Gaia Herbs Echinacea Goldenseal Propolis Throat Spray
Every day I bring you an item on Amazon that I personally use or has been purchased by many members of the audience and I have researched enough to recommend.
Today’s TSP Amazon Item of the day is Gaia Herbs Echinacea Goldenseal Propolis Throat Spray. I just used this product for the past week and I am more than a little impressed.
This spray is made of three main ingredients and all are immune boosting power houses. Of course due to the dot gov I have to say the following. First I am not a Doctor, I don’t even pretend to be one on TV, like say Dr. Oz does. So anything I say in this review or at any time is only my personal opinion, not a prescription for the use of any products. Any claims about what they do are based on credible sources with citations of said sources. The claims are not my own.
DON’T YOU JUST LOVE THE GOVERNMENT’S CONCERN FOR YOU?
Anyway here are the three ingredients…
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- Echinacea – Has been shown in some studies to boost immune response, reduce the occurrence of the common cold and increase white blood cell count. Source – The Lancet
1 - Goldenseal – Has been shown to have a number of immune enhancing effects in clinical studies. However, in relation to this product the most important component is likely that goldenseal contains, “phytochemical alkaloids that produce a powerful astringent effect on mucous membranes, reduce disease-causing inflammation and have antiseptic effects.” Source – DrAxe.com
7 - Propolis – Propolis does has proven antibiotic and antiseptic properties and may also have antiviral and anti-inflammatory – Source DrWeil.com
- Echinacea – Has been shown in some studies to boost immune response, reduce the occurrence of the common cold and increase white blood cell count. Source – The Lancet
I personally feel this product is best used as a preventative or at the very first signs of a head cold, throat problems etc. My personal results were quite good, but my use was delayed far more than it should have been. I had been dealing with symptoms for about four days before beginning using it, laryngitis as you know if you listen to the show had set in pretty hard, I was having trouble sleeping due to sinus drainage etc.
I had used a spray in the past that was mostly just echinacea which had worked well but I realized I was out of it and that it is no longer made. So I found this option gave it a shot. Echinacea is well known in the herbal world as an immune booster, as is goldenseal. Both are used often by herbalists and are well thought of.
What I really loved though was the addition of propolis, propolis is basically “bee glue”. Bees make propolis to seal up any unwanted holes in their hives. This is one reason it is an anti viral and anti biotic, it is simply evolution that bees came up with this as it helps protect their hives.
Here is what even WebMD has to say about propolis…
Propolis has a long history of medicinal use, dating back to 350 B.C., the time of Aristotle. Greeks have used propolis for abscesses; Assyrians have used it for healing wounds and tumors; and Egyptians have used it for mummification….
Propolis is used for canker sores and infections caused by bacteria (including tuberculosis), by viruses (including flu, H1N1 “swine” flu, and the common cold), by fungus, and by single-celled organisms called protozoans. Propolis is also used for cancer of the nose and throat; for boosting the immune system; and for treating gastrointestinal (GI) problems including Helicobacter pylori infection in peptic ulcer disease. Propolis is also used as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.
In short if it is good enough for Aristotle I figure it is good enough for me. Anyway my results again were quite good, I got my voice back sooner than expected. The bottle advises three sprays to the back of the throat each hour when you have a cold or throat problems, that is what I did.
I tend to deal with a lot of cold issues this time of year, the combination of the changing seasons, travel, large events, etc. seems to be a common theme in such things. I plan to use this 2-3 times a day while well though this season this year and see how it works.
It seems like a natural preparedness item as it will store well and is made of three well known immune supporting components. What about the taste though? Well let me relate a story, one time I cam in from working though I had not worked that hard. I told the wife I think I need a shower and she said as follows, “well you don’t smell bad, but you don’t smell good either”. That is a perfect description of the taste, “the taste isn’t bad, but it ain’t good either”. It does have a bit of heat to it, so that might make it harder to get kids to use. It goes away fast though.
The burn is likely because this product is a herbal tincture meaning it is a concentrated herbal formula using alcohol, about 60% alcohol in this instance balanced by water. The amount in a few sprays is insignificant in alcohol’s effects on the body but I did want to let you know that it has alcohol in it since some of you refrain from any and all uses of said same.
Anyway Gaia Herbs Echinacea Goldenseal Propolis Throat Spray has found a home in my herbal tool kit and my winter regime. Consider adding it to your home this year. I think this one is going to be on par with Dr. Christopher’s Tissue and Bone for happy stories from the audience. Yes it seems to be that good.
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Jack, I managed a health food store for 15 years, and we sold a lot of Gaia products. Goldenseal is great stuff. I know the owner of the store used one of Gaia’s throat sprays with propolis, it may have been this one. I am so glad I found you (thank Marjorie Wildcraft). I love the synchronicity when you talk about something I’m already doing, using, thinking or appreciating, and how much you have added to the mix.