Echinacea, Purple coneflower, Coneflower, American coneflower

Background

.The plants of the Echinacea genus are perennial plants and belong to the same family as sunflowers, daisies and ragweed. Although they are widely cultivated nowadays, the Echinacea plants originally come from the area east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States.

.The E. purpurea species of the Echinacea genus was initially discovered by the Native Americans of North America. They used this plant to treat respiratory infections, toothaches, and snake bites, among other ailments.

.Currently, the products of Echinacea are mainly marketed as a dietary supplement for common colds and other respiratory infections. The basis for this is that certain types of Echinacea may be able to stimulate the immune system.

.Some products of Echinacea may be promoted for local application (applied to the skin) to treat skin conditions such as eczema.

How Much Do We Know?

A large number of studies have explored the use of echinacea by humans to treat common colds and other respiratory infections. However, research on the uses of echinacea for other Health conditions is relatively scarce.

What Have We Learned?

.Taking echinacea may slightly reduce the chance of catching a cold. However, it is not yet clear whether echinacea can shorten the duration of a cold. More research is needed to confirm these findings.

.A recent study has found that echinacea may reduce the occurrence of respiratory infections and related complications in children. However, overall, there is not yet sufficient evidence to clearly confirm this association. Before giving your child echinacea products, please communicate with their healthcare provider first.

.It is not yet clear whether echinacea is helpful for other health issues such as eczema.

.A recent study funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) indicates that the activity of echinacea extract is influenced by soil conditions, and these soil conditions in turn affect the bacterial communities of the plants.

What Do We Know About Safety?

.For most adults, consuming products containing echinacea extract or mixtures of echinacea and narrow-leaf echinacea is relatively safe. However, some people are allergic to echinacea, and this allergic reaction can be quite severe. The most common side effects of echinacea are digestive system symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, or stomachache.

.For children, short-term consumption of echinacea extract may be safe. However, in a clinical trial of echinacea, some of the children participating in the trial developed rashes, which might be due to an allergic reaction. There are concerns that some children might experience severe allergic reactions. Before using echinacea on children, please communicate with their healthcare provider first.

.There is currently conflicting evidence regarding whether echinacea interacts with certain drugs metabolized by the liver. Moreover, theoretically, some people suspect that echinacea might interact with immunosuppressants or caffeine. If you are taking any medications, consult your healthcare provider before using echinacea or other herbal products; certain herbs and drugs can have harmful interactions.

.Some studies on the use of solid or liquid extracts of echinacea and narrow-leaf echinacea have shown that its use during the first three months of pregnancy may be safe for up to 7 days. If you consider using echinacea during pregnancy, consult your healthcare provider. It is not yet clear whether its use during lactation is safe.

Keep in Mind

.To take control of your health - communicate with your healthcare provider about any complementary health therapies you are using. This way, you and your healthcare provider can make informed decisions together with a full understanding of the situation.

Federal Regulation of Herbal Products

.Depending on the composition, purpose of use, and application method (oral or topical), herbal products are subject to regulation in various ways. Many oral herbal products are sold as dietary supplements. The rules for manufacturing and distributing dietary supplements are much more lenient than those for medicines.

.Unlike drugs, dietary supplements have not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before being sold to the public. When the public has health concerns about a certain dietary supplement or the safety of herbal ingredients, the FDA can take action to protect public interests. The manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements have the responsibility to assess the safety and label content of their products before launching them onto the market, to ensure they comply with all regulatory requirements.