Your immune system is your first defense when it comes to viral infections and harmful environmental compounds. A strong immune system means your white blood cells are functioning optimally to seek out and destroy disease-causing organisms or substances.

White blood cells, or leukocytes, love Zinc, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5). These, combined with herbal extracts and adaptogens make this supplement an immunity powerhouse .

Now more than ever we have to make sure our body's immune system is functioning at full capacity. But it can be hard trying to figure out exactly how much of each nutrient you're getting from your diet and whether or not you're even absorbing them properly.

This supplement is formulated with optimal leukocyte function in mind and a strong focus on immune health and integrity.

Vitamin C is well known for its ability to support immune response. Vitamin C concentrations decline rapidly in the body during periods of stress. Dietary intake is therefore crucial during immune challenges. (3)

Vitamin A helps support mucous membranes. When vitamin A is lacking, mucus-producing cells are replaced by keratin producing cells, and the membranes become tough and more vulnerable to organisms. Vitamin A is a critical immune supporting nutrient. Vitamin A also supports the immune system by stimulating white blood cell function and increasing antibody response. (4)

Zinc supports immune functions such as natural killer cell activity and phagocytosis. Furthermore, studies show that zinc can directly support the body during immune system challenges and can help support healthy respiratory function. (1, 2)

Pantothenic acid is essential for the production of energy from carbohydrates, fats and protein. Maintaining optimal pantothenic acid levels is crucial for supporting immune system energy, thymic function and healthy white blood cell levels. (6, 7)

Black elderberry (Sambucas nigra) has a long history of traditional use among herbalists for its immune boosting properties. It has been shown to enhance immune cell killing potential by supporting healthy cytokine production, the cellular pathways used to eliminate foreign invaders. (10)

Astragalus root has been traditionally used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine practices to strengthen the immune system. Research has demonstrated the immune-regulating effects of astragalus which include boosting T-dependent antigens, and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and macrophage activity. (11, 12)

Echinacea Echinacea has been used for centuries in Native American medicine. Current research has supported echinacea’s clinical applications. Echinacea activates multiple aspects of immune function including enhancing leukocyte and granulocyte counts, activating neutrophils, monocytes, and eosinophils and solubilizing immune complexes. (14, 15, 16, 17)

Andrographis leaf has been used in Asian medicine for centuries. A study found that andrographolide administration significantly improved lymphocyte count in patients which immune challenges. (18) It has also been reported to provide strong antioxidant support due to its ability to activate highly protective antioxidant reactions. (19)

It's always recommended to consult your healthcare provider for individual dosing instructions, because your provider knows your unique history and presentation. Please reach out to us if you have questions!

For health, immune support and prevention:

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REFERENCES

1. Dardenne M, Pleau J, Nabarra B, et al. Contribution of zinc and other metals to the biological activity of the serum thymic factor. Proc Natl Acad Sci 1982;5370-3.

2. PDR Health: Zinc. www.pdrhealth.com.

3. Wintergerst ES, Maggini S, Hornig DH. Immune enhancing role of vitamin C and zinc and effect on clinical conditions. Ann Nutr Metab 2006;50(2):85-94.

4. Vitamin A. Integrative Medicine: Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000.

5. Zhao W, Zhai F, Zhang D, et al. Lysine-fortified wheat flour improves the nutritional and immunological status of wheat-eating families in northern China. Food Nutr Bull Jun 2004;25(2):123-129.

6. Melampy RM, Cheng DW, Northrop LC. Effect of pantothenic acid deficiency upon adrenal cortex, thymus, spleen, and circulating lymphocytes in mice. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1951;76:24-27.

7. Mahboob S. Thymic weight in pantothenic acid deficiency. Nutr Metab 1976;20:272-277.

8. The American Botanical Council. The ABC Clinical Guide to Elder Berry. 2004; http://abc.herbalgram.org/site/ DocServer/Elderberry-scr.pdf?docID=165.

9. Monograph. Sambucus nigra (elderberry). Altern Med Rev Mar 2005;10(1):51-54.

10. Barak V, Birkenfeld S, Halperin T, Kalickman I. The effect of herbal remedies on the production of human inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Isr Med Assoc J 2002;4(11 Suppl):919-22.

11. Tan BK, Vanitha J. Immunomodulatory and antimicrobial effects of some traditional chinese medicinal herbs: a review. Curr Med Chem 2004;11(11):1423-1430.

12. Kemper K, Small R. Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous).1999. http://www.longwoodherbal. org/ .

13. Sinclair S. Chinese herbs: a clinical review of Astragalus, Ligusticum, and Schizandrae. Altern Med Rev 1998;3(5):338- 344.

14. Berrett B. Medicinal properties of Echinacea: a critical review. Phytomedicine 2003;10:66-896.

15. Percival SS. Use of Echinacea in medicine. Biochem Pharmacol 2000;60:155-158.

16. Pizzorno JE, Murray MT. Textbook of Natural Medicine. (2013) St. Louis, MO: Churchill Livingstone.

17. Cáceres DD, Hancke JL, Burgos RA, et al. Use of visual analogue scale measurements (VAS) to assess the effectiveness of standardized Andrographis paniculata extract SHA-10 in reducing the symptoms of common cold. Phytomedicine 1999;6:217-223.

18. Calabrese C, Berman SH, Babish, SH, Babish JG, et al. A phase I trial of andrographolide in HIV positive patients and normal volunteers. Phytother Res 2000; 14:333-338.

19. Verma N, Vinayak M. Antioxidant action of Andrographis paniculata on lymphoma. Mol Biol Rep 2008; 35:535-540

The information on this site is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of our healthcare providers and the functional medicine community. We strongly encourage you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

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