can you use echinacea, vitamin C etc. when you are sick?
 

Before the diagnosis, if I got sick (like I am now with a fever and sore throat) I would take things like Vitamin C, Zinc lozenges, and sometimes echinacea and other stuff. Can you do that with MS? Or are you not supposed to take immune boosting things to help you get over illness -- because aren't our immune systems already in overdrive? So just wait it out? (sleep, eat healthy etc.) I'm confused.

Who should not take echinacea?

Echinacea is not recommended for use by people with multiple sclerosis, white blood cell disorders, collagen disorders, HIV/AIDS, autoimmune disorders, or tuberculosis.
Before taking echinacea, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have allergies (especially to plants), have any medical condition, or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements. Echinacea may not be recommended in some situations.


http://www.drugs.com/mtm/echinacea.html

But zinc is fine according to my neuro to take when you first feel like you are coming down with a cold He said to just not take it all the time, just when you are treating an oncoming cold.

Technically you're not supposed to because of the theoretical risk. I laughed when I saw an MS broadcast several months ago. In the transcript, the doc went to great lengths to state and restate that it was not possible to boost the immune system - otherwise everyone with HIV/AIDS could just take supplements. He advised not taking them because of the fact that they were useless.

That being said, I don't think they're useless...;) I don't take purported immune boosters on a regular basis, but when I get sick, I do load up on Airborne (mostly vitamin C) and I'll drink Echinacea tea. I figure it's a washout - being sick can cause exacerbations so if these purported immune boosters can knock it down sooner, the excess WBCs are in my system a shorter time, then go away and I'm sick for less time (or not all) instead of producing excess WBCs on my own for an extended period of time.

Now I have to admit, that is my very own silly unscientific theory, but it's why I don't have a problem taking things that might boost my immune system when I'm sick.

Some docs will advise against any supplemental antioxidants because of the theoretical risk for boosting the immune system. I take CoQ10, Vit D, and several other antioxidants because I think the known benefit outweighs the theoretical risk.

No on the echinacea anymore!!

Vitamin C is ok, when you need it. For instance, my DH came home yesterday with a 104 temp. My last relapse in Feb was due to my having a 103 temp. So, I started Vit C yesterday, in order to help ward off any sickness. I have always had a pretty good immune system (HA - now I know why, it is in overdrive) while dh has a low thresh hold to getting sick.