Brief introduction to Echinacea

Echinacea is the collective term for a group of plants known as the purple cone flower. The plant is native to the USA. The name Echinacea is derived from the Greek word echinos meaning hedgehog – this relates to the spiky centre of each flower.

The Echinacea plant.
There are 9 different species of the plant, the two most popular species used in herbal medicine are Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea angustifolia are the easiest to grow and therefore the most common varieties.

Echinacea was used by the native Americans for many years. One of the key uses they had was for treating snake bites, so Echinacea is also known as snake root. They also used it for treating insect bites, smallpox, sore throats, measles and toothache.

During the 1800s, European settlers also began to use Echinacea medicinally. This continued until the use of antibiotics became widespread as the ‘cure anything’ drug. Echinacea has become popular again as a herbal treatment in the last 20 or so years.

As with many herbal or alternative health treatments, there are differing views as to the benefits of Echinacea. Many studies have been carried out but have shown different results; comparisons of these studies is complicated, however, by the use of different species and different forms of the medicine on the same medical issue.

On the whole, medical practitioners don’t recommend or prescribe Echinacea due to a lack of clear evidence, or an understanding of herbal medicine, but they also don’t object to its use.

Echinacea has been used to:

* Treat upper respiratory infections, including colds and flu
* Relieve hayfever
* Treat urinary tract infections (only anecdotal evidence to support this use)
* Activate or boost the immune system (most current research is focussing on this potential)
* Act as an antibiotic
* Purify blood
* Act as an antiviral agent against flu and herpes
* Stimulate wound healing
* Benefits skin conditions such as eczema, burns, insect bites, ulcers and acne
* Reduce inflammation associated with arthritis and lymphatic swellings
* Treat CFS, indigestion, gastro and weight loss as a homeopathic remedy

The European Medicines Agency(EMEA) assessed the body of evidence and approved the use of expressed juice and dried expressed juice from fresh flowering aerial parts of Echinacea purpurea for the short-term prevention and treatment of the common cold. According to their recommendations,

It should not be used for more than 10 days. The use in children below 1 year of age is contraindicated, because of theoretically possible undesirable effect on immature immune system. The use in children between 1 and 12 years of age is not recommended, because efficacy has not been sufficiently documented although specific risks are not documented. In the absence of sufficient data, the use in pregnancy and lactation is not recommended.

At the moment, no one knows exactly what is in Echinacea that makes it useful medicinally. This means that there are no standards for commercial Echinacea products, so each brand you try could have different results for the same illness.

Anyone allergic to daisies and those taking itraconazole, fexafenacline and lovastatin may experience reactions so probably should avoid taking Echinacea.

If you wish to have more information or to purchase Echinacea try the links below:

UK / International supplier of Echinacea

Echinacea from Vitamin World