Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia, E. purpurea and E. pallida) is one of the most widely used herbs in the United States and Europe. Echinacea is most commonly used to treat colds and flu, as well as for immune system support. Available in many different forms and typically in combination with other herbs or vitamins, echinacea can be used three times daily for seven to 10 days in the dosages of 1 to 2 grams for dried root or herb in teas; 2 to 3 mL for the standardized tincture extract, 6 to 9 mL for the expressed juice; 300 mg for the powdered extract; 1 to 3 mL or 20 to 90 drops of the tincture; or 0.75 or 15 to 23 drops for the stabilized fresh extract.
Treating Common Colds and Flu
Echinacea is a medicinal herb widely used for treating the common cold and flu. Although studies have yielded mixed results on whether taking echinacea can prevent colds and flu, medical researchers have found that the herb does help to treat these illnesses, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Taking echinacea can reduce the duration of colds and flu, or "abort" a cold when taken at the first sign of cold symptoms, the UPMC says. Several clinical trials have found that taking Echinacea in the very early stages of a cold can help people to feel better faster, says the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Although the findings have been disputed in the medical community, a review of 14 clinical trials revealed that taking Echinacea reduced the duration of colds by up to four days and reduced the odds of developing a cold by 58 percent, according to the UMMC.
Boosting Immune Function
Echinacea can treat a wide range of infections by increasing immune system activity, the UMMC says. Some test tube and animal studies have found that it contains properties that increase antibody production, as well as white blood cell counts and activity, the UPMC notes. The UMMC also cites test tube and animal studies revealing that echinacea's active properties can enhance the immune system, relieve pain and reduce inflammation, as well as provide antioxidant and antiviral effects. Most human studies, however, have revealed that taking echinacea on a regular basis doesn't necessarily strengthen the immune system, says the UPMC.
Treating Herpes
A medical study on humans indicated that taking echinacea extract provided an antiviral effect on recurrent herpes simplex virus type 1 when taken prior to infection, according to the UMMC. Regular use of echinacea likely won't prevent a genital herpes infection, but it may help in treating herpes outbreaks in infected individuals, according to the UPMC. Echinacea's effects on enhancing the immune system may help in healing herpes lesions and other slow-healing wounds, the UMMC notes.
Treating Chronic Bronchitis
A small double-blind study found that taking echinacea combined with other herbs improved the effectiveness of antibiotic treatments for acute chronic bronchitis, the UPMC says. Echinacea may also be beneficial in treating ear infections, the UMMC adds. The UPMC cites two medical studies that didn't find benefits of echinacea in treating ear infections in children, however.
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