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Sonia Dockery
I have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, but through diet changes have gotten my antibodies to acceptable levels for about a year now. However, I have been told that I can <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>never</span> take elderberry, dandelion, echinacea, and several other herbs. Is this true or is there any flexibility with this?  Thank you.
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Shirley Burns
Following : I have Hashimoto’s as well and I had never heard/read anything about not using specific herbs. I use all of the herbs you listed when needed…
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Thanks Shirley. My naturopath basically said because of their immune stimulating actions that I should avoid them, but I’m not sure if she is being overly cautious of these herbs. I’ve heard many herbalists say that elderberry and dandelion and such are fine to use in my situation. Just trying to figure this out so I know for certain whether or not to avoid use.
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Dr. Patrick Jones
It is true that some (but not all) immune-stimulating herbs can aggravate autoimmune issues like Hashimoto’s, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis etc…
That said, such herbs are only meant to be used short term to fight infections. I think that every action we take should be assessed with a cost/benefit analysis. It’s true that taking Echinacea to fight off a virus may aggravate one’s autoimmune inflammation while you’re doing so, but what is the benefit and what is the cost of not using it?
I feel that a couple of days of increased autoimmune-generated irritation is a small price to pay to avoid getting the flu or something. I certainly wouldn’t recommend long-term use of immune stimulating herbs to a person with autoimmune disease. But I also wouldn’t recommend it for someone that didn’t have autoimmune disease.
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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