloved herbalists of our time, the late Juliette de Bairacli Levy, says that, as its common name may suggest, heartsease is famed for its beneficial effects on the heart both as a tonic and a remedy, including to treat heart weakness and high blood pressure. She also says it is useful for skin ailments, breast swellings, boils and abscesses. A lesser know action is that it is “known to aid speed for athletes.” 

In older folk medicine heartsease was considered to be an alterative, or blood cleansing agent, that had a metabolism promoting action. It was also used to gently alter the functioning of nerves, and the immune system, and was seen as helpful in cases of nightmares, insomnia and distressed sleep with frequent night awakenings. The herb has been used after surgery to prevent reoccurring tumours. 

References

Hoffmann D. Medical Herbalism. Rochester: Healing Arts Press. 2003. p. 595

de Bairacli Levy J. Common Herbs for Natural Health. Ash Tree Publishing:New York. 1997. p.116

Rimkiene S, Ragazinskiene O, Savickiene N. The cumulation of Wild pansy (Viola tricolor L.) accessions: the possibility of species preservation and usage in medicine. Medicina (Kaunas). 2003;39(4):411-6. PMID: 12738912.