Efficacy and mode of action of an immunomodulator herbal preparation containing Echinacea, wild indigo, and white cedar

Using the example of an allopathic herbal combined preparation containing E chinacea root, wild indigo root, and white cedar leaf tips (Echinaceae radi x + Baptisiae tinctoriae radix Thujae occidentalis herba = Esberitox(R) N), the efficacy and mode of action of a phytoimmunomodulator, or immune syste m enhancer, is described. Efficacy of the immunomodulator has been demonstr ated in studies of acute viral respiratory tract infections and infections requiring antibiotic therapy. In a recent study compliant to GCP, the thera peutic superiority of the herbal immunomodulator over placebo was confirmed as statistically significant and clinically relevant. The present overview describes a model of the antigen-independent mode of action of phytoimmuno modulation ("immunobalancing").