Echinacea

Eichnacea Purpurea - Purple Coneflower

Background/History

Echinacea originates from North America, with first evidence of it dating back to the 18th century It is a special species of the Asteraceae family Information from traditional healers about its use ranges from external application for wounds and burns, to the chewing of roots for toothache and throat infections and internal application for pain, coughs, and stomach cramps The first Echinacea preparation, known as Meyers Blood Purifier, arrived on the market around 1880, with rheumatism, neuralgia, and rattlsnake bites as indications

Common Uses

The extracts of Echinacea exhibit immunostimulant properties and are used mainly in the prevention and therapy of cold and flu symptoms

Pharmacology/Mechanism of Action

Alkamides and polysaccharides have been considered important constituents of the plant Alkamides are involved in the immunomodulatory properties while polysaccharides play a role in the anti-inflammatory effect The immunostimulant activity of the plant is caused by 3 mechanisms: phagocytosis activation, fibroblast activation, and the enhancement of respiratory activity that results in augmentation of leukocyte mobility

Available Forms

Three species of echinacea are commonly used for medical purposes: Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea purpurea Echinacea is available in extracts, tinctures, tablets, capsules, and ointments It's also available in combination with other immuneboosting herbs, vitamins, and minerals

Dosing

There are currently no official dosage recommendations for echinacea Echinacea products are highly variable, making it hard to set a standard recommended dosage Research has found the following doses to be effective in aiding immunity: dry powdered extract - 300-500 mg of Echinacea purpurea, three times daily and liquid extract tinctures2 5 mL, three times daily

Effectiveness/Personal Opinion

Some studies have observed that echinacea could be useful in preventing, as well as treating the common cold, but more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness There's not enough evidence to show whether it is helpful for other health conditions Personally, I would not take this for treating a common cold, as I believe there a better options with more evidence of effectiveness for treating a cold (A Carnahan)

Safety/Warnings

For most adults, short-term oral use of echincea is safe; the safety of long-term use is uncertain Some people have allergic reactions to echinacea, which may be severe

Side Effects/Toxic Effects

It is generally considered safe when used as directed, however there are a few side effects associated with it. Potential side effects include, stomach pain, nausea, rash, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the skin. It can be safely used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, however it should be used with more caution. In terms of the toxic effects, in multiple controlled trials, echinacea by itself has not been linked to hepatoxicity (liver injury).

Interactions

Current evidence indicates that the risk of interactions between echinacea supplements and most medications is low

Summary of Study

A study looked at the effects of echinacea on cytochrome P450 (enzyme) activity in vivo It was found that echinacea reduced the oral clearance of substrates of CYP1A2 but not the oral clearance of substrates of CYP2C9 and CYP2D6 So, caution should be used when echinacea is coadministered with drugs dependent on CYP1A2 for their elimination