Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia)

Echinacea is an herb that is native to areas east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States. It is also grown in western States, as well as in Canada and Europe. Several species of the echinacea plant are used to make medicine from its leaves, flower, and root. Echinacea was used in traditional herbal remedies by the Great Plains Indian tribes. Later, settlers followed the Indians' example and began using echinacea for medicinal purposes as well. For a time, echinacea enjoyed official status as a result of being listed in the US National Formulary from 1916-1950. However, use of echinacea fell out of favor in the United States with the discovery of antibiotics. But now, people are becoming interested in echinacea again because some antibiotics don't work as well as they used to against certain bacteria.

Echinacea is widely used to fight infections, especially the common cold, the flu, and other upper respiratory infections. Some people take echinacea at the first sign of a cold, hoping they will be able to keep the cold from developing. Other people take echinacea after cold symptoms have started, hoping they can make symptoms less severe.

Echinacea is also used against many other infections including urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast infections, herpes, HIV/AIDS, human papilloma virus (HPV), bloodstream infections (septicemia), tonsillitis, streptococcus infections, syphilis, typhoid, malaria, ear infection, swine flu, warts, and nose and throat infections called diphtheria.

Other uses include anxiety, low white blood cell count, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), rheumatoid arthritis, migraines, acid indigestion, pain, dizziness, rattlesnake bites, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and improving exercise performance.

Sometimes people apply echinacea to their skin to treat boils, gum disease, abscesses, skin wounds, ulcers, burns, eczema, psoriasis, sun-related skin damage, herpes simplex, yeast infections, bee stings, snake and mosquito bites, and hemorrhoids.

Echinacea is also used as an injection to treat vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Commercially available echinacea products come in many forms including tablets, juice, and tea.

There are concerns about the quality of some echinacea products on the market. Echinacea products are frequently mislabeled, and some may not even contain echinacea, despite label claims. Don't be fooled by the term "standardized." It doesn't necessarily indicate accurate labeling. Also, some echinacea products have been contaminated with selenium, arsenic, and lead.

How does it work?

Echinacea seems to activate chemicals in the body that decrease inflammation, which might reduce cold and flu symptoms.

Laboratory research suggests that echinacea can stimulate the body's immune system, but there is no evidence that this occurs in people.

Echinacea also seems to contain some chemicals that can attack yeast and other kinds of fungi directly.

Common cold.
Anxiety.
Exercise performance.
Gingivitis.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV).
Human papilloma virus (HPV).
Influenza (flu).
Low white blood cell count (Leukopenia).
Middle ear infection.
Tonsillitis.
Eye inflammation (Uveitis).
Warts.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Yeast infections.
Bloodstream infections.
Strep infections.
Syphilis.
Typhoid.
Malaria.
Diphtheria.
Migraine headaches.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Eczema.
Hay fever or other allergies.
Bee stings.
Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Swine flu.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Indigestion.
Pain.
Dizziness.
Rattlesnake bites.

By Mouth:

For common cold treatment, an extract of Echinacea purpurea (Echinacin, Madaus AG, Cologne, Germany) 5 mL twice daily for 10 days has been used. An extract of Echinacea purpurea (EchinaGuard, Madaus AG, Cologne, Germany), 20 drops in water every 2 hours on the first day of cold symptoms, followed by three times daily for up to 10 days has also been used. An extract of the whole Echinacea purpurea plant (Echinilin, Inovobiologic Inc., Calgary, Alberta, Canada), 4 mL ten times on the first day of a cold, then four times daily for 6 days, or 5 mL eight times on the first day of cold symptoms, then three times daily for 6 days has been used. A tea different species of echinacea (Echinacea Plus, Traditional Medicinals, Sebastopol, CA) five or six times on the first day of cold symptoms, then reducing by 1 cup per day over the following 5 days has been used.

For common cold prevention, a specific echinacea extract (Echinaforce, A. Vogel Bioforce AG, Switzerland) 0.9 mL three times daily (total dose: 2400 mg daily) for 4 months, with an increase to 0.9 mL five times daily (total dose: 4000 mg daily) at the first sign of a cold, has been used.

Echinacea is SAFE for most people when taken by mouth in the short-term. Various liquid and solid forms of Echinacea have been used safely for up to 10 days. There are also some products, such as Echinaforce (A. Vogel Bioforce AG, Switzerland) that have been used safely for up to 6 months.

Applying echinacea to the skin can cause redness, itchiness, or a rash.

Echinacea is most likely to cause allergic reactions in children and adults who are allergic to ragweed, mums, marigolds, or daisies. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking echinacea.

Children: Echinacea is SAFE when taken by mouth in the short-term. It seems to be safe in most children ages 2-11 years. However, about 7% of these children may experience a rash that could be due to an allergic reaction. There is some concern that allergic reactions to echinacea could be more severe in some children. For this reason, some regulatory organizations have recommended against giving echinacea to children under 12 years of age.

Pregnancy: Echinacea is SAFE when taken by mouth in the short-term. There is some evidence that echinacea might be safe when taken during the first trimester of pregnancy without harming the fetus. But until this is confirmed by additional research, it is best to stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Breast feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking echinacea if you are breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

An inherited tendency toward allergies (atopy): People with this condition are more likely to develop an allergic reaction to echinacea. It's best to avoid exposure to echinacea if you have this condition.

"Auto-immune disorders" such as such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a skin disorder called pemphigus vulgaris, or others: Echinacea might have an effect on the immune system that could make these conditions worse. Don't take echinacea if you have an auto-immune disorder.