One of the most well known and widely used herbs is Echinacea. This medicinal plant with its prickly scales, cone flower, tall stems and pink or purple petals has been used by Native Americans for almost 500 years to treat everything from tempering a fever to disinfecting a wound. Today, Echinacea is very popular among alternative medicine doctors, naturopaths, holistic healers and even some western medical doctors.
While we tend to equate Echinacea with treating a cold, this powerful herb is actually used for a variety of ailments. Here are three reasons why and how Echinacea is used and what you need to look for when choosing an Echinacea supplement.
1. The Common Cold: Perhaps the most documented and studied use of Echinacea is its effects on colds. While there is still some debate in the medical literature on Echinacea’s effectiveness in either preventing or shortening the symptoms of the common cold, it is one of the most reached-for herbal supplements when the first symptoms of a cold appear.
A review of 16 clinical trials showed that Echinacea might be effective in reducing the incidence and duration of the common cold in adults. But since Echinacea supplements can vary widely and since independent studies have revealed that some Echinacea products are mislabeled, contain trace amounts of the substance or no Echinacea at all, it is very important that you select a potent high grade Echinacea and from a reputable and trusted company.
2. Immune Booster: Echinacea is also believed to stimulate the immune system and fight off infections. Often individuals take it to treat an infection or prevent one from starting. Interestingly, according to Dr. Andrew Weil, Echinacea contains similar active ingredients to other immune-boosting plants like the Chinese herb Astragalus membranaceous. A study in the medical journal, Lancet Infectious Diseases found that patients who took Echinacea decreased their risk of developing a cold by 58 percent as well as decreasing the duration of their cold by over a day and half.
It is believed that the polysaccharides (long sugar chains) present in the herb are responsible for triggering the activity of the immune system. So next time you’re feeling extra run down and concerned about catching something, consider taking a high quality Echinacea supplement to nix an infection before it has time to manifest.
3. Anti-Inflammatory: Echinacea is also widely used to treat inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema. But unlike the internal ingestion of Echinacea to fight off a cold, when used to quell a fiery skin condition, Echinacea is applied topically to the skin usually in the form of a salve. Echinacea’s natural anti-inflammatory properties are believed to quiet the skin’s hyperallergenic reactions and soothe it at the same time.
Make sure that you talk to your health practitioner before using Echinacea since the herb can have interactive effects with other medications and it may cause side effects for those who are allergic to plants belong to the daisy family like ragweed, marigolds and chrysanthemums.
- Heather Ashare, MPH