Echinacea Goldenseal safe for MS people?

[Cammie]

Recently I came down with a severe sinus infection. Although I am on an antibiotic, I bought some Echinacea/Goldenseal because years ago I had used it to double ensure that an infection was cleared out of my body. But that was before I had MS symptons. I have noticed that the label says: "not recommended for individuals with autoimmune disorders". I called an MS friend who said that he thinks it would be fine to take it for short term use, but not long term. But I am a bit nervous about anything that could set off unpleasant MS symptons. Does anyone here have experience with Echinacea/Goldenseal?

[jimmylegs]

might be a better idea to take vits A, C, E, Selenium and Zinc to combat infection and for general immune support. se and zn are lower on average in ms patients. vits c and e and zinc are all recommended in the klenner protocol for ms.

[NHE]

Echinacea is known to increase interferon-gamma production. Interferon-gamma is known to make MS worse.


Effects of Echinaforce® treatment on ex vivo-stimulated blood cells.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21726792

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench modulates human T-cell cytokine response.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24434371

The potency of immunomodulatory herbs may be primarily dependent upon macrophage activation.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17472470

[Cammie]

I had forgotton about the effects of selenium and zinc on immunity. Thanks, Jimmylegs, for reminding me.

I have already had negative effects from my short usage of Echinacea/Goldenseal, so I stopped and will never use it again. I have just bought some Garlicin and am hoping that will help, along with selenium and zinc.