Echinacea, an herb belonging to the Aster family, is used to treat numerous cold-related conditions including influenza, cough and fever. Echinacea, or coneflower, was the most widely used medicinal plant of the Native Americans in the Great Plains region of the U.S. It was often used for its external wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Extreme care must be taken when harvesting echinacea species since vital plant components can be damaged or lost within minutes. The parts used are the roots, leaves, flowers and seeds. Echinacea is an anti-inflammatory herb available in tablet or capsule form, as a tea or as a tincture.
Significance
Echinacea is one of the most important over-the-counter remedies used in Germany for the cold and flu. The plant's immune-stimulating and anti-inflammatory properties make it a useful herbal remedy for the common cold, and it is beneficial for sinus inflammation and infections. As mentioned in the book "Alternative Medicine: the Definitive Guide," Dr. Jonathan Wright of the Tahoma clinic recommends echinacea during times of cold and flu, attributable to the immune system heightened activity observed with the herb.
Benefits
According to Larry Trivieri and John W. Anderson in their book "Alternative Medicine: the Definitive Guide," most clinical studies on echinacea support the effectiveness of echinacea as a treatment for upper respiratory tract infections associated with the cold and flu. According to an article published by the University of Maryland Medical Center on echinacea, a review of 14 clinical trials on the use of echinacea with the common cold showed that symptom duration was reduced by 1 to 4 days, and the odds of developing cold were reduced by 58 percent. It should be noted that experts disagree on these findings claiming weaknesses present in the analyses. Furthermore, recent research does not support the use of echinacea as a preventative for such conditions.
Time Frame Doses
Echinacea is a powerful immune-stimulating herb. It is frequently used to prevent the common cold, although research on the effectiveness of echinacea as a preventative herb remains contradictory. For prevention purposes, it is best to take the herb from six to eight weeks followed by a resting period of one to two weeks. Echinacea should be taken in small repeated doses throughout the day rather than larger, less frequent doses. Broadly, in capsule form 500 to 1000 mg should be taken three times a day. For tinctures, 15 to 30 drops should be used two to five times daily.
Warning
Echinacea belongs to the compositae or asteraceae family and should not be taken by people with known allergies to this family of plants. Echinacea is contraindicated in individuals suffering from autoimmune disorders, such as Lupus, or with progressive diseases, such as multiple sclerosis or tuberculosis. The herb should not be used without a physician's consent. In rare cases, echinacea may cause allergic reactions. Individuals with asthma or allergies may be at increased risk. Symptoms of adverse reactions can range from a mild rash to the life threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis, resulting with shortness of breath, throat tightening and possible fainting.
Considerations
According to Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., et al. in the book "The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook," flawed or incomplete scientific research has been published against echinacea as conclusive evidence indicating that the herb was ineffective in the treatment or shortening of colds. The report failed to indicate; however, that the researchers used low doses of the herb, which were below therapeutic levels. Furthermore, echinacea has been linked to a false toxicity due to association with a blemished herb. The claim was the result of a case of toxicity from a product that contained echinacea and skullcap. Skullcap, at the time, was commonly adulterated with the liver toxic herb germander.
References
- Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide; Larry Trivieri and John W. Anderson; 2002
- Medical Herbalism: the Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine"; David Hoffmann, FNIMH, AHG; 2003
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Echinacea
- The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook; Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D. et. al; 2001
