In reference to taking anti viral herbs for taclkling things like the corona virus
The only time an herb can work directly on a virus is if that herb has direct contact with a virus. This is why research in a petri dish with a virus does not equate to it being antiviral in the body. Systemically, in the body a virus hides inside our own cells. There is rarely going to be direct contact with a virus unless it is on the external skin or mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, such as in a herpes infection that is flaring up and the herpes is at skin/mucous membrane level (where you see the sore). The rest of the time it is hiding in the nervous system and no antiviral herb can get at it. This is why viruses can not be killed similarly as bacteria. The way that herbs called antiviral herbs actually work in the body is through the immune system. This is why herbalists will usually identify these herbs as immunomodulators rather than antiviral herbs. They modify the immune system either through support, stimulation or even decreasing an over-active immune systems. Sometimes the same herb is known to both decrease and increase the immune system and is called an amphoteric herb, meaning it has two opposing possible activities. This is why these herbs are often called immunomodulating rather than immune stimulating. We are just beginning to understand from a scientific point of view how some of these immune system herbs are working. There are herbs known to be immune stimulating such as Echinacea that have caused some people with autoimmune diseases to get worse. However, I have also seen people with autoimmune disease use Echinacea and decrease the symptoms of their autoimmune disease. By the way, we don't fully understand autoimmune diseases either. The idea of what an autoimmune disease is and how it comes about is changing quickly and newer ideas make more sense than the older ideas still popular in mainstream medicine. Many people who end up with autoimmune diseases were reacting to toxins and/or had inflamed and leaky guts that started the process of them reacting to foods, herbs or an infectious condition that instigated an autoimmune condition. These people will often react to more and more things including themselves. Some of them will react to many herbs in a negative manner, not just immune system herbs. So, although I am weary of using Echinacea and other herbs considered to be stimulating to the immune system in someone with an autoimmune disease, I would not rule it out completely. Each situation needs to be evaluated on its own merit. I use elder flowers and rarely use elderberries, but I have not seen any autoimmune flare-ups with the berries or flowers. That does not mean people are not getting flare-ups, but I have not seen them. I do see many people on the internet warning of possible fare-ups and indeed any herb that acts on the immune system is an herb to be watched with someone who has an autoimmune condition. That does not mean it automatically is going to cause an issue. Also remember that using scientific data from research done outside of the body, or on individual constituents can also not be assumed to work the same as taking a whole herb and ingesting it. The most meaningful research is clinical research where individuals are given the whole herb and monitored for results in a double blind study. Other bits of research are useful and can point us in the direction of ideas, but can't be completely taken seriously.
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