What is Echinacea?

Echinacea, also called purple coneflower, is a well-known herb marketed as an agent to strengthen the immune system. Thousands of Europeans and Americans use Echinacea preparations against colds and flu, minor infections, and a host of other major and minor ailments.  

Echinacea is available in different forms, including liquid, pills, and dried herbs. Products available under the term Echinacea may differ in their composition, due to the use of different species, plant parts, extraction methods and addition of other components. Its varied preparations make it hard to study the evidence in favor of the herbal supplement.

Echinacea is a flowering plant from the Asteraceae family. It’s native to North America and was first used as traditional medicine by the American Indians. There are nine species, but only three are used as herbal remedies:

• Echinacea Angustifolia – narrow-leaved coneflower

• Echinacea pallida – pale purple coneflower

• Echinacea purpurea – purple coneflower, eastern purple coneflower

Benefits

It is perhaps most famous for its ability to cut the chances of catching a common cold and in reducing its duration by 1 – 2 days. Aside from colds, there are claims that Echinacea can have many other benefits, such as a remedy for; enlarged lymph glands, sore throat, urinary tract infections, and other minor infections.

Lack of evidence

There is no clear evidence that Echinacea can prevent or cure a common cold. There seem to be some weak positive effects, but these are inconsistent. Despite the lack of evidence, a large number of people insist it works for them during the cold season. If you are one of them and you don’t experience side effects, then it’s likely a safe choice. More research is needed to find out the diverse and protective effects of Echinacea against critical diseases like

Echinacea for cancer patients

Currently, there are numerous advertisements about the beneficial effects of Echinacea for cancer patients, but lots of these claims have not been validated yet. More research is needed to find out the diverse and protective effects of Echinacea against critical diseases like cancer. There is no convincing proof that Echinacea is an anti-cancer agent.

Side effects

In most countries, herbal remedies are not regulated in the same way that medications are. This can mean that a herbal remedy, such as Echinacea, that is purchased at a drugstore might not contain what the label claims. Manufacturers are producing poor quality and mislabelled products. Many of the Echinacea tablets available contain bulking agents.

It is important to remember that “natural” means it exists in or is derived from, nature. “Natural” does not mean that it is harmless.

People with diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and other diseases of the immune system should refrain from taking Echinacea. People who are allergic to ragweed or other members of the aster family may also be allergic to echinacea and thus should avoid it.