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Already popular as a medicinal herb, the true potential of Echinacea
has yet to be fully explored by the medical industry. For many
centuries, indigenous Americans knew of the power of Echinacea for
treating and preventing a variety ailments and health
disorders.
Echinacea, also known as coneflower, is a wild
flower that grows naturally in meadows and moist low-lands
throughout the mid-west. While Echinacea is most commonly known for
it medicinal effects, it is also a common garden plant with
beautiful purple flowers.
Health Benefits of
Echinacea
There are three varieties of Echinacea:
Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea angustifolia.
All three varieties used to boost the immune system and fight
infections, but only the purpurea and pallida varieties have been
shown to be effective.
Echinacea is thought to serve as a
stimulant to the body’s immune system by activating white blood
cells, whereby making it more difficult for foreign bodies to infect
cells. Echinacea is one of the most popular herbal remedies for
respiratory infections. Echinacea's positive effects on the immune
system have also been studied extensively for cancer and AIDS
patients. Some researchers believe that stimulating immune function
actually may cause cancers and AIDS to progress faster, while others
find a disease-relieving effect from using Echinacea. Some evidence
from other clinical studies appears to indicate that Echinacea may
have antiviral and antifungal effects, possibly adding to its
infection fighting ability. Echinacea's use in all of these
conditions needs further study before it can be
recommended.
In some European countries, Echinacea is
available intravenously for add-on therapy in connection with of
some types of cancer. European doctors also use an injected form to
help relieve urinary tract infections. Neither intravenous nor
Echinacea injections are available in the United
States.
Topically, Echinacea has been used in connection with
eczema and psoriasis, severe ailments for many people. It has been
added to topical preparations for hemorrhoids and it is included in
other topical products used on insect bites. It may also protect
skin from damage due to sunlight.
Dosage and
Administration
Echinacea pallida is most often taken
orally. A common daily dosage is 900 milligrams taken as a tincture
in a 50% alcohol solution. A recommended daily dosage of Echinacea
purpurea leaf is 6 to 9 milliliters (approximately 1-1/2 to 1-3/4
teaspoonfuls) of expressed juice. When using a commercially prepared
Echinacea product, you need to follow the manufacturer's
instructions, as strengths may
vary.
Precautions
Because of
Echinacea's effects on the immune system, you should not take this
drug if you have multiple sclerosis, AIDS, tuberculosis, leukemia,
and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and
lupus.
Supporting
Literature
Leuttig B, Steinmuller C, Gifford
GE, et al. Macrophage activation by the polysaccharide
arabinogalactan isolated from plant cell cultures of Echinacea
purpurea. J Natl Cancer Inst 1989;81:669–675.
DM, Broumand N,
Sahl L, Tilles JG. 1997;35:229–35.
Ang-Lee M, Moss J, Yuan C.
Herbal medicines and perioperative care. JAMA.
2001;286(2):208-216.
Barrett B, Vohmann M, Calabrese C. Echinacea
for upper respiratory infection. J Fam Pract.
1999;48:628-635.
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