What is Echinacea?
Echinacea (scientific names Echinacea purpurea, angustifolia or pallida) is native to the US. It is known by gardeners as the purple coneflower. The wild plant Echinacea angustifolia is currently on the endangered species list, so make sure that you are only using cultivated Echinacea and not the gathered herb.
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Key actions
Anti-bacterial
Regulates, strengthens and stimulates the immune system
Breaks up mucous that accumulates during upper respiratory infections
Heals wounds
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-allergenic
Antibiotic
Detoxifying
What does Echinacea do?
Echinacea is typically used for colds and influenza. It is also used to help heal skin abrasions and fungal infections. It has not been scientifically proven that Echinacea actually prevents colds and flu, however it might shorten the duration and frequency.
Echinacea can be taken orally to treat mild infections or topically on the skin, in the mouth and inside the mucosal membranes of the genital tract.
How does it work?
Echinacea stimulates the immune system in general. It boosts the activity of all white blood cells and fights bacterial, viral and/or fungal infections. Vaccines, like the flu vaccine, only eradicate specific bacteria or viruses, while antibiotics kill off specific bacteria only. Echinacea also stimulates macrophages that destroy disease-causing organisms and cancer cells.
Indications
Allergies
Use Echinacea to treat respiratory problems, asthma and hay fever.
Colds and Influenza
As one of the most effective immune stimulants in the herbal kingdom, Echinacea fights both viral and bacterial infections. It is best used during the onset of illness. Use an Echinacea gargle to treat throat infections.
HIV/Aids
Echinacea's immune-stimulating powers have attracted the interest of HIV/Aids researchers. But, other researchers warn that continuous use of the herb might actually overstimulate and then suppress the immune system.
Post-viral fatigue syndrome
Because Echinacea stimulates the immune system, it is particularly helpful for treating chronic infections, such as post-viral fatigue syndrome (ME).
Urinary tract infections
Studies have found that Echinacea purpurea may effectively treat some urinary tract infections and wounds. Especially when taken with other antiseptic herbs, such as buchu. Echinacea has also been used to treat kidney infections.
It also treats:
Bronchitis, tonsillitis, middle ear infection, sinusitis and laryngitis. It helps heal skin conditions including, boils, septic wounds and most other skin abrasions. Echinacea in tincture form can also be used to slow down the growth rate of Trichomonas vaginalis, a common cause of vaginal infections. The herb has also proved to be useful in the elimination of Candida albicans that causes yeast infection or thrush.
Dosage
Before taking Echinacea, it is important to note that the herb is most effective when taken at the onset of infection. But if you already have a full-blown cold or flu, it will speed up healing and reduce the symptoms.
If you feel a cold or flu coming on, take three to four millilitres of Echinacea in a liquid form or a 300mg tablet every two hours for the first day of the illness. From then on take it three times a day for a total of seven to 10 days.
Echinacea capsules contain the powdered root of the herb. If you feel a cold coming on, take a 500 mg capsule three times a day.
For throat infections, gargle with 50ml Echinacea tincture three times a day.
Take Echinacea tablets as immune stimulants while the infection persists.
Twenty to thirty Echinacea drops can be taken in a little water three to six times a day.
For chronic infections, take half a teaspoon of the tincture (made from the root), three times a day.
A tea made from one to two grams of the dried Echinacea root can be taken three to six times a day during infection.
What other herbs and supplements can I use with Echinacea?
Other anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory herbs such as garlic, golden seal, astragalus, camomile, sweet orange, yarrow and cranberry, all support the action of Echinacea. Take a daily antioxidant to boost the immune system.
Can children take Echinacea?
Reserve antibiotics only for really serious childhood infections. Echinacea can be used by children. Children under the age of ten should take half the adult dosage and children under four, a quarter of the adult dosage.
Possible side effects
Intestinal upset and diarrhoea. Possible skin rash is used topically. With habitual use, it may suppress your immune system. High doses of the herb may cause nausea and dizziness.
Echinacea is a relatively safe herb and there have been no reports of adverse side effects and reactions from taking the herb orally. Medical experts do however warn against the use of Echinacea injections (not available in SA). There is also no known toxicity.
Are there any potentially dangerous herb-drug interactions?
There are no known interactions between Echinacea and other medications, so it is safe to use Echinacea with other herbal medicines and other medication. But pregnant women and people with serious ailments should consult their doctor before using any herbal medicine.
Although there have been no conclusive studies to prove it, women who are on the contraceptive pill should rather be safe than sorry and should avoid using Echinacea.
Cautions
Echinacea must not be taken as a daily supplement.
Do not take Echinacea for more than six to eight weeks at a time, as it can be toxic to your liver.
Habitual use of the herb, may overstimulate and then suppress your immune system. New studies have found that long-term use of Echinacea may suppress T cells – white blood cells that fight infection.
People with HIV who are on Aids drugs should not take Echinacea.
The effect of Echinacea on the immune system seems to become less pronounced over time. People with HIV, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, leukaemia and autoimmune diseases should consult their doctors or a specialist first before using Echinacea.
Echinacea is not a substitute for medical therapies when treating serious infections or rapidly deteriorating diseases.
Do not take Echinacea if you are allergic to any plant from the daisy family (including ragweed, camomile and chrysanthemum).
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