By Nutri People
The efficacy of pelargonium in the management of acute respiratory infections is well established but, until now, its mode of action was not well understood. However, results from a recent clinical trial in athletes suggest that immune modulation may be an important part of pelargonium’s infection-fighting activity.
The double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 25 volunteer male marathon runners, who each received a dose of pelargonium three times a days or a dummy supplement, for 28 days. All the participants maintained their routine levels of physical activity pre- and post-training. They then took part in a high-intensity running session. Fasting blood, saliva and nasal cell samples were collected in the morning before the herbal treatment was started (baseline) and 48 hours after the high intensity run.
Compared to a baseline, the athletes taking the pelargonium had significantly increased salivary levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) – an antibody known to have an important defensive role against invading microorganisms. The pelargonium group also had reduced levels of certain inflammatory chemicals, suggesting that pelargonium may also play a role in modulating allergic/inflammatory responses and the activation of immune cells.
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