Echinacea is also known as coneflowers and has ten spices with many benefits.
They are high in antioxidants and may aid with immunity. They are available in numerous forms, with varying recommended dosages.
Echinacea, often known as purple coneflower, is one of the most popular herbs worldwide.
Native Americans have been using it for millennia to heal a variety of diseases.
Today, it is best known as an over-the-counter herbal treatment for the common flu or cold. It is also used to treat pain, migraines, inflammation, and other medical conditions.
This page discusses the advantages, uses, adverse effects, and recommended dosage of echinacea.
What is echinacea?
Echinacea is a genus of flowering plants of the daisy family.
They are native to North America, where they thrive in grasslands and open, forested environments.
Although this group has nine species, only three are used in herbal supplements, and they are Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida.
Tablets, extracts, tinctures, and teas are made from both the plant’s leaves and roots.
Echinacea plants contain a wide range of active chemicals, including caffeine, alkamides, phenolic acids, rosmarinic acid, polyacetylenes, and many others.
Some studies have connected echinacea and its constituents to a variety of health advantages, including decreased inflammation, increased immunity, and lower blood sugar levels.
High in antioxidants – one of many benefits of Echinacea
Echinacea plants are rich in plant chemicals that act as antioxidants.
Antioxidants are substances that help your cells protect themselves against oxidative stress, which has been related to a variety of chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease.
Some of these antioxidants include flavonoids, cichoric acid, and rosmarinic acid.
Extracts from the plant’s flowers and roots appear to have more antioxidants than other portions, such as the leaves.
Furthermore, echinacea plants contain chemicals known as alkamides, which can improve antioxidant activity.
Echinacea may provide numerous health benefits.
According to research, echinacea has a number of significant health benefits.
Positive impact on the immune system
Echinacea is best recognized for boosting the immune system.
Numerous previous research has revealed that this plant may aid your immune system in combating infections and viruses, thus allowing you to recover faster from illness.
That is one reason why echinacea is frequently used to prevent or treat the common cold.
In fact, one research discovered that echinacea could lower the chance of acquiring an upper respiratory tract infection by 22%. However, the researchers found no meaningful influence on the length of illness.
According to a 2014 study, much research on this topic is poorly constructed and provides little significant value. This makes it difficult to determine whether any cold-related improvements are due to echinacea use or chance.
In conclusion, while echinacea may enhance immunity, its benefits for the common cold remain unclear.
Echinacea may reduce blood sugar levels.
High blood sugar levels can increase your chance of major health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and a variety of other chronic disorders.
According to test tube research, echinacea plants may help reduce blood sugar levels.
In a test tube investigation, an Echinacea purpurea extract was found to inhibit carbohydrate digestion enzymes. In principle, echinacea could help reduce the quantity of sugar in your blood.
Other animal research indicates that the antioxidants in echinacea may help enhance blood sugar and insulin sensitivity.
Nonetheless, human-based research on the effects of echinacea on blood sugar is limited.
Echinacea may alleviate anxiety.
Anxiety is a prevalent condition, affecting approximately 7% of adults in the United States.
In recent years, echinacea plants have surfaced as a viable anxiety treatment.
Some previous studies have found that echinacea plants contain chemicals that may help to alleviate anxiety. These include alkamides, rosmarinic acid, and caffeine.
One study discovered that consuming 40 milligrams (mg) of echinacea extract twice a day for 7 days significantly reduced anxiety in comparison to a placebo.
Another study found that ingesting 40 or 80 mg of echinacea extract per day did not relieve anxiety when compared to a placebo. However, it did improve both positive and negative effects on emotional well-being.
However, data is limited, and further studies are needed before recommending echinacea products as a therapy option.
Echinacea has Anti-inflammatory qualities.
Inflammation is your body’s natural way of mending and protecting itself.
Inflammation can sometimes spiral out of control, lasting far longer than necessary or planned. This may increase your risk of developing chronic diseases and other health issues.
Several studies have found that echinacea can help prevent excessive inflammation.
In one rat investigation, echinacea chemicals reduced significant inflammatory indicators as well as inflammation-induced memory loss.
In another 30-day research, persons with osteoarthritis discovered that taking a supplement with ginger extract and echinacea extract dramatically reduced inflammation, chronic pain, and edema.
Surprisingly, these adults did not respond well to traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) but found the supplement comprising echinacea and ginger extract beneficial.
Furthermore, a review of 105 research found that echinacea supplementation was associated with lower levels of inflammation markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor.
Echinacea may help treat skin issues.
According to research, echinacea herbs may help heal common skin issues.
In one trial, a supplement containing a botanical extract produced from eggplant and echinacea outperformed a placebo in terms of treating mild to moderate acne. However, it is uncertain how much of this can be ascribed to echinacea.
A 2010 research of ten persons revealed that skin care products containing echinacea extract improved skin moisture and reduced wrinkles.
Similarly, a lotion containing Echinacea purpurea extract was found to alleviate eczema and aid in the restoration of the skin’s thin, protective outer layer.
However, echinacea extract tends to have a short shelf life, making it difficult to use in commercial skin care products.
Echinacea may offer protection against cancer.
Cancer is a disease characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of cells.
Test-tube experiments have demonstrated that echinacea extracts may inhibit cancer cells from developing and even cause cancer cells to die.
In a 2012 test-tube study, an extract of Echinacea purpurea and chicoric acid — a naturally occurring chemical in echinacea plants — was proven to cause cancer cell death.
In a previous test-tube study, extracts from echinacea plants (Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida) destroyed human cancer cells from the colon and pancreas by promoting apoptosis, or regulated cell death.
The immune-boosting effects of echinacea are thought to be responsible for this effect.
There was some fear that echinacea would interfere with traditional cancer treatments like doxorubicin, but previous research indicated no connection.
That being stated, more recent human research is required before making any suggestions.
Potential side effects
Echinacea products seem to be safe and well-tolerated for short-term use.
Although echinacea is frequently taken for short periods of time, some study suggests that it is also safe for long-term use.
Minor stomach difficulties and skin rashes are among the most commonly reported side effects.
Though rare, some people may be allergic to echinacea, which can result in hives, swelling, and anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.
Because echinacea seems to stimulate the immune system, those with autoimmune illnesses or those using immunosuppressive medications should avoid it or visit their doctor first.
Dosage recommendations
There is presently no official dose guideline for echinacea.
One explanation is that the findings of the echinacea study are quite variable.
Furthermore, echinacea products may not contain the ingredients listed on the label. According to an older study, 10% of the echinacea product samples included no echinacea.
This is why you should get echinacea products from reputable manufacturers.
However, prior studies have found the following doses to be useful in boosting immunity:
Dry powder extract: Take 300-500 mg of Echinacea purpurea three times each day.
Liquid Extract Tinctures: 2.5 milliliters (mL) three times a day, or up to 10 mL each day.
Keep in mind that these are just for short-term use.
It’s also important to follow the guidelines that come with your individual supplement.
To Conclude
Echinacea has been demonstrated to boost immunity, lower blood sugar, reduce anxiety and inflammation, and promote skin health. It may potentially have anticancer qualities. However, human-centered research is frequently constrained.
It is deemed safe and well-tolerated for both short and long-term use.
Dosages vary based on the type of echinacea you’re using.
Although it is widely used to treat the common cold, the results are mixed. While research has suggested that it may help prevent respiratory infections or provide symptomatic relief, many studies were poorly conducted or found no benefit.
However, there aren’t many products like echinacea with similar potential immune-boosting properties, so it might be worth trying.