Echinacea

Echinacea is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family. It has ten species, which are commonly called coneflowers. They are found only in eastern and central North America, where they grow in moist to dry prairies and open wooded areas.

Scientific name: Echinacea

Higher classification: Heliantheae

Order: Asterales

Rank: Genus

Displayed higher classification: Daisy family

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.

Studies on Echinacea extracts have shown that some of them, but not all, possess multiple beneficial actions in the treatment of viral respiratory infections:

Echinacea is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family and a common ingredient in

cold remedies.

Promoters of Echinacea believe that the supplement boosts the immune system and can reduce symptoms of infections and other illnesses, including the common cold.

Echinacea is the name of a group of flowering plants that are native to North America.

These plants are also called coneflowers. The petals may be pink or purple, depending on the species, and they surround a seed head, or cone, that is spiky and dark brown or red.

There are nine commonly recognized types of Echinacea, three of which are ingredients

in herbal remedies:

• E. angustifolia, which has narrow petals

• E. pallida, which has pale petals

• E. purpurea, which has purple petals

It is possible that the various species may have different health benefits.

Echinacea plays a role in traditional medicine, but researchers have yet to confirm that it has any health benefits.

Potential benefits

Echinacea plants contain a complex mix of active substances. Some of these

compounds may have antimicrobial and antiviral properties, while others may support the immune system in other ways.

Like many other plants, all types of Echinacea contain phenols. Phenols control the activity of a range of enzymes and cell receptors.

They protect the plants from infections and ultraviolet radiation damage, and they may have beneficial antioxidant properties.

May offer several health benefits

• High in antioxidant

• Positive effect on the immune system

• May lower blood sugar levels

• Anti-inflammatory properties

• May help treat skin concerns

• May offer protection against cancer

Uses

Today, people around the world use products that contain Echinacea to support the treatment of a range of illnesses, including:

• coughs and colds

• bronchitis

• upper respiratory infections

• gingivitis

• influenza

• canker sores

• yeast infections

• ear infections

• vaginitis

• some inflammatory conditions

• HIV

• AIDS

Also, some people use Echinacea to help heal wounds. However, most evidence for these uses is anecdotal. Few scientific findings support the use of Echinacea in any treatment.

Forms

People can find Echinacea:

• fresh or dried, sometimes in teas

• as a dietary supplement, in pills

• as a preparation to apply to the skin

• squeezed, as juice

• as an extract, in capsules

Side effects

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) note that taking Echinacea by mouth for a short time is probably safe, but the effects of long-term use are unclear.

Some people have developed a rash after using it, which may result from an allergic reaction. This is more likely to happen in a person with a history of allergic reactions.

The NIH also note that the risk of other medications interacting with Echinacea is probably low.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do not regulate herbal remedies. As a result, people cannot be sure exactly what they are taking in a herbal remedy. The product might not contain what the label states.

People have made various claims about Echinacea combating infections, including the one that causes the common cold.

Echinacea for colds

Some studies have shown that taking Echinacea might help fight off a cold.

For example, in one review of over a dozen studies, scientists concluded that

taking Echinacea could reduce the risk of catching a cold by around 58% and shorten the duration of a cold by 1.4 days.

Another study, however, found that Echinacea had no significant impact on the common cold and only reduced the duration of symptoms by half a day, at most.

In 2014, a Cochrane review concluded that “Echinacea products have not here been shown to provide benefits for treating colds.”

Echinacea and COVID-19

Researchers have yet to prove that Echinacea can reduce the impact of a cold, and there is very little evidence that it can help with other illnesses.

In 2011, the authors of a review found that some extracts of Echinacea may help treat viral respiratory infections. However, they point out that the lack of standardization among Echinacea products may keep people from finding effective remedies.

Meanwhile, a study from 2020 indicates that a commercial product

containing Echinacea extract could help prevent severe respiratory diseases caused by coronaviruses.

However, other scientists warn that this limited investigation did not look into the effect of the product on the virus that causes coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19).

Moreover, the researchers had only tested the product on cell lines and virus particles, not people. The study has also not been peer-reviewed, and it does not, by any means, show that Echinacea can help cure COVID-19.

The scientists who issued the warning also caution that the product could be dangerous to people with autoimmune conditions.

There is no evidence that Echinacea or any other ingredient in herbal medicine can prevent or cure severe respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.

Dosage recommendations

There is currently no official dosage recommendation for echinacea. One reason being that findings from echinacea research are highly variable. In addition, echinacea products often may not contain what is written on the label. One study found that 10% of echinacea products samples did not contain any echinacea. This is why you should purchase echinacea products from trusted brands.

That said, research has found the following doses to be effective in aiding immunity.

Dry powdered extract: 300–500 mg of Echinacea purpurea, three times daily.

Liquid extract tinctures: 2.5 ml, three times daily, or up to 10 ml daily.

However, it’s best to follow the instructions that come with your specific supplement.

These recommendations are for short-term use, as echinacea’s long-term effects on the body are still relatively unknown.

Echinacea products are highly variable, which makes it hard to set a standard

recommended dosage. The dosages vary with the form of echinacea you’re using.

Echinacea has been shown to improve immunity, blood sugar, anxiety,

inflammation and skin health. It may even have anti-cancer properties.

However, human-based research is often limited.

It’s considered safe and well tolerated for short-term use.

Suggested dosages vary depending on the form of echinacea you’re using.

Although it’s commonly used to treat the common cold, results in this area are

mixed. While research has shown it may help prevent colds, shorten their

duration or provide symptomatic relief, many studies have been poorly

designed or shown no real benefit.

That said, there aren’t many products like echinacea with similar potential

immune-boosting effects, so it might be worth trying it out.

Sources

www.webmd.com

www.healthline.com

Wikipedia