Echinacea

It has nothing to do with blood sugar. Rather, the long term affects of diabetes.

Echinacea is an herb with a long history. It is a root, from a daisy like plant, and has to be one of the foulest tasting substances known to man. If early people devised their philosophy that something had to be nasty tasting to work, from the herbs that actually did work, then you can be sure that echinacea was one of those that they concluded that from, because it is truly horrid. BUT...

It is also one of the more respected herbs for infection prevention. It is believed to have anti-viral properties, and in some studies, this has been shown to have some validity. It is recommended for other purposes also, but this is the biggie, and the one that may have value for diabetics.

Reduction in immune response is one of the long term affects of diabetes. Echinacea has the potential to have value for some diabetics in warding off opportunistic infections, and in speeding recovery.

Reported side effects are rare, but do happen. If this herb is as powerful as it is believed to be, then it has equal potential for negative affects for some people, so use it cautiously until you know how your body will respond to it.

Written by Laura Wheeler, Owner of Firelight Business Enterprises, Inc.