Echinacea

Common names: American coneflower, black Sampson, black Susan, comb flower, echinaceawurzel, hedgehog, igelkopfwurzel, Indian head, Kansas snakeroot, narrow-leaved purple coneflower, purple coneflower , purpursonnenhutkraut, racine d'echininacea, rock-up-hat, roter sonnenhut, scurvy root, snakeroot, sonnenhutwurzel

Efficacy rating:

●●●...Positive clinical trials

Safety rating:

What is Echinacea?

User Reviews & Ratings As a treatment for... Avg User Ratings [?] Cold Symptoms 4 reviews Rate it! 9.8 Compare with other drugs.

There are at least 9 species of echinacea. Those most commonly studied are E. purpurea, E. pallida, and E. angustifolia.

Echinacea is native to the United States, specifically Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri. Because of confusion regarding the identification of echinacea species, much of the early research in Europe attributed to E. angustifolia was probably conducted on E. pallida.

What is Echinacea used for?

Echinacea is a popular herbal remedy in the United States. The plant was used in traditional medicine by American Indians and quickly adopted by settlers. During the 1800s, claims for the curative properties of the plant ranged from blood purification to treatment of dizziness and rattlesnake bites. During the early part of the 20th century, extracts of the plant were used to treat infections; however, the use of these products fell out of favor after the discovery of modern antibiotics. The plant and its extracts continue to be used topically for wound healing and internally to stimulate the immune system.

The variation in available commercial products and lack of consistency in clinical trials make specific recommendations difficult. There is limited evidence that echinacea is effective in shortening the duration of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, but it has not shown effectiveness as a preventative. Echinacea is hypothesized to be an immunomodulator. There is also interest in its potential use in cancer therapy, but clinical trials are lacking.

What is the dosage of Echinacea?

Many commercial preparations are available containing components derived from different plant parts as well as from different species and varieties. Recommended doses (all administered 3 times daily) include the following: 300 mg dry powdered extract (standardized to 3.5% echinacoside), 0.25 to 1.25 mL liquid extract (1:1 in 45% alcohol), 1 to 2 mL tincture (1:5 in 45% alcohol), 2 to 3 mL expressed juice of E. purpurea, and 0.5 to 1 g dried root or tea. Avoid using echinacea for more than 8 weeks at a time because of the potential for immune suppression. Intravenous (IV) use is not recommended.

Is Echinacea safe?

Known hypersensitivity to plants of the Asteraceae/Compositae family; any condition in which immune stimulation or suppression would be considered disadvantageous.

Limited clinical evidence, expert opinion, and long-term traditional use suggest oral echinacea to be safe for use during pregnancy at normal dosages. Direct evidence for safety during lactation is lacking. Use caution during administration.

None well documented.

Adverse reactions are rare. In clinical trials, adverse reactions caused by echinacea were generally not statistically significant compared with placebo. The most commonly reported reactions were allergy, GI upset, and rash. Individuals with allergy to ragweed or related allergens should use echinacea with caution. A case report of leukopenia, possibly caused by long-term use of echinacea, has been published. Potential immune suppression with long-term use has been suggested.

Little is known definitively about the toxicity of echinacea. Animal studies generally indicate low toxicity.

References

Copyright © 2006 Wolters Kluwer Health

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