What is Echinacea?
A genus of flowering plants found in North America is called Echinacea. Coneflowers are another name for these plants. It varies between species as to whether the petals are pink or purple. A prickly, dark brown seed head is encompassed by them.
Echinacea comes in nine different varieties. Three of them are in herbal remedies:
- E. Angustifolia has thin petals.
- E. Pallida has pale petals.
- E. Purpurea has purple flowers.
Different species have distinct health advantages. For instance, the upper and bottom parts of the plant are used to create tablets, tinctures, essences, and teas.
The echinacea plant contains various active chemicals. Studies have proven that there are many health benefits of using echinacea and its components, such as caffeic acid, alkamides, phenolic acids, rosmarinic acid, and polyacetylenes. For instance, it can lessen swelling, build up immunity, and bring down blood sugar levels.
Health Benefits Of Echinacea
The health benefits of echinacea and its extracts are multiple. Following are some health benefits.
1. Cancer Protection
Cancer is a sickness where there is unrestrained growth of cancerous cells. Studies have demonstrated that echinacea components may impede the growth of cancer cells and even destroy them. Studies have demonstrated that echinacea extract has the capability to cause cancer cells to expire. A separate analysis found that components of Echinacea plant extracts can cause apoptosis, a form of managed cell death, in human cancer cells derived from the pancreas and colon.
It is due to echinacea’s immune-boosting characteristics. Some were worried that echinacea could impact ordianry cancer treatments such as doxorubicin. Researchers ruled out the possibility of any interference. It is critical to understand that echinacea does not have the capability to treat cancer. It is essential to speak with your physician to learn the appropriate ways to utilize it.
2. Improves Mental Health
In recent years, Echinacea plants have been found to be potentially beneficial in dealing with anxiety. Research has indicated that echinacea plants possess certain components which reduce feelings of anxiety. Here are some examples of what is being referred to: Alkamides, rosmarinic acid, and caffeic acid. During the study, echinacea samples helped lower anxiety. Additionally, higher doses of normal treatments did not reduce the activity levels of the people, unlike how it could have been expected.
Another research discovered that echinacea extract significantly lowered anxiety. Overall, not much studies have been conducted regarding echinacea and anxiety. Hence, further research should be undertaken prior to proposing echinacea products as an effective remedy.
3. Rich in Antioxidants
Echinacea plants possess copious amounts of plant ingredients that act as antioxidants. Antioxidants help protect your cells from suffering due to oxidative stress, which can lead to chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and more. Echinacea has several antioxidants, including flavonoids, cichoric acid, and rosmarinic acid. Fruits and flowers from plants have higher levels of antioxidants than the leaves and roots.
Additionally, echinacea plants have alkamides which could potentially enhance their antioxidant properties. Alkamides may help to restore antioxidants that have been used up and give them a boost so they can protect molecules prone to oxidative harm.
4. Anti-Inflammatory Properties
The inflammation process is the body’s natural way of healing and shielding itself. Sadly, inflammation can, on occasion, become too intense and last longer than it normally should. This leads to a heightened likelihood of forming long-term ailments and other health complications. It has been shown by multiple studies that echinacea may help reduce too much swelling.
According to the study, the chemicals present in echinacea have been proven to reduce severe inflammatory symptoms and memory loss caused by inflammation. A different study revealed that taking an echinacea supplement could significantly reduce inflammation, persistent aches, and swelling in those with osteoarthritis. The individuals in question were unresponsive to typical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to their surprise. However, an echinacea extract supplement helped them.
5. Boosts Immunity
Popularly, Echinacea is renowned for its capability to strengthen the immune system. Studies have shown that this plant has many benefits for your immunological wellbeing, possibly helping you to get over illnesses at a faster rate. One of the causes that people take echinacea to stop or heal the frequent cold is that.
A review of 14 studies showed that taking echinacea could lower your chances of catching a cold by more than half and reduce the duration of a cold by 1.5 days. Although echinacea could potentially assist with bolstering the immune system, there is no confirmation of its effectiveness in treating the common cold or flu.
6. Echinacea Lowers Blood Sugar
You could be in danger of serious medical issues if your blood sugar levels are too high. This encompasses type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular illness, and a variety of other long-term health conditions. Animal-based research has demonstrated that echinacea plants may be effective in lowering glucose concentrations in the bloodstream.
According to one study, an extract from the echinacea purpura plant was shown to inhibit enzymes that process carbohydrates. Consequently, it aids in lowering the sugar content in your blood.
A separate study discovered that echinacea extracts caused cells to be more responsive to insulin through activating the PPAR-y receptor, which is usually an object of diabetes treatments. Additionally, it aids in the removal of additional fat from the bloodstream, which can increase the odds of developing insulin resistance. This facilitates the cells’ reactions to both insulin and sugar.
7. Great For Skin
Echinacea plants are beneficial in treating skin issues. For instance, multiple studies have observed that echinacea’s restraining of inflammation and antibacterial features restrain the progress of Propionibacterium acnes, the essential source of pimples.
A study revealed that if you apply skin care products with an echinacea extract, it can improve your skin’s moisture levels and reduce the number of wrinkles. Research has demonstrated that an active ingredient obtainable from echinacea purpurea can improve the signs of eczema and reinstate the epidermis, the light protective layer on the skin. It is challenging to include in skin care products that are sold commercially because of its limited lifespan.
8. Relieves Upper Respiratory Issues
Because of its immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory effects, research indicates that this herb may work to improve the following upper respiratory symptoms:
- Acute sinusitis
- All flus
- Asthma
- Common cold
- Croup
- Diphtheria
- Inflammation
- Strep throat
- Tuberculosis
- Whooping cough
Research conducted on asthma patients revealed that echinacea can be used as an effective treatment, similar to synthetic medications. Studies have found that it is possible to reduce the secretion of asthma-related cytokines in bronchial epithelial cells with the use of Echinacea preparations.
