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Uses of Echinacea
By peace | April 18, 2007
Echinacea is believed to be a safe herb when used correctly. Studies indicate that the herb is safe for use by pregnant women and children. For adults, a number of preparations are available to be taken several times a day. For children, extracts which contain alcohol should be avoided. Some individuals may have allergic reactions to Echinacea including rash and anaphylaxis in extreme cases. People with asthma or weed allergies may want to avoid consuming Echinacea.
Picture of Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower, Eastern Purple Coneflower)
Some species of Echinacea, notably P. purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida, are grown as ornamental plants in gardens They tolerate a wide variety of conditions, maintain attractive foliage throughout the season, and multiply rapidly. Appropriate species are used in prairie restorations. Some species are used by domestic stock for forage; an abundance of these plants on rangeland purportedly indicates “good health”.
The entire Echinacea plant is used medicinally. The plant can be dried for use or pressed when fresh to extract juice. Echinacea is found in teas, ointments, pills, juice, as an extract, and combined with other herbs and fruits. Most commercially available Echinacea is a mixture of the three major species. Consumers should be aware that because holistic herbs have less regulation than conventional drugs, packages labeled as containing Echinacea may not in fact contain the plant.
Echinacea rhizome was used by North American Plains Indians, perhaps more than most other plants, for various herbal remedies. In the 1930s “Echinacea” became popular in both Europe and America as a herbal medicine. Echinacea has been popularly attributed with the ability to boost the body’s immune system and ward off infections, particularly the common cold. Depending on which species is used, herbal medicinals can be prepared from the above-ground parts and/or the root. It is not known which of echinacea’s many chemical components might be responsible for its touted health benefits, although all species possess compounds of a chemical class called phenols (as do most other plants). Cichoric and caftaric acids are phenols that are present in E. purpurea; echinacoside is a phenol found in higher levels within E. angustifolia and E. pallida roots. When making herbal remedies, these phenols can serve as markers to evaluate the quantity of echinacea in the product. Other constituents that may be important include alcamides and polysaccharides.
Picture of Echinacea angustifolia (Narrow-leaf Coneflower)
Proponents of Echinacea believe that doses of the herb can prevent colds or shorten the recovery time from a cold, especially when taken in combination with other herbs. If cold symptoms persist, professional medical attention should be sought, especially if the cold is accompanied by high fever, heavy coughing, or an increasing sense of exhaustion. Echinacea should not be used by people who have auto-immune disorders or degenerative nerve disease.
Echinacea pallida is widely scattered in the prairies and cedar glades of the eastern United States, with the highest concentrations in the Ozark and Ouachita mountain regions of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. This is one of the species of Echinacea that has been used in the medicinal prefession, along with E. angustifolia and E. purpurea; however it is the weakest of the three.
- Echinacea has traditionally been used to treat or prevent colds, flu, and other infections.
- Echinacea is believed to stimulate the immune system to help fight infections.
- Less commonly, echinacea has been used for wounds and skin problems, such as acne or boils.
What the Science Says
- Studies indicate that echinacea does not appear to prevent colds or other infections.
- Studies to date have not proven that echinacea shortens the course of colds or flu. For example, two NCCAM-funded studies did not find a benefit from echinacea, either as Echinacea purpurea fresh-pressed juice for treating colds in children, or as an unrefined mixture of Echinacea angustifolia root and Echinacea purpurea root and herb in adults.1,2 Other studies have shown that echinacea may be beneficial in treating upper respiratory infections.3
- NCCAM is continuing to support the study of echinacea for the treatment of upper respiratory infections.
Side Effects and Cautions
- When taken by mouth, echinacea usually does not cause side effects. However, some people experience allergic reactions, including rashes, increased asthma, and anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction). In clinical trials, gastrointestinal side effects were most common.
- People are more likely to experience allergic reactions to echinacea if they are allergic to related plants in the daisy family, which includes ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, and daisies. Also, people with asthma or atopy (a genetic tendency toward allergic reactions) may be more likely to have an allergic reaction when taking echinacea.
- It is important to inform your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including echinacea. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.
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