Overview

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 most commonly used for the common cold and other infections.

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.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Some experts warn that echinacea may interfere with the body's response against COVID-19. There is no strong data to support this warning. But there is also no good data to support using echinacea for COVID-19. Follow healthy lifestyle choices and proven prevention methods instead.

Classification

Is a Form of:

Herb

Primary Functions:

Common cold, other infections

Also Known As:

American Cone Flower, Black Sampson, Black Susans

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.

Uses

• Common cold.Taking echinacea by mouth while still healthy may help prevent colds. But the benefit is probably small. Taking echinacea after catching a cold doesn't seem to have much benefit.

Recommended Dosing

BY MOUTH:

• For the common cold: For PREVENTING the common cold, a specific echinacea extract (Echinaforce, A. Vogel Bioforce AG) 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 Supplements Frequently Asked Questions

Is it OK to take echinacea every day?

Echinacea is LIKELY 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.

What are the benefits of echinacea?

7 Benefits of Echinacea Tea

• It fights the flu.
• It helps to control blood sugar.
• Aids healthy cell growth.
• Reduces risk of breast cancer.
• Helps manage anxiety.
• Lowers blood pressure.
• Reduces inflammation.
• Forms and dosages.

Who should not take echinacea?

Do not take echinacea if you have any of the following conditions: an autoimmune disorder (such as lupus) multiple sclerosis. human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

What is echinacea supplement?

Echinacea is used as a dietary supplement for the common cold and other infections, based on the idea that it might stimulate the immune system to more effectively fight infection. Echinacea preparations have been used topically (applied to the skin) for wounds and skin problems.

Does Echinacea kill viruses?

Research into echinacea

Some laboratory research says echinacea can boost different types of immune cells. It also says that it can decrease inflammation and kill bacteria and viruses.

Does Echinacea actually work?

Extracts of echinacea do seem to have an effect on the immune system, your body's defense against germs. Research shows it increases the number of white blood cells, which fight infections. A review of more than a dozen studies, published in 2014, found the herbal remedy had a very slight benefit in preventing colds.

Is Echinacea bad for your liver?

Using echinacea for longer than 8 weeks at a time might damage your liver or suppress your immune system. Herbalists recommend not to take echinacea if you are taking medicines known to affect your liver. There is also a rare chance of a serious allergic reaction to echinacea.

Does Echinacea have side effects?

Echinacea can cause minor side effects. These can include an upset stomach, nausea, and dizziness. Serious side effects include allergic reactions such as rash, swelling, and difficulty breathing. It can also worsen asthma symptoms.

Is Echinacea a good antibiotic?

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 most commonly used for the common cold and other infections.

Does Echinacea boost immune system?

Extracts of echinacea do seem to have an effect on the immune system, your body's defense against germs. Research shows it increases the number of white blood cells, which fight infections. A review of more than a dozen studies, published in 2014, found the herbal remedy had a very slight benefit in preventing colds.

Is echinacea good for anxiety?

However, a new study from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences on a unique strain of echinacea has proven that it can also treat anxiety. The Narrow-leaved Coneflower Root (Echinacea angustifoliae radix) can reduce anxiety and tension and restore healthy brain chemistry with no side effects.

Does echinacea work for flu?

Not only that, but it could also help treat symptoms of the flu. In one study in 473 people with the flu, drinking an echinacea-based beverage was as effective as an antiviral medication at treating symptoms.

Why is Echinacea bad for you?

Echinacea can cause minor side effects. These can include an upset stomach, nausea, and dizziness. Serious side effects include allergic reactions such as rash, swelling, and difficulty breathing. It can also worsen asthma symptoms.

Is Echinacea safe long term?

For most people, short-term oral (by mouth) use of echinacea is probably safe; the safety of long-term use is uncertain. The most common side effects of echinacea are digestive tract symptoms, such as nausea or stomach pain. Some people have allergic reactions to echinacea, which may be severe.

Does Echinacea make you poop?

Dec. 20, 2006 - The popular herb echinacea has a side effect: It changes the balance of gut bacteria, a small study shows. One of the bacteria that seem to increase, bacteroides, has been linked in other studies to diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, and coloncancer, researchers report.

Is Echinacea worth taking?

Recent research suggests that some echinacea supplements may shorten the duration of a cold by about half a day and may slightly reduce symptom severity. But these results were too minor to be deemed significant. In the past, some studies have found echinacea to be helpful while other studies have found no benefit.

Is Echinacea an antiviral?

Taxonomy of Echinacea species. Early reports of antiviral activity of Echinacea [18] indicated that several different methanol and aqueous extracts derived from E. purpurea could partially protect cultured cells from infection by influenza A virus, herpes simplex virus type 1, or vesicular stomatitis, viruses.

Is Echinacea bad for your kidneys?

Avoid herbal medicines if you have kidney disease as they can raise blood pressure. Others, such as echinacea (used as a cold and flu remedy), can directly affect kidney function, so you should get advice from your doctor or pharmacist before using them.

Clinical Studies

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• ^ Matthias A, et al. Echinacea alkamide disposition and pharmacokinetics in humans after tablet ingestion. Life Sci. (2005)
• ^ Goey AK, et al. The bioanalysis of the major Echinacea purpurea constituents dodeca-2E,4E,8Z,10E/Z-tetraenoic acid isobutylamides in human plasma using LC-MS/MS. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. (2012)
• ^ a b c Gorski JC, et al. The effect of echinacea (Echinacea purpurea root) on cytochrome P450 activity in vivo. Clin Pharmacol Ther. (2004)
• ^ a b Gurley BJ, et al. In vivo assessment of botanical supplementation on human cytochrome P450 phenotypes: Citrus aurantium, Echinacea purpurea, milk thistle, and saw palmetto. Clin Pharmacol Ther. (2004)
• ^ Gurley BJ, et al. Clinical assessment of CYP2D6-mediated herb-drug interactions in humans: effects of milk thistle, black cohosh, goldenseal, kava kava, St. John's wort, and Echinacea. Mol Nutr Food Res. (2008)
• ^ a b Moltó J, et al. Herb-drug interaction between Echinacea purpurea and darunavir-ritonavir in HIV-infected patients. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. (2011)
• ^ Penzak SR, et al. Echinacea purpurea significantly induces cytochrome P450 3A activity but does not alter lopinavir-ritonavir exposure in healthy subjects. Pharmacotherapy. (2010)
• ^ Abdul MI, et al. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions of echinacea and policosanol with warfarin in healthy subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol. (2010)
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• ^ Qiang Z, et al. Echinacea sanguinea and Echinacea pallida Extracts Stimulate Glucuronidation and Basolateral Transfer of Bauer Alkamides 8 and 10 and Ketone 24 and Inhibit P-glycoprotein Transporter in Caco-2 Cells. Planta Med. (2013)
• ^ Woelkart K, et al. The endocannabinoid system as a target for alkamides from Echinacea angustifolia roots. Planta Med. (2005)
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