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| General
Information |
Common Name:
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Echinacea |
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Latin
Name:
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Echinacea Purpurea
Echinacea Angustifolia
Echinacea Pallido |
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Family:
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Asteraceae |
| Other Names: |
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American
coneflower
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Black Sampson
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Missouri snake
root
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Rudbeckia
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Scurvy root
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| Indications & Historical Uses |
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Immunity booster,
especially against colds and
flu.
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As an anti-inflammatory,
analgesic, sedative and
anti-spasmodic.
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As an adjunct to treatment
of throat infections.
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Anti-viral.
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Wound
healing.
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For skin conditions like
eczema ,psoriasis and
herpes
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Echinacea is the forgotten herb , recently,
rediscovered and appreciated for its ability to enhance
our innate infection-fighting ability. For centuries,
many native North American tribes such as the Cheyennes
and Comanches have used Echinacea,or purple cone flower,
in topical and ingestible medicinal herb preparations
.This herb was used by native Americans to aid in
healing insect bites, skin wounds, toothaches and to
treat mumps, colds, arthritis and a wide variety of
other medical conditions. Although its use was largely
abandoned once antibiotics became popular, the medical
community is recognizing its usefulness once again,
especially in this age of antibiotic resistance .Recent
clinical trials support the use of Echinacea to treat
colds and flu and to strengthen the immune system to
optimize our infection fighting ability against a
variety of other illnesses, such as herpes, bronchitis,
tonsillitis, influenza, meningitis ,tuberculosis,
abscesses, whooping cough, arthritis, ear infections and
many other conditions.
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| Contraindications &
Precautions |
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Contraindictions:
Should not be used by
persons suffering from severe systemic illnesses such as
collagen diseases, multiple sclerosis, asthma, diabetes,
leukemia, tuberculosis, immunocompromised individuals
(HIV/ AIDS) and individuals receiving immunosuppressive
therapy (such as corticosteroids and cyclosporine). Also See Caution.
Precautions:
See above and Caution.
Do not use if you are allergic to sunflowers .Prolonged
use of echinacea may depress the immune system probably
because of overstimulation and therefore echinacea
should be taken for only 2-3 months at a time or on and
off alternating schedule every few weeks.
Drug
Interaction:
May interfere with
immunosuppressive therapy.
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| Dosage Information |
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How
Supplied:
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500 mg capsules. |
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Dosage:
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500mg. extract two times a day during flu
season. |
| Pharmacology
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Roots and leaves contain the most potent
immunostimulating components. Echinacea contains
Polysaccharides and Phytosterols, which have stimulatory
effects on the immune system, particularly the
complement pathway.
It increases phagocytosis, and promotes the
activity of lymphocytes, increasing release of tumor
necrosis factor[TNF]. It also stimulates adrenal
cortical activity, induces production of interferon and
properidin and inhibits production of hyaluronidase and
as a result promotes wound healing and has
anti-inflammatory effects. Echinacosides appear to have
antibacterial activity. All these actions tend to
increase the body's resistance to viral and bacterial
activity. .
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Active
Ingredients:
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Polysacharrides
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Echinacosides
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Caffeic Acid
Glycoside
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Essential oils [
humulene,caryophylene]
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Polyacetylenes
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Sesquiterpene
Esters
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Flavonoids
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Enhancing
Agents:
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Golden
seal
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Ginseng
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Astragalus
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Licorice
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| Origin |
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Echinacea Angustifolia ,a member of the daisy
family, is native to the American Midwest. It has thick
narrow leaves and bears a single flower distinguished by
purple rays emanating from a coned shaped centre. The
black root stock is used medicinally.
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| Processing |
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Cold water/ethanol extraction (repercolation)
Evaporation at low temperature, low
pressure.
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| Scientific References |
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Foster, S. (1991)
Echinacea, The Purple Cornflower. American Botanical
Council, No. 301.
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Hobbs, C.(1989) The
Echinacea handbook. Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical
Publication.
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Mowrey, D. (1990)
Guaranteed Potency Herbs. A Compilation of
writings on the subject.
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Mowrey, D. (1986) The
Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine.
Cormorant Books.
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Samochowiez, E. et al.
(1979) Evaluation of the effect of Calendula
officinalis and Echinacea angustifolia on
Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro. Wiadmosci Parazytologiczne.
25(1):77.
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Tragni,E. et al. (1985)
Evidence from two classic irritation tests for
an anti-inflammatory action of a natural
extract, Echinacin B. Food and Chem. Toxic.
23(1):317.
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Wacker, A. and Hilbig, A.
(1981) An immunostimulating active principle
from Echinacea purpurea. Agnew. Phytother.
2(5):166.
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Weiner,M. (1990) Weiner's
Herbal. Mill Valley: Quantum
Books.
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Brophy, J.J.: "Chapter
19" in current Medical Diagnosis &
Treatment 1990, S.A. Schroeder, M.A. Krupp, L.M.
Tierney, Jr., and S.J. McPhee, eds., Appleton
& Lange, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1990,
pp.710-714.
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Foster, S.: Asian Ginseng:
Panax ginseng, Botanical
Series No. 303, American Botanical Council,
Austin, Texas, 1991, 7 pp.
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Foster, S.: American
Ginseng: Panax quinquefolius, Botanical Series No. 308, American
Botanical Council, Austin, Texas, 1991, 8
pp.
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Chandler, R.F.: Canadian Pharmaceutical
Journal 121:36-38 (1988).
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Lawrence Review of Natural
Products: March, 1990.
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Wren, R.C.: Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical
Drugs and Preparations, rev. ed., D.W.
Daniel, Saffron Walden, England, 1988, pp.
129-130.
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Barna, P.: Lancet II:548
(1985).
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Staba, E.J.: Lancet
II:1309-1310 (1985).
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Lewis, W.H.: "Chapter
15" in Plants in Indigenous Medicine &
Diet: Biobehavioral Approaches, N.L. Etkin, ed.,
Redgrave Publishing, Bedford Hills, New York,
1986, pp.
290-305.
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