echinacea purpurea medicinal properties

Echinacea purpurea (Asteraceae) is a perennial medicinal herb with important immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, especially the alleviation of cold symptoms. The plant also attracted scientists' attention to assess other aspects of its beneficial effects.

1. What is Echinacea purpurea used for?
2. Which echinacea is medicinal?
3. What are the health benefits of Echinacea?
4. Which echinacea plant is best for medicine?
5. Who should not take echinacea?
6. Is it OK to take echinacea every day?
7. Is Echinacea an antiviral?
8. Does Echinacea have side effects?
9. Does Echinacea really work?
10. Is Echinacea bad for your liver?
11. How can I boost up my immune system?
12. How much echinacea should you take daily?
13. Does Echinacea make you sleepy?
14. Can you take too much echinacea?
15. What is echinacea goldenseal good for?
16. Does echinacea work for flu?
17. Why is Echinacea bad for autoimmune disease?
18. Is echinacea good for skin?

What is Echinacea purpurea used for?

Echinacea has been used for virus infections such as the common cold and flu. It is used to strengthen the immune system. It has also been used for returning vaginal fungal infections ("yeast infections") along with antifungal products applied to the vaginal area.

Which echinacea is medicinal?

There are nine different species of Echinacea, but only three of them are used as medicinal herbs (E. purpurea; Echinacea pallida; and Echinacea angustifolia). Purple coneflower has been used for centuries in both traditional and folk medicine.

What are the health benefits of Echinacea?

Echinacea has been shown to improve immunity, blood sugar, anxiety, inflammation and skin health. It may even have anti-cancer properties. However, human-based research is often limited. It's considered safe and well tolerated for short-term use.

Which echinacea plant is best for medicine?

Echinacea purpurea has many traditional and modern medical uses, and therefore, many different parts of the plant are used to varying effect. The flowers, leaves, stems and roots flower are all used for medicinal treatments.

Who should not take echinacea?

have a medical condition that affects your immune system, such as an autoimmune disease, HIV or AIDS. are taking drugs to suppress your immune system, because it may work against them. are under the age of 12 – the medical health regulatory association (MHRA) says there is a risk of allergic reactions such as skin ...

Is it OK to take echinacea every day?

For general immune system stimulation, during colds, flu, upper respiratory tract infections, or bladder infections, take echinacea 3 times a day until you feel better, but not for more than 10 days. DO NOT take echinacea on an empty stomach. Instead, take it with food or a large glass of water.

Is Echinacea an antiviral?

Early reports of antiviral activity of Echinacea [18] indicated that several different methanol and aqueous extracts derived from E. purpurea could partially protect cultured cells from infection by influenza A virus, herpes simplex virus type 1, or vesicular stomatitis, viruses.

Does Echinacea have side effects?

Some side effects have been reported such as fever, nausea, vomiting, bad taste, stomach pain, diarrhea, sore throat, dry mouth, and headache. In rare cases, echinacea has been reported to cause serious allergic reactions and liver damage. When applied to the skin: Echinacea is POSSIBLY SAFE short-term.

Does Echinacea really work?

Recent research suggests that some echinacea supplements may shorten the duration of a cold by about half a day and may slightly reduce symptom severity. But these results were too minor to be deemed significant. In the past, some studies have found echinacea to be helpful while other studies have found no benefit.

Is Echinacea bad for your liver?

Hepatotoxicity. In multiple controlled trials, echinacea by itself has not been linked to liver injury, either in the form of transient serum enzyme elevations or clinically apparent acute liver injury.

How can I boost up my immune system?

5 Ways to Boost Your Immune System

1. Maintain a healthy diet. As with most things in your body, a healthy diet is key to a strong immune system. ...
2. Exercise regularly. ...
3. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. ...
4. Get plenty of sleep. ...
5. Minimize stress. ...
6. One last word on supplements.

How much echinacea should you take daily?

How much echinacea should you take? There is no standard dose of echinacea. It depends in part on the form you use. For example, the usual dose range for pressed juice is 6-9 milliliters daily, and the usual dose range for tinctures (usually a solution of alcohol and herbal extract) is 0.75-1.5 milliliters daily.

Does Echinacea make you sleepy?

Some side effects have been reported such as fever, nausea, vomiting, unpleasant taste, stomach pain, diarrhea, sore throat, dry mouth, headache, numbness of the tongue, dizziness, insomnia, disorientation, and joint and muscle aches. In rare cases, echinacea has been reported to cause inflammation of the liver.

Can you take too much echinacea?

Taking more than the recommended amount can be dangerous. Most brands say you should avoid taking echinacea on an empty stomach. They recommend taking it with food or a large glass of water. Don't take echinacea for more than a few weeks.

What is echinacea goldenseal good for?

One of the main benefits of Echinacea and goldenseal is that they help to boost the immune system in the body. If you are a person that gets colds quite often or if you suffer from the flu several times throughout the year, you might benefit from Echinacea and goldenseal.

Does echinacea work for flu?

Not only that, but it could also help treat symptoms of the flu. In one study in 473 people with the flu, drinking an echinacea-based beverage was as effective as an antiviral medication at treating symptoms.

Why is Echinacea bad for autoimmune disease?

(5) Echinacea

Echinacea is often used as a dietary supplement to boost the immune system against colds and other illnesses. However, because Echinacea boosts your immune system, it may cause flares in people with autoimmune diseases such as lupus.

Is echinacea good for skin?

Studies show echinacea boosts your skin's own moisturizing properties by increasing levels of epidermal lipids, ceramides, and cholesterol. Combined, these benefits keep your skin's protective outer layer strong, meaning less moisture is able to escape over time.