What is the effect of Echinacea?
Echinacea is considered the most important representative of medicinal plants with immunomodulatory effect. This means that the plant can influence the immune system. How this works in detail has not yet been conclusively clarified. The same applies to the anti-inflammatory effect of echinacea.
Three Echinacea species are used medicinally:
- the purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
- the pale coneflower (E. pallida)
- the narrow-leaved coneflower (E. angustifolia).
The three Echinacea species have a similar spectrum of constituents. Important constituents are caffeic acid derivatives, polyacetylenes, alkamides and antioxidants such as flavonoids. So far, for example, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties have been demonstrated for alkamides.
Basically, all three echinacea species are used therapeutically in a similar way:
- Echinacea pallida and Echinacea angustifolia: of these two species, the roots are used for supportive treatment and prevention of recurrent upper respiratory tract infections such as the common cold.
However, studies on the efficacy of Echianacea are currently limited. While there are studies showing that the medicinal plant can help prevent colds, shorten their duration, or relieve symptoms. However, some of the studies were poorly designed.
It is therefore difficult to say whether there are any benefits to taking echinacea for colds, or whether the improvement in health often observed is just coincidence.
Further, there is evidence that echianacea has positive effects on the psyche. Studies show that alkamides, rosmarinic acid, and caffeic acid can reduce anxiety. However, more research is needed.
How is Echinacea used?
Some preparations contain other medicinal plants in addition to echinacea (combination preparations).
The following applies to all ready-to-use preparations: Use the preparations as indicated in the package leaflet or as recommended by your doctor or pharmacist.
Experts advise using echinacea in the form of ready-to-use preparations. The preparation of an echinacea tea as a home remedy is not common or recommended.
In addition, there are various echinacea remedies in homeopathy. These include globules, mother tincture and ampoules.
What side effects can echinacea cause?
Echinacea is non-toxic to humans and animals. The most common side effects are digestive problems such as nausea and stomach pain. In addition, some people are allergic to echinacea preparations.
What you should consider when using echinacea
- If you are allergic to daisy plants (Asteraceae) such as arnica, marigold or chamomile, you should avoid echinacea.
- There are no studies on the safety of echinacea for children under twelve years of age and during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Therefore, you should ask your doctor before using it. Breastfeeding women should not apply Echinacea ointment to the chest area.
- Due to its immunostimulating effect, echinacea should not be used in chronic progressive diseases. These include, for example, autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency such as HIV/Aids, tuberculosis, multiple sclerosis and collagenoses (autoimmune connective tissue diseases).
Use the medicinal plant only as long as recommended by your doctor or pharmacist.
How to get Echinacea products
What is Echinacea?
The coneflower genus (Echinacea) belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae) and is widespread in the USA and Canada. In the meantime, echinacea has also become naturalized in Europe, mainly as an ornamental plant.
All three species are perennial plants with taproots anchored vertically in the ground and numerous secondary roots. The purple and pale coneflower can grow well over a meter tall, while the narrow-leaved coneflower reaches up to 50 centimeters.
The flowers, which bloom in late summer, grow around a central “basket” of quite a few dark red to brownish tubular flowers in a wreath of long, strikingly drooping ray florets.