In particular, echinacea showed significant bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Researchers found evidence that supports the usage of this herb in traditional medicine for aiding people suffering from allergic lung problems such as asthma.
For more serious ailments, it is better to take nutritional supplements instead of just drinking tea, as tea is not potent enough.
9. Fights Infection
Echinacea is an excellent cure for many types of infections. A research project established that using both echinacea and a medicinal ointment on the skin reduces the likelihood of recurrent vaginal infections by as much as 16 percent when compared with using the medicine by itself.
It’s also known to help with:
- Bloodstream infections
- Genital herpes
- Gum disease
- Malaria
- Syphilis
- Typhoid
- Urinary tract infections
- Vaginal yeast infections
Uses
Echinacea has been utilized to avoid and cure a variety of common problems, ranging from colds to decrepit skin. Here are the herb’s top uses as indicated by controlled trials and reviews of research:
1. Helps Prevent Catching a Cold
A recent investigation of 82 distinct investigations revealed that consuming 2400mg of echinacea extract per day for a span of four months may lessen an individual’s chance of getting a cold and the symptoms might be milder and last for a shorter period if a cold is acquired.
Related: Common Cold Remedies for Fast Relief
2. Reduces Cold Symptoms and Duration of Cold
The Journal of the American Medical Association conducted a meta-analysis of research published in 2015 that concluded ingesting echinacea within 24 hours of the first common cold symptoms can help reduce their duration and intensity.
3. Helps Avoid the Flu
Research conducted in 2009 on cells revealed that different forms of influenza including avian and swine flu, which could be deadly, were not able to make their way into human cells that had been subjected to echinacea extract.
Lab studies don’t necessarily always hold true when applied to people, but when considering the effects of echinacea on humans seen in other studies, it could be worth giving it a go if there is influenza being spread in your surroundings or you have been exposed to somebody who has it.
Related: 12 Flu Natural Remedies
4. Reduces Flu Symptoms and Duration of Illness
A European study from 2015 showed that echinacea could be just as useful as the prescription drug Oseltamivir for decreasing the strength and length of flu symptoms as well as avoiding harms when taken right away when someone first notices the onset of sickness. It is essential to initiate taking echinacea as soon as one notices the onset of the flu in order to amplify its efficacy.
In addition, other echinacea uses supported by research include helping:
- combat cancer
- boost immunity
- alleviate pain
- treat constipation
- fight inflammation
- improve skin
- support mental health
- relieve upper respiratory issues
Risks and Side Effects
It is worth bearing in mind that consuming excessive amounts of echinacea can result in adverse reactions. In certain situations, taking sizable quantities of an extract from the plant may lead to queasiness and feeling faint, particularly in individuals who are allergic. Hence, it is not deemed secure to utilize for the treatment of seasonal sensitivities, for instance.
It has also been reported that injected echinacea can cause more severe reactions, such as:
- d iarrhea
- d isorientation
- d izziness
- d ry mouth
- f ever
- h eadache
- i nsomnia
- j oint and muscle aches
- n ausea
- n umbness of the tongue
- s ore throat
- s tomach pain
- u npleasant taste
- vomiting
One should begin taking echinacea at a low dose and gradually increase it, as an allergic reaction could arise.
The basic idea when it comes to the plant’s harmful effects: Make sure to not consume more than the suggested and safe amounts. To prevent overuse in the long run, it’s recommended to have a pause in supplementation every few weeks if you are a regular user.
Forms and Dosage
Echinacea can be obtained without a prescription from several sources, such as health food stores, the web, pharmacies, and supermarkets. It can be acquired in various formats, e.g. fluid essences, dried up plants, containers or pills, and also as echinacea tea.
There is not a strictly proven method of making the most of echinacea, yet the National Institutes of Health suggests that taking it daily can enhance immunity and improve general well-being. Therefore, it is frequently employed to treat the typical cold and influenza.
It has been suggested that echinacea is most useful when taken immediately after the onset of symptoms, and continuously for a period of 7 to 10 days. It is hypothesized that liquid echinacea may be more effective than pills because of the way it is absorbed by the body.
Do not forget to apply an alcohol-free product when you are using it for yourself or your kids.
As a final warning, it is frequently the case that items are incorrectly labeled as a specific type of echinacea or the labeled quantity of components are not actually included. It is crucial that people opt for goods from authentic and straightforward brands.
Echinacea & COVID-19
In 2011, a research discovered that multiple forms of echinacea can help in combating viral respiratory problems. Experts caution that the lack of regulation in echinacea goods may prevent those affected from finding an effective remedy.
Studies conducted in 2020 indicate that taking echinacea capsules found in commercial remedies may help stop serious respiratory illnesses caused by coronaviruses. Some experts, however, caution that this limited study did not look at the effect the item has on the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Experts also say that the impact on human beings has not been tested, only on cell lines and viral particles. The study was not evaluated by experts in the field, and there is no evidence that echinacea can be used to treat the coronavirus. Experts caution that this material could be damaging to individuals suffering from autoimmune disorders.
Conclusion
- There are many traditional echinacea benefits and uses, but the strongest scientific evidence available currently supports echinacea use (as echinacea extract or echinacea tea) as a way to help slow the development and reduce the intensity and duration of upper respiratory viral infections, such as the common cold and influenza (flu).
- Other echinacea uses supported by controlled trials include helping combat cancer, boosting immunity, alleviating pain, treating constipation, fighting inflammation, improving skin and more.
- You can grow your own echinacea and make your own homemade extract to try out the power of echinacea uses, but start slow and in small doses to avoid allergic reactions to the herb or other adverse side effects.