What is Echinacea purpurea used for?
Today, echinacea products are primarily promoted as a dietary supplement for the common cold and other respiratory tract infections, based on the idea that certain species of echinacea may stimulate the immune system. Several laboratory and animal studies suggest that echinacea contains active substances that boost immune function, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and have hormonal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects.Research supports the potential benefits of echinacea for immune health, such as preventing the common cold. In healthy individuals, it’s generally safe to take and has a low risk of side effects. However, more research is needed to establish whether echinacea can improve anxiety or skin health.A 2022 article notes that echinacea has an antibacterial effect on respiratory bacteria. Studies also suggest that echinacea may possess antiviral properties and could help treat respiratory tract infections in both children and adults.Overall, Echinacea species are not considered toxic. All parts of the plant are considered safe to ingest according to a UC Davis report.
How does echinacea work on the immune system?
The alkamides and a group of polysaccharides known as the arabinogalactans appear to contribute to the activation of the immune cells, where-as the caffeic acid derivatives appear to contribute to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties of Echinacea. However, some people have allergic reactions to echinacea, which may be severe. The most common side effects of echinacea are digestive tract symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, or stomach pain. It’s possibly safe for children to consume E.Echinacea may not be helpful if you have any of the following conditions: an autoimmune disorder (such as lupus), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). If you are pregnant or breastfeeding you should talk with your doctor before you start taking echinacea.Some side effects have been reported such as fever, nausea, vomiting, unpleasant taste, stomach pain, diarrhea, sore throat, dry mouth, headache, numbness of the tongue, dizziness, insomnia, disorientation, and joint and muscle aches. In rare cases, echinacea has been reported to cause inflammation of the liver.Other benefits of echinacea include lowering blood sugar, reducing inflammation, and alleviating skin conditions.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. Check with your doctor first if you are having any other drugs, herbs, or supplements.
Who cannot take echinacea?
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. Check with your doctor first if you are having any other drugs, herbs, or supplements. Echinacea has been used mostly for treating and preventing the common cold and other upper respiratory illnesses. While echinacea is generally well tolerated with only few and minor adverse effects, there have been isolated reports of serum enzyme elevations and clinically apparent liver injury attributed to its use.May help with anxiety In another study, researchers found that taking 40 milligrams of echinacea twice a day for 7 days, followed by a 3-week break, worked better to ease anxiety symptoms than a placebo.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 and long-term use.Echinacea might decrease how quickly the body breaks down caffeine. Taking echinacea along with caffeine might increase levels of caffeine and increase the risk of side effects from caffeine, such as jitteriness, headache, and fast heartbeat.
Can echinacea raise blood pressure?
Although not statistically significant to a very small sample size, one prior study in healthy volunteers found higher systolic blood pressure and lower diastolic blood pressure in subjects supplemented with echinacea in comparison with placebo [10] . People with tuberculosis, leukemia, diabetes, connective tissue disorders, multiple sclerosis, HIV or AIDS, any autoimmune diseases, or, possibly, liver disorders should not take echinacea. There is some concern that echinacea may reduce the effectiveness of medications that suppress the immune system.Echinacea is often used for treatment and prevention of urinary tract infection (UTI), based on an assumption of its immunostimu-lating properties.Echinacea is often used in the management of colds. Although it is widely used, there is limited information regarding its safety during pregnancy. A small number of studies have been published which found no increased risk of miscarriage or birth defects in children of women who took Echinacea throughout pregnancy.Echinacea may alter the blood levels and effects of amLODIPine. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs.
What are the side effects of echinacea?
The most common side effects are stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, vomiting, and rash. Allergic reactions might occur in some people, especially in people who are allergic to ragweed, mums, marigolds, or daisies. When applied to the skin: Echinacea is possibly safe when used short-term. Echinacea should be avoided in patients with autoimmune disorders, multiple sclerosis, advanced HIV infection, tuberculosis, and organ transplants because it may stimulate T cells. Allergic reactions are possible in patients with allergies to ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, daisies, or related allergens.If you are regularly taking other medicines, check with your doctor before taking echinacea. You should also tell your doctor if you drink beverages with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way echinacea works.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.Because the mechanism for treating infections with Echinacea is completely different from that of antibiotics, there is no danger of Echinacea-resistant bacteria developing. Echinacea is a North American, southwestern plains herb, used for centuries by the Native Americans for a variety of diseases.
Can I drink echinacea daily?
Echinacea products appear to be safe and well-tolerated for short-term use ( 31 , 32 ). However, though echinacea is commonly used for short periods, some research suggests that it is also safe for long-term use as well ( 31 ). The most common side effects reported include minor digestive issues and skin rashes ( 33 ). Echinacea extract may modulate intestinal immune function by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacterial genera such as Akkermansia and Alistipes in the intestine.Echinacea does indeed exhibit immune stimulating properties as shown by its effects on the cells of the innate immune system. However, despite this cellular evidence of immune stimulation, whether these effects translate into better human health is less well understood.Echinacea may play a role in fighting off various infections, including upper respiratory tract infections. Some data shows that echinacea can treat urinary tract infections, ear infections, and wounds or cuts that are slow to heal.Several laboratory and animal studies suggest that echinacea contains active substances that boost immune function, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and have hormonal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects.