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High blood sugar can raise your risk of serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and several other chronic conditions. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. There is little evidence regarding toxicity with echinacea, despite its widespread use. Echinacea has not been associated with acute or chronic toxic effects. However, individuals with hepatic impairment should use echinacea with caution, as case reports of hepatotoxicity exist. Scientific Family There was some concern that echinacea could interact with conventional cancer treatments, such as doxorubicin, but older studies have found no interaction ( 29, 30). A meta-analysis of studies published in 2015 in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that echinacea use, if started when the first symptoms appear, may help modestly reduce the duration and severity of the common cold. 3. Helps Avoid the Flu
To date, research shows that the plant probably reduces cold symptoms, but it seems that the effects of echinacea are more powerful once cold symptoms start. We report that use of Echinacea, compared to our control of vitamin C resulted in significant prevention of cold days and respiratory tract infections by up to 32.5%. Benefits included a specific prevention of enveloped virus infections, including RSV and in particular a marked reduction of influenza virus infections. RTI complications were reduced by 65% and lastly, antibiotic prescriptions were reduced by up to 76.3% or by 171 treatment days, which for 103 children taking Echinacea for 4months, equates to a reduction in days of antibiotic therapy of 4.98days per child per year. Low numbers needed to treat (NNTs≤5) were found throughout, which is not only a result of treatment benefits, but also of the frequency of the studied medical entity (i.e., RTIs and their complications). Echinacea may decrease the number of secondary bacterial complications resulting from viral respiratory infections.
Diseases & Conditions
Echinacea benefits the skin as well, including improving skin hydration and reducing wrinkles. Research shows that using skin products containing the plant’s extracts may help to boost skin health. Plus, it show no side effects, like skin irritation. 7. Helps Improve Mental Health Most people don’t have side effects from taking echinacea, as long as you don’t take more than recommended. Like all herbs, though, echinacea isn’t right for everyone. If you have health conditions, take medications or have allergies, talk with your provider before using echinacea. Most people don’t realize that the chemicals contained in the root differ significantly from those in the upper part of the plant. If we analyze the roots of the purple coneflower, we can see that they have high concentrations of volatile oils, while the parts that grow above the soil tend to contain more polysaccharides that are known to trigger immune function. However, another meta-analysis which looked at 24 randomized controlled trials, consisting of 4,631 participants, found that echinacea products have weak-to-no benefit for treating common colds.
There appears to be little possibility that Echinacea causes sterility in pre-pubertal children, but because there are no human studies, we cannot say with absolute confidence that there is no risk to young children. You’ll usually find Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia or E. pallida in dietary supplements or tea,” explains Dr. Saper. “These three types of echinacea have been touted as having benefits for your immune system.” Echinacea and the immune systemMany of echinacea’s chemical constituents are, in fact, powerful immunity stimulators and can provide a significant therapeutic value, which is why the plant is often used for treating the common cold. A few echinacea constituents that you’re probably familiar with are essential oils, flavonoids, inulin, polysaccharides and vitamin C. Echinacea belongs to the drug class of herbal and dietary supplements. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offers the following cautionary notes for such supplements: Echinacea is a group of flowering wild plants belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae/Compositae), commonly called coneflowers. Echinacea species including Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia and E. pallida are medicinal herbs native to North America. In terms of Echinacea purpurea extract, it is an herb that has been more extensively studied, than other herbal medicines. Consider that these studies have all been done in adults, so not much is known by the scientific community about the risks and benefits in children. The cold episodes treated with EFJ lasted an average of 7.5 days. The 5-tablet treatment shortened the average cold duration by 1.7 days compared to the 3-tablet regimen.
According to a Cochrane review of quality clinical trials (conducted up to mid 2013) evaluating echinacea products in the treatment of the common cold, only 1 of 7 studies showed a reduction in duration of infection.( Karsch-Volk 2014) A pooled analysis was not conducted because of the strong clinical heterogeneity of the studies, making definitive statements regarding effects difficult.( Karsch-Volk 2014, Shah 2007) A placebo effect was reported in a clinical study (N=719) that used echinacea to treat new-onset common cold.( Barrett 2011) In another clinical study (N=90), risk of acute otitis media was possibly increased in echinacea-treated otitis-prone children.( Wahl 2008) Efficacy as well as safety and tolerability of echinacea have been studied in children with upper respiratory infections, with equivocal results.( Saunders 2007, Taylor 2003) Toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (isotussilagine and tussilagine) have been identified at low levels. Duke 2002, WHO 1999 Uses and Pharmacology Interestingly, these adults did not respond well to conventional non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) but found the supplement containing echinacea and ginger extract helpful ( 19).
Echinacea has been widely used for the treatment and prevention of the common cold, and to relieve symptoms from some chronic diseases. In general, studies have found Echinacea to be relatively effective in reducing the length of cold and flu symptoms, as you have observed in your own household, but there is a long way to go before a consensus is reached on this point. It has not been found effective in preventing colds. Long-term use or use for longer than 10 days for acute infections in otherwise healthy individuals is not recommended. Bradley 1992 Pregnancy / Lactation
Scientific Name(s): Echinacea angustifolia DC, Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Britton, Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench Some sources says that echinacea seems to be most effective when taken as soon as symptoms appear and taken many times a day for seven to 10 days. It’s also believed that liquid forms of echinacea may prove more effective than capsules, which is due to the absorption rate. Johnson A, Huang YC, Mao CF, et al. Protective effect of ethanolic extract of Echinacea purpurea contained nanoparticles on meniscal/ligamentous injury induced osteoarthritis in obese male rats. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):5354. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-09380-wSenchina, D. S., et al. Phenetic comparison of seven Echinaceaspecies based on immunomodulatory characteristics. Weber W, et al. (2005). Echinaceapurpurea for prevention of upper respiratory tract infections inchildren. DOI: Aucoin M, Cardozo V, McLaren MD, et al. A systematic review on the effects of Echinacea supplementation on cytokine levels: Is there a role in COVID-19? Metabol Open. 2021;11:100115. doi:10.1016/j.metop.2021.100115 Severe nervous system reaction with very stiff muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, and feeling like you might pass out; or Evening primrose oil: Both oral and topical forms of evening primrose oil have been linked to improved skin hydration in people with eczema and dry, itchy skin. These effects are thought to be due to the polyunsaturated fats found in evening primrose oil.
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