Immune system

Question 1

1. Purple cone flower

Answer 1

Echinacea purpurea
Asteraceae
Root, aerial parts

Actions:
Immune modulating, immune stimulating, depurative, vulnerary, antiinflammatory, lymphatic, sialagogue

Indications:
Prevention & treatment of infections; URTI’s, enhancing immune response in healthy
Nasopharyngeal catarrh, repiratory catarrh, chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, adjuvant for cancer
Abscess, boils, poorly healing wounds, furunculosis, eczema, psoriasis, mouth ulcers, venomous bites, skin & glandular inflammations

Contraindications:
Allergy to Asteraceae
TB, leukosis & multiple sclerosis (theoretical)
Caution in transplant pts taking anti-rejection drugs
?pregnancy

Question 2

2. Narrow-leaved cone flower

Answer 2

Echinacea angustifolia
Asteraceae
Root, aerial parts

Actions:
Immune modulating, immune stimulating, depurative, vulnerary, antiinflammatory, lymphatic, sialoagogue

Indications:
Preventing & treating infections; URTI’s, enhancingimmune response in healthy
Nasopharyngeal catarrh, repiratory catarrh, chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, adjuvant for cancer
Abscess, boils, poorly healing wounds, furunculosis, eczema, psoriasis, mouth ulcers, venomous bites, skin & glandular inflammations

Contraindications:
Allergy to Asteraceae
TB, leukosis & multiple sclerosis (theoretical)
Caution in transplant pts taking anti-rejection drugs
?pregnancy

Question 3

3. Andrographis

Answer 3

Andrographis paniculata
Acanthaceae
Aerial parts

Actions:
Bitter tonic, choleretic, hepatoprotective, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, anthelmintic, immune enhancing, antipyreic, antiplatelet

Indications:
Bacterial & viral respiratory tract infections - common cold, reducing fever
Preventing UTI’s
Enteric infections, infective hepatitis, infestation w intestinal worms

Contraindications:
Pregnancy - esp 1st tri

Question 4

4. Albizia

Answer 4

Albizia lebbek (also URT)
Leguminosae
Stem bark

Actions:
Antiallergic, antimicrobial

Indications:
Allergic rhinitis, allergic respiratory disorders esp asthma, eczema

Contraindications:
None known

Question 5

5. Baical skullcap

Answer 5

Scutellaria baicalensis
Labiatae
Root

Actions:
Antiallergic, antiinflammatory, antibacterial

Indications:
Chronic inflammatory conditions, allergy, asthma, bronchitis, common cold, scarlet fever, coughs w thick sputum, pneumonia

Contraindications:
TCM - in cold conditions

Question 6

6. Pau d’arco

Answer 6

Tabebuia avellanedae
Bignoniaceae
Bark

Actions:
Immune enhancing, depurative, anti-tumour, antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiparasitic

Indications:
Adjunct for cancer, adjunct for protozoal infections
Topical - skin diseases, fungal infections, skin cancer, varicose ulcers

Contraindications:
Anticoagulants
Caution long term (free radicals)
Caution in prednancu (abortive & teratogenic actions)

Question 7

7. Astragalus

Answer 7

Atragalus membranaceus
Leguminosae
Root

Actions:
Immune enhancing, tonic, adaptogenic, diuretic, antioxidant

Indications:
Impaired immunity, prophylaxis of common cold, chronic viral infections
General debility, excessive sweating, chronic diarrhoea
Tonic for elderly, postpartum fever and recovery from severe blood loss

Contraindications:
Acute stage of infections

Question 8

8. Eleutherococcus

Answer 8

Eleutherococcus senticosus
Arialaceae
Root

Actions:
Adaptogenic, immune modulating, tonic

Indications:
Enhancing immune function in healthy
Minimising stress in chronic illness, exhaustion, insomnia, mild depression, adjuvant for cancer, dysentery, improving mental performance

Contraindications:
Acute stage of infections
Hypertension
Pregnancu & lactation

Question 9

9. Cat’s Claw

Answer 9

Uncaria tomentosa
Rubiaceae
Stem bark

Actions:
Immune enhancing, antioxidant, antiinflammatory

Indications:
Poor immunity, tendency to infections
Convalescence, debility, HIV, AIDS
Inflammatory conditions

Contraindications:
None known
Caution in pregnancy & lactation (traditionally a contraceptive)

Question 10

10. Hemidesmus, Indian sarsaparilla

Answer 10

Hemidesmus indicus
Asclepiadaceae
Root

Actions:
Diaphoretic, immune depressant, depurative

Indications:
Autoimmune diseases - rheumatoid arthritis
Diseases of genitourinary tract
Skin diseases, fever

Contraindications:
None known

Question 11

Tylophora, Indian lobelia

Answer 11

Tylophora indica
Asclepiadaceae
Leaf

Actions:
Antiasthmatic, antiinflammatory, immune depressant, antiallergic, emetic

Indications:
Allergic rhinitis, autoimmune medicated inflammatory diseases, asthma, protection against inhaled allergen challenge

Contraindications:
Pregnancy & lactation
Long term - use short term and intermittently rather than continuously