Echinacea
Pronounced: Ek-i-nay-see-a.
Echinacea is the herb many individuals use to prevent or treat the common cold, the flu, and other infections. Echinacea is believed to stimulate the immune system to help fight infections. Roots, stems, and leaves of echinacea are used in formulas to help build the immune system. Echinacea has also been used less commonly for skin problems and wounds such as acne or boils.
Studies are mixed on whether echinacea can effectively treat or prevent upper respiratory tract infections such as the common cold. Other studies have shown that echinacea may be beneficial in treating upper respiratory infections. An NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) funded study in the Annals of Internal Medicine concluded that echinacea had no effect on reducing the severity or length of the common cold.
The NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) is continuing to support the study of echinacea for the treatment of upper respiratory infections. NCCAM is also studying echinacea for its potential effects on the immune system.
Basic Information About Echinacea
The herb Echinacea purpurea is the most commonly used, and is believed to be the most potent.
Common names are:
Echinacea, purple coneflower, coneflower, American coneflower.
Some Echinacea Species are:
- 1. Echinacea angustifolia
- 2. Echinacea angustifolia var. angustifolia
- 3. Echinacea atrorubens
- 4. Echinacea angustifolia (mutant ray type)
- 5. Echinacea laevigata
- 6. Echinacea pallida
- 7. Echinacea paradoxa
- 8. Echinacea purpurea
- 9. Echinacea sanguinea
- 10. Echinacea simulata
- 11. Echinacea tennesseensis – has been removed from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants due to recovery – spring 2010.
Echinacea is available in teas, tinctures, tablets, capsules, squeezed (expressed) juice, extracts, or ointments for external use.
Side Effects and Cautions of Echinacea
- When echinacea is taken by mouth, it usually doesn’t cause side effects, although some people experience allergic reactions, including rashes, increased asthma, and a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
- In clinical trials, gastrointestinal side effects were most common.
- If you are allergic to related plants in the daisy family, which includes daisies, ragweed, marigolds, and chrysanthemums, you are more likely to experience allergic reactions to echinacea.
- People may be more likely to have an allergic reaction when taking echinacea if they have asthma or atopy (a genetic tendency toward allergic reactions).
- Echinacea can interfere with medications that treat allergies.
- Echinacea can interfere with medications that treat high cholesterol.
- Echinacea can interfere with medications that treat fungal infections.
- Echinacea can interfere with medications that treat certain cancers.
- Echinacea may interfere with birth control pills.
- Echinacea may interfere with immunosuppressant medications used after organ transplants.
- Echinacea should not be used if you have an autoimmune disease, such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, or lupus.