NOT from organized medicine.
The Herb Research Foundation:
Echinacea
Echinacea purpurea
Echinacea, the purple coneflower, is the best
known and researched herb for stimulating the
immune system. Thousands of Europeans and Americans use echinacea
preparations against colds and flu, minor
infections, and a host of other major and minor ailments. This
native American herb has an impressive record of
laboratory and clinical research. Thousands of doctors currently use
echinacea for treating infectious diseases.
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Primary uses of echinacea; Colds, coughs and flu and other upper
respiratory conditions, Enlarged lymph glands, sore
throat, urinary tract infections, and other minor infections. May
help combat herpes and candida, wounds, skin
regeneration and skin infections (external use), Psoriasis, eczema
and inflammatory skin conditions.
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History... Echinacea has a rich tradition of use by North American
Plains Indians who used it medicinally more than
any other plant. It was prominent in modern American medicine in the
early 20th Century, and was discovered by
Europeans, who have used it extensively since the 1930s. Today
millions of Europeans use echinacea as their primary
therapy for colds, flus, infections, and for general immune-boosting
effects.
Health Benefits of Echinacea... Echinacea increases the
"non-specific" activity of the immune system. In other words,
unlike a vaccine which is active only against a specific disease,
echinacea stimulates the overall activity of the cells
responsible for fighting all kinds of infection. Unlike antibiotics,
which are directly lethal to bacteria, echinacea makes
our own immune cells more efficient in attacking bacteria, viruses
and abnormal cells, including cancer cells.
Echinacea facilitates wound healing, lessens symptoms of and speeds
recovery from viruses. Anti-inflammatory effects
make it useful externally against inflammatory skin conditions
including psoriasis and eczema. It may also increase
resistance to candida, bronchitis, herpes, and other infectious
conditions.
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State of Knowledge...
Clinical (human) research Laboratory research History of use /
Traditional use Safety record International acceptance
Stars indicate level of knowledge on a scale from 0 - 5
Research Findings... Over 500 scientific studies have documented the
chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical
applications of echinacea. The most consistently proven effect of
echinacea is in stimulating phagocytosis, that is
encouraging white blood cells and lymphocytes to attack invading
organisms. Specific actions:
increases the number and activity of immune system cells, including
anti-tumor cells: promotes T-cell activation;
stimulates new tissue growth for wound healing; reduces inflammation
in arthritis and inflammatory skin conditions; Mild
antibiotic action: bacteriostatic, anti-viral, anti-fungal. inhibits
the bacterial enzyme hyaluronidase, to help prevent
bacterial access to healthy cells. Specific Studies: Clinical Study:
an extract of echinacea showed an increase of
50%-120% in immune function over a 5 day period (Jurcic, et al.
1989).
Clinical Study: an extract of echinacea significantly increased the
resistance to flu and reduced the symptoms of lymph
gland swelling, inflamed nasal passages and headache (Braunig, et
al. 1992).
Clinical Study: Of 4500 patients with inflammatory skin conditions,
including psoriasis, 85% were cured with topical
applications of echinacea salve (Wacker & Hilbig, 1978).
Laboratory Study: Human white blood cells, stimulated by echinacea
extract increased phagocytosis (consumption) of
yeast cells by 20-40% compared to controls. (Wagner and Proksch
1985)
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Safety... Echinacea has an excellent safety record and is very well
tolerated by most people. There is no known
toxicity. Echinacea should not be used in progressive systemic and
auto-immune disorders such as tuberculosis,
leicosis, connective tissue disorders, collagenosis and related
diseases such as lupus, according to the German
Kommission E. Its use in AIDS or opportunistic infections in AIDS
patients is controversial.
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Using Echinacea... Echinacea root is the part which has been used
historically in European and American herbalism.
Today nearly all parts of the plant are used, including the root,
leaves, flowers, and seeds. Echinacea is available
commercially in a number of forms - dried root or herb, liquid
extract, powder, capsules and tablets, and creams and
gels. Echinacea preparations are approved drugs in European
countries. The officially recommended usage levels, and
those used in research studies are:
Liquid extracts (or tinctures): very popular forms for ease of use.
May be alcohol- or glycerine-based. Extract strength
varies, so following manufacturers' directions is important.
Recommended amounts range from one to five droppersful
per use (0.5-5 ml.) three times per day. Capsules or tablets: may
contain root powder or herb. Recommended usage
level: 1/2 - 2 g per use three times a day. Echinacea tea:. The
usage level for root and/or herb brewed as a tea: 1/2 - 2
g per use three times a day, Usage recommendations are from the
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia and official sources
from Germany (Kommission E and Standardzulassung).
Important Note: With long-term use, echinacea appears to lose
effectiveness. Maximum periods of continuous use: 6 -
8 weeks. Echinacea is not a substitute for other medical
interventions in rapidly accelerating infections. If the condition
persists or worsens, seek medical advice. Many serious medical
conditions are not appropriate for self-diagnosis or
self-medication and require the supervision of qualified health care
providers. Use caution when practicing self-care.
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Recommended Reading Echinacea, Nature's Immune Enhancer by Stephen
Foster. Healing Arts Press, 1991.
Echinacea, the Immune Herb by Christopher Hobbs. Botanica Press,
1990. Botanical Influences on Illness by Melvyn
Werbach and Michael Murray. Third Line Press, 1994. See chapters on
Cancer, Candidiasis, Immunodepression,
Infection, Wound Healing. Herbal Medicine by Rudolf Weiss. AB
Arcanum, 1988.
Selected References British Herbal Pharmacopeia, 1992. Kommission E
Monographs: Echinacea. Kooperation
Phytopharmaka, , Germany. Jurcic, et al. Zeitschrift fur
Phytotherapie 10 (2), 1989. Braunig, et al. Zeitschrift fur
Phytotherapie 13: 7-13, 1992. Wagner and Proksch 1985 In: Economic
and Medicinal Plant Research, Academic
Press, Orlando, p.113. Wacker & Hilbig. Planta Medica 33(1): 89-102,
1978. Chone & Mandakis. Deutsch Med.
Wschr. 27: p. 1406 Luettig, et al. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 81(9):
669-75, 1989. Stimpel, et al. Infect. Immun. 46, 845,
1984; Steinmuller, et al. Int. J. Immunopharmac., Vol. 15, No. 5,
pp. 605-614, 1993.