Echinacea is a blooming plant genus in the daisy family that is commonly used in cold treatments.
Echinacea supporters claim that the supplement improves the immune system and helps alleviate symptoms of infections and other ailments, including the common cold.
Researchers have yet to establish if it gives these advantages.The scientific evidence for Echinacea’s possible applications is discussed further below.
What is echinacea?
The word echinacea refers to a group of blooming plants native to North America.
There are nine well recognized varieties of Echinacea, three of which are used in herbal remedies:
- E. angustifolia has thin petals
- E. pallida has pale petals
- E. purpurea has purple flowers
Different species are believed to have different health advantages.
Echinacea has a long history of traditional and popular uses, but scientists have yet to determine if it provides any actual health advantages.
Echinacea health benefits
Echinacea plants are rich in active ingredients. Some of these chemicals might have antibacterial and antiviral effects, while others could help the immune system in other ways.
Echinacea, like many other plants, contains phenols. Phenols regulate the action of several enzymes and cell receptors.
They shield the plants from diseases and UV radiation damage, and they may have antioxidant qualities.
Today, people all around the world utilize echinacea-containing medicines to help cure a variety of ailments, including:
- Coughs and colds
- Bronchitis
- Upper respiratory infections
- Gingivitis
- Influenza
- Canker sores
- Yeast infections
- Ear infections
- Vaginitis
- Some inflammatory conditions
- HIV
- AIDS
Some people also take echinacea to support wound healing.
However, the majority of evidence supporting these applications is anecdotal. There are few studies that support the use of Echinacea in medicine.
Echinacea comes in various forms
Echinacea is available as tea, tablets and even tinctures.
Side effects
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), consuming echinacea by mouth for a short period of time is probably safe, but the effects of long-term usage are unknown.
Some users have reported getting a rash after taking it, which might be an allergic response. This is more common in people who have a history of allergic responses.
According to the NIH, the risk of other drugs interfering with Echinacea is probably negligible.
Today, individuals all around the world utilize Echinacea-containing products to help them feel better.
Can echinacea treat colds?
People have made numerous claims regarding echinacea fighting illnesses, including the common cold.
According to several studies, consuming Echinacea may help you fight off a cold.
For example, scientists determined in one review of over a dozen research papers that taking Echinacea might cut the chance of acquiring a cold by roughly 58 percent and shorten the duration of a cold by 1.4 days.
Another study, on the other hand, discovered that Echinacea had no effect on the common cold and only shortened the length of symptoms by half a day at most.
According to a 2014 Cochrane review, “Echinacea products have not been demonstrated to give advantages for treating colds.”
Can echinacea cure or prevent COVID-19?
Echinacea has yet to be proven to lower the severity of a cold, and there is very little proof that it can assist with other conditions.
The authors of a review discovered in 2011 that various Echinacea preparations may help cure viral respiratory illnesses. They do, however, warn that the absence of standardization in Echinacea products may prevent patients from discovering appropriate therapies.
Meanwhile, a 2020 research suggests that a commercial medication containing Echinacea extract might aid in the prevention of severe respiratory infections caused by coronaviruses.
Other experts, however, warn that this restricted experiment did not examine the product’s effect on the virus that causes coronavirus illness 19 (COVID-19).
Furthermore, the researchers only tested the product on cell lines and viral particles, not on humans. The study was also not peer-reviewed, and it does not prove that echinacea may help treat COVID-19.
The experts who issued the warning also warn that the substance might be harmful to persons who have autoimmune diseases.
There is no evidence that echinacea or any other herbal medicine component may prevent or cure severe respiratory infections such as COVID-19.
Takeaway
Echinacea may help boost the immune system, but further study is needed to establish this. There is no proof that it can treat a viral infection or any other ailment.
Echinacea is available over the counter in pharmacies, health food stores, and online in dried, tea, liquid extract, and pill form.
Before using echinacea or any other herbal supplement, consult your GP because they might interfere with existing therapies.