echinacea benefits, echinacea side effects

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. Echinacea purpurea 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 purpurea is thought to benefit people suffered from skin issues,
such as acene or boils, and wounds. [NCCAM]

The aboveground parts and roots of echinacea purpurea are used fresh or dried to make teas, squeezed
(expressed) juice, extracts, or preparations for external use.
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ECHINACEA BENEFITS

Echinacea benefits on 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. The Echinacea
preparations are effective in stimulating an in vivo, non-specific immune response, such as increased release of
cytokines, only when cichoric acid, polysaccharides and alkylamides at certain concentrations. [1A]

Another group reports that Echinacea effectively stimulates immunocompetence, and the Echinacea extract
improves the quality of blood by increasing haemoglobin levels and the number of erthrocytes in a study of eight
horses. [ O'Neill et al, Equine Vet J. 2002 May;34(3):222-7.

Echinacea benefits - against common cold, rhinovirus infections
Common colds are one of the most fequent acute illnesses and Echinaceae purpureae has shown promising results
in the relief of common cold symptoms and shortening the duration for improvement. A 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 echinacea supplements were well-tolerated in the study. [8] In some other studies,
Echinacea also effectively reduced the symptoms and duration of the common cold. [9] Echinacea appeared to be
safe without serious side effects were shown up in these studies. [9, 10]

However, there is a reproducible issue. Yale et al. failed to replicate such beneficial effets using 100 mg of freeze-
dried pressed juice from the aerial portion of the echinacea purpurea. [7] Turner RB et al also failed to replicate 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 (Â“Radix
EchniaceaeÂ”) 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.

Echinacea benefits - prevention of swine flu
A research group in Germany studied the anti-viral activity of a commercial Echinacea purpurea extract. They found
that this extract inactivated Human H1N1-type IV, highly pathogenic avian IV (HPAIV) of the H5- and H7-types, as
well as swine origin IV (S-OIV, H1N1) at concentrations ranging from the recommended dose for oral consumption
to several orders of magnitude lower. They reported a direct contact between Echinacea purpurea extract and virus
was required, prior to infection, in order to obtain maximum inhibition in virus replication. The extract interfered with
the viral entry into cells. In addition, Tamiflu-resistant virus was just as susceptible to Echinacea purpurea extract
as the wild type virus. [11]
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Echinacea side effects
When taken by mouth, echinacea usually does not cause any side effects for most people. However, some people
experience allergic reactions, including rashes, increased asthma, and anaphylaxis.Gastrointestinal side effects
were most common in clinical studies. [NCCAM]

Echinacea may offer more side effects to certain types of users. People are more likely to experience allergic
reactions from echinacea if they are allergic to plants in daisy family, such as ragweed, chrysanthemums,
marigolds, and daisies. Echinacea may offer more side effects to users suffered from asthma or atopy. [NCCAM]
Further, there is a report that intake of echinacea supplements is 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]

Good Health
David, September 10, 2011
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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 Â– 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. [11] Drs
Pleschka S, Stein M, Schoop R. and Hudson JB Anti-viral properties and mode of action of standardized Echinacea purpurea extract
against highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1, H7N7) and swine-origin H1N1 (S-OIV). Virol J. 2009 Nov 13;6:197 [1A] Goel et
al, J Nutr Biochem. 2002 Aug;13(8):487.
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RELATED ARTICLES
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echinacea purpurea, echinacea benefits, echinacea side effects
September 10, 2011

Echinacea Purpurea Abstract
Echinacea purpurea is extremely popular in the United States. Echinacea ranked second in sales in mainstream
market retail stores in 2004. [5] Echinacea purpurea (the purple coneflower) has been used for hundreds of years as
an immune stimulant and general anti viral and bacterial aid . And, it may have benefits on indigestion.
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