See, D M, Broumand, N, Sahl, L et al. · Immunopharmacology · 1997 · DOI
This study tested whether two herbal supplements—echinacea and ginseng—could boost immune cells taken from healthy people and patients with ME/CFS or HIV/AIDS. Researchers found that both herbs increased the activity of natural killer cells and antibody-dependent immune responses in blood samples from all three groups. While the results suggest these herbs may help activate certain immune functions, this was a laboratory experiment using cells in a dish, not a study of people taking the supplements.
ME/CFS is characterized by impaired cellular immune function, particularly natural killer cell dysfunction. This study suggests that echinacea and ginseng may have the capacity to enhance specific immune pathways that are often depleted in ME/CFS patients, providing a biological rationale for further investigation of these supplements as potential therapeutic agents.
This laboratory study does not prove that taking echinacea or ginseng supplements will help ME/CFS patients in real life. In vitro findings do not account for factors like absorption, metabolism, dosing, or whether these effects would occur in the human body. Clinical trials in living patients would be needed to determine if these supplements actually improve symptoms or immune function.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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