According to NCCAM, there are nine known species of echinacea, all of
which are native to the United States and southern Canada. The most
commonly used, Echinacea purpurea, is believed to offer the most health
benefits. The common names include echinacea, purple coneflower,
coneflower, American coneflower.
What are the health benefits of echinacea? Echinacea has traditionally
been used to treat or prevent colds, flu and other infections. Echinacea
is believed to stimulate the immune system to help fight infections.
Echinacea is thought to benefit people suffered from skin issues, such as
acene or boils, and wounds. [NCCAM]
How is echinacea used? The aboveground parts and roots of echinacea
are used fresh or dried to make teas, squeezed (expressed) juice,
extracts, or preparations for external use.
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF ECHINACEA? --
based on research findings?..
Immunomodulatory Effect
Goel et al studied the immunomodulatory effects of preparations of
Echinacea containing cichoric acid, polysaccharides and alkylamides at
different concentrations on male Sprague-Dawley rats. They found that
Echinacea preparations are effective in stimulating an in vivo, non-
specific immune rsponse, such as increased release of cytokines, only
when cichoric acid, polysaccharides and alkylamides at certain
concentrations. [Echinacea stimulates macrophage function in the lung
and spleen of normal rats. Goel et al, University of Alberta, Canada. J
Nutr Biochem. 2002 Aug;13(8):487.
O'Neill et al also concluded that Echinacea effectively stimulates
immunocompetence, and the Echinacea extract improves the quality of
blood by increasing haemoglobin levels and the number of erthrocytes
from their studies on eight horses. [ Immunological and haematinic
consequences of feeding a standardized Echinacea extract to healthy
horses. O'Neill et al, Equine Research Centre, Canada, Equine Vet J.
2002 May;34(3):222-7.
HEALTH BENEFITS ON COMMON COLD, RHINOVIRUS
INFECTIONS SAFETY AND SIDE EFFECTS OF ECHINACEA
Common colds are one of the most fequent acute illnesses and
Echinaceae purpureae herba has shown promising results in the relief of
common cold symptoms and shortening the duration for improvement. A
randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of 80 adult
patients with first signs of a cold has shown that echinacea supplement
was effective in alleviating symptoms more rapidly than placebo. The
researchers also observed that echinacea supplements were well-
tolerated in the study. [8]
Furthermore, a few more studies also concluded that Echinacea
effectively reduced the symptoms and duration of the common cold. [9]
Echinacea appeared to be safe and no serious side effects were shown
up in these studies. [9, 10]
However, Yale et al. failed to replicate such benefits using 100 mg of
freeze-dried pressed juice from the aerial portion of the echinacea
purpurea. [7] Turner RB et al also failed to repicate the findings in
experimental rhinovirus infections. [1] In the study, Turner utilized three
doses of about 300 milligrams of the dried powdered echinacea root.
[2]
The American Botanical Council (ABC), has pointed out that:
{1} the extracts used were made in a university laboratory are different
to commercial echinacea products. (2), the dosages used in this trial
were also too low. According to ABC, various international monographs
have acknowledged the generally higher dose used for echinacea root
products. The World Health Organization (WHO) monograph for
Echinacea root (“Radix Echniaceae”) has a dosage for Echinacea
angustifolia root at the equivalence of 3 gm per day of the dried root.
[3] This same dosage is also acknowledged in the more recently
developed draft monographs on Echinacea from the Canadian Natural
Health Products Directorate. [4] This dosage level is about 330% higher
than the dosage of the echinacea preparations given in the Turner's trial.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF ECHINACEA?
When taken by mouth, echinacea usually does not cause side effects.
However, some people experience allergic reactions, including rashes,
increased asthma, and anaphylaxis. In clinical trials, gastrointestinal side
effects were most common. [NCCAM]
People are more likely to experience allergic reactions to echinacea if
they are allergic to related plants in the daisy family, which includes
ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, and daisies. Also, people with
asthma or atopy may be more likely to have an allergic reaction when
taking echinacea. [NCCAM]
Jerald C. Foote, assistant professor at University of Arkansas reported
intake of echinacea supplements linked to increased amounts of certain
bacteria. such as Bacteroides fragilis in the gastrointestinal tract. The
increase in amount of Bacteroides fragilis may contribute to inflammatory
bowel disease and diarrhea. [X1]
References
1. Turner RB, Bauer R, Woelkart K, Hulsey TC, Gangemi DJ. An evaluation of
Echinacea angustifolia preparations in experimental rhinovirus infections. N Engl J
Med 2005;353:341-348. 2. Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, Hall T, Riggins
CW, Rister RS, eds. Klein S, Rister RS, trans. The Complete German Commission
E Monographs – Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston: Integrative
Medicine Communications; Austin, TX: American Botanical Council, 1998. 3.
Echinacea Radix. In: WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants. Geneva:
World Health Organization, 1999. 4. Ehinacea. Natural Health Products
Directorate. Health Canada. Draft Jan 2004. 5. Blumenthal M. Herb sales down
7.4 percent in mainstream market. HerbalGram 2005;66:63. 6. Echinacea. In:
Blumenthal M, Hall T, Goldberg A, Kunz T, Dinda K, Brinckmann J, et al, eds. The
ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs. Austin, TX: American Botanical Council, 2003. [7]
Echinacea purpurea therapy for the treatment of the common cold: a randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Yale et al, Marshfield Clinic, USA.
Arch Intern Med. 2004 Jun 14; 164(11):1237-41. [8] Schulten B et al, Efficacy of
Euchinacea purpurea in patients with a common cold. A placebo-controlled,
randomised, double-blind clinical trial. Arzneimittelforschung. 2001;51(7):563-8.
[9] Lindenmuth GF et al, The efficacy of echinacea compound herbal tea
preparation on the severity and duration of upper respiratory and flu symptoms:
a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. J Altern Complement Med.
2000 Aug;6(4):327-34. [10] Giles JT et al, Evaluation of echinacea for tratment of
the common cold, Pharmacotherapy; 2000 Jun;20(6):690-7. Herbal Science
Group Says Dosage Too Low in New Echinacea Trial, citizens. org Aug 9, 2005
[NCCAM] NCCAM Publication No D271 July 2005. [x1] Study connects echinacea,
tract bacteria AP December 20, 2006.
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