Echinacea
Common names: Echinacea, Purple coneflower
Scientific names: Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia - both species are used medicinally. There are other species of Echinacea which are not medicinal, take care to ensure you get the right kind for medicine.
Habitat: Native to the prairies and open woods of Canada and the USA, Echinacea likes a bit of frost. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is known for its beautiful purple, downward facing, daisy-like flowers.
Parts of plant used: The whole plant, when in flower, can be used. However, research shows us that the most potent medicinal qualities lie in the root.
Preparations: Tea or tincture
Medicinal actions:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antimicrobial
- Immuno-modulator - supports the immune system whether it needs to be amped up or calmed down
- Lymphatic - supports the movement of lymph throughout the body (eg. swollen glands in your throat or blocked ducts during breastfeeding)
Artemis products with Echinacea: ViroGone, Kids ViroGone
Indications and Clinical Use
Upper Respiratory Infections - and all other infections for that matter!
Echinacea was one of the most commonly used medicinal plants by Native Americans. They used the plant to treat all types of infections, including snakebites.
Echinacea became so popular amongst the North American settlers that pharmaceutical companies started producing it and sold it as a drug. It was used by doctors in America as a standard anti-infective medicine until antibiotics became popular in the 1940s.
More recently, clinical studies (aka human trials) support the use of Echinacea for issues such as sinusitis, the common cold, influenza, and strep throat. It has been shown to both prevent and treat upper respiratory infections. It also reduces the risk of complications of infections, such as tonsillitis and pneumonia.
Echinacea fights bacterial and viral infections, and supports the immune system. This multi-tasking is something we have not been able to replicate in pharmaceutical medicine. A couple of recent clinical trials have shown that not only is Echinacea effective against viruses, it is as effective as Tamiflu®, which is a pharmaceutical anti-viral medication. The study also found that Echinacea produced fewer side effects than Tamiflu®.
This confirms what the Native Americans knew all along- Echinacea is good for infections!
The Immune System
Echinacea’s ability to support the immune system is backed not only by traditional use, but by over 50 years of scientific research. This is important, as a strong immune system helps reduce the risk of recurring infection. Understand how your immune system works in our previous blog.
Some research shows that Echinacea helps to modulate the immune response in people with autoimmune conditions. Autoimmunity occurs when the immune system is over-reactive and attacks its own body. However, we always recommend that anyone with an autoimmune condition manage it with their doctor and/or qualified medical herbalist (if looking for natural management).
Safety and Precautions
People with allergies to the daisy family have occasionally reacted to Echinacea, though this happens more often when the flower is used because this part contains pollen. Most reactions have been mild and transient, such as a mild rash. Preparations that use the only the root have a much lower risk of causing an allergic reaction.
Fun Facts
Echinacea is considered a “sialagogue”, literally meaning it makes your mouth water! Anyone who has ever had a few drops of Echinacea tincture on their tongue will be familiar with the tongue-tingling effect that it has, followed by the onslaught of saliva. A group of constituents called “alkamides” are responsible for this mouth-watering action.
Though Echinacea is rarely used for this medicinal purpose, increasing saliva can help keep the mouth clean and can also stimulate digestion, as saliva contains tiny enzymes which start the breakdown of food.
References
Bone, K. (2003). A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs. Warwick, Australia: Churchill Livingstone.
Braun, L., & Cohen, M. (2010). Herbs & natural supplements: An evidence-based guide (3rd ed.). Sydney, Australia: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
Fisher, C. (2009). Materia medica of Western herbs. Nelson, New Zealand: Vitex Medica.
Ganora, L. (2009). Herbal constituents: Foundations of phytochemistry. Louisville, CO: Herbalchem Press.
Kowalchik, C., & Hylton, W. Eds. (1987). Rodale’s illlustrated encyclopedia of herbs. Australia: Schwartz Books.