Echinacea (eck i NAY sha) Revealed
Today, the use of echinacea seems to be almost as common as that of over the counter pain medicines. Echinacea is found in a variety of products used to shorten the duration of the common cold and flu as well as reducing some of their symptoms. Many herbalists also recommend echinacea to help boost the immune system and help the body fight infections. Echinacea has tall stems, bears single pink or purple flowers, and its central cone that is usually purplish-brown in color.It is named for the prickly scales in its large conical seed head, the herb resembles the spines of an angry hedgehog (echinos is Greek for hedgehog)
Echinacea is a genus of nine species of herbaceous plants in the family Asteraceae which are commonly called purple cone-flowers. All are native to eastern and central North America, where they are found growing in a various environments from moist to dry prairies and open woods. They have large, showy heads of composite flowers, blooming from early to late summer.
Alternate names: American cone flower, black Susan, black Sampson, comb flower, hedgehog, Indian head, Kansas snakeroot, narrow-leaved purple coneflower, scurvy root, and snakeroot, Rudbeckia, Brauneria pallida (Nutt.)
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Lore/Background
Results of archeological digs indicate that Native Americans may have used echinacea for more than 400 years to treat infections and wounds and as a general 
“cure-all.” Echinacea was one of the basic antimicrobial herbs of eclectic medicine from the mid 19th century through the early 20th century, and its use was documented for snakebite, anthrax, and for relief of pain. In the 1930s echinacea became popular in both Europe and America as a herbal medicine. According to Wallace Sampson, MD, its modern day use as a treatment for the common cold began when a Swiss herbal supplement maker was “erroneously told” that echinacea was used for cold prevention by Native American tribes who lived in the area of South Dakota.1 Although Native American tribes didn’t use echinacea to prevent the common cold, some of the tribes did use echinacea to treat some of the symptoms that could be caused by the common cold: The Kiowa used it for coughs and sore throats, the Cheyenne for sore throats, the Pawnee for headaches, and many tribes used it as an analgesic, including the Sioux from South Dakota.2 Native Americans learned of E. angustifolia by observing elk seeking out the plants and consuming them when sick or wounded, and identified those plants as elk root. 3
Although this herb was popular during from the 18th to early 20th centuries, its use began to decline in the United States after the introduction of antibiotics. Echinacea preparations became increasingly popular in Germany throughout the 20th century. In fact, most of the scientific research on echinacea has been conducted in Germany where it is a controlled medicine under the German Federal Health Office.
What is it made of?
Echinacea contains several chemicals that play a role in its possible therapeutic effects. These include polysaccharides, glycoproteins, alkamides, volatile oils, and flavonoids. The chemicals contained in the root differ considerably from those in the upper part of the plant. For example, the roots have high concentrations of volatile oils (odorous compounds) while the above-ground parts of the plant tend to contain more polysaccharides (substances known to trigger the activity of the immune system). The combination of these active substances is responsible for echinacea’s beneficial effects, though research suggests that the above ground portion of Echinacea purpurea is the most effective.
In Germany, the above-ground parts of Echinacea purpurea are approved to treat colds, upper respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and slow-healing wounds. The root of the Echinacea pallida plant is also approved for the treatment of flu-like infections. Many echinacea products available in the United States contain one, two, or even all three plant species.
Culinary Uses
None currently known. The flavor of the extracts can often be bitter and sharp or “classic” medicine taste.
Medical Use
Several laboratory and animal studies suggest that echinacea contains active substances that enhance the activity of the immune system, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and have hormonal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects. For this reason, professional herbalists may recommend echinacea to treat urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast (candida) infections, ear infections (also known as otitis media), athlete’s foot, sinusitis, hay fever (also called allergic rhinitis), as well as slow-healing wounds.
- If you choose to take echinacea, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- When echinacea is being used for symptoms of the common cold, it should be started as soon as the symptoms are noticed. Also, three weeks of treatment with echinacea, followed by one week without the echinacea may provide the best results.
- Standardized extracts, tinctures, and solid formulations of herbal/health supplements may provide a more reliable dose of the product.
- Take the pill forms of echinacea with a full glass of water.
- Some forms of echinacea can be brewed to form a tea for drinking.
- Use the topical forms of echinacea externally only. Do not use different formulations (e.g., tablets, topical formulations, teas, tinctures, and others) of echinacea at the same time, unless specifically directed to do so by a health care professional. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an overdose of echinacea.
- Store echinacea as directed on the package. In general, echinacea should be protected from light.
Adults (Aged 18 Or Older)
For general immune system stimulation, during colds, flu, upper respiratory tract infections, or bladder infections, choose from the following forms and take three times a day generally for 7 – 10 days:
- 1 – 2 grams dried root or herb, as tea
- 2 – 3 mL of standardized tincture extract
- 6 – 9 ml of expressed juice (succus)
- 300 mg of standardized, powdered extract containing 4% phenolics
- Tincture (1:5): 1 – 3 mL (20 – 90 drops)
- Stabilized fresh extract: 0.75 mL (15 – 23 drops)
For slow-healing wounds, creams or ointments should be applied as needed.
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) assessed 4 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. 5
Precautions
- When taken by mouth, echinacea usually does not cause side effects. However, some people experience allergic reactions, including rashes, increased asthma, and anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction). In clinical trials, gastrointestinal side effects were most common.
- 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 (a genetic tendency toward allergic reactions) may be more likely to have an allergic reaction when taking echinacea.
- Talk to your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
Echinacea may alter the actions of other medicines that affect your immune system. Before taking echinacea, tell your doctor if you are taking.
- a steroid medicine including betamethasone (Celestone), dexamethasone (Hexadrol, Decadron, others), cortisone (Cortone), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone, others), methylprednisolone (Medrol, Solu-Medrol, others), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone, others), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred, others), triamcinolone (Aristocort, others), and others; or
- cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), tacrolimus (Prograf), azathioprine (Imuran), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), or other immune system suppressants.
You may not be able to take echinacea, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above. Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with echinacea. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines or other herbal/health supplements.
Magickal Uses
Echinacea is often used in spells to strengthen their power, just as the herb is used to strengthen the immune system. It was used by the Native Americans not only to strengthen their spells, but as a precious offering to spirits.
Zodiac
Gemini: Rules the shoulders, arms and hands as well as the lungs (breathing).
Gods Associations
Hestia - Goddess of the hearth, domestic duties and the home life, Hestia is strong, nurturing and protective. According to Greek mythology, Hestia was the first born child of Cronos and Rhea. Her brothers were Poseidon, Hades and Zeus, and her sisters were Demeter and Hera.
- Study: Echinacea Cuts Colds by Half WebMD Health News, June 26, 2007 ↩
- Moerman, Daniel E. (1998). Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. pp. 205. ISBN 9780881924534 ↩
- Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1 ↩
- Human Medicines – Herbal Medicinal Products ↩
- EMEA Monograph on Echinacea purpurea http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=111203 ↩
Category: Apothecaries Corner
