Native Americans used echinacea since at least the 1600s. They used the plant to treat snakebite, gum and mouth disease, colds, coughs, blood poisoning, sore throat, stomach and intestinal pain. Echinacea was also historically used for scarlet fever, syphilis, malaria, blood poisoning, and diphtheria. Through the 1800s, Echinacea was the most widely used plant drug in the United States, dispensed by both traditional doctors and the “nature doctors” (who were also called Eclectic physicians). It remained on the national list of official plant drugs in the United States until the 1940s and was most likely taken off this list because the conditions Echinacea had been used for were by then being treated with antibiotics.

In the 1980s, experiments with echinacea demonstrated that it still had possible therapeutic applications. Today, some people note that echinacea reduces the amount of time it takes for a cold or flu to run its course. It is also used for nasal, sinus, and bronchial illnesses, and echinacea ointments can speed the healing of wounds that are slow to heal.

Plant Description of Echinacea

Echinacea has tall stems and bears single flowers that look similar to black-eyed Susans, except that echinacea flowers are pink or purple, and the cone in the middle is usually a purplish brown. The cone (the “eye” in black-eyed Susan) is actually a seed head and is very large on echinacea flowers. It has sharp spines that look like a stiff comb or an angry hedgehog. This is actually where echinacea got its name: echinos is Greek for hedgehog. Of nine species, three are used medicinally, which vary in appearance from the intensity of petal color to the stiff or drooping way the petals encircle the seed head.

What’s Echinacea Made Of?

Many plant chemicals are involved in echinacea’s effects: polysaccharides, flavonoids, caffeic acid derivatives, essential oils, polyacetylenes, alkylamides, and alkaloids. Polysaccharides are known to trigger cells in the body that fight infection.

Available Products and Forms of Echinacea

Extracts, tinctures, tablets, capsules, ointments, and stabilized fresh extracts are available.

How to Take Echinacea

Echinacea’s immune stimulant actions reduce inflammation and help the body fight bacteria and viruses. Tests show that echinacea stimulates immune system cells into action. When these cells are activated, white blood cells are more ready to wrap themselves around illness-causing invaders and to move viruses or bacteria out of your system, prevent them from reproducing themselves, or simply stop their activity.

While many individuals choose to take echinacea on a daily basis during the winter to help prevent colds and flu, studies have not consistently shown that this type of use is effective. On the other hand, echinacea can reduce the length of time that you have a cold or the flu. And, if you have rheumatoid arthritis and have trouble with steroid-based anti-inflammatory drugs, echinacea may provide you with very mild relief and no side effects.

For general immune system stimulation, during colds, flu, upper respiratory tract infection, or bladder infection, choose from the following forms of Echinacea and take three times a day.

- 1 to 2 g dried root, as tea
- 2 to 3 ml of 22 percent ethanol extract standardized to contain 2.4 percent beta-1,2-fructofuranosides
- 200 mg of powdered extract containing 6.5:1, or 3.5 percent, echinacoside
- Fluid extract (1:1): .5 ml to 1 ml
- Tincture (1:5): 1 to 3 ml
- Stabilized fresh extract: .75 ml

For arthritis, take 15 drops daily of a standardized Echinacea extract produced by a reputable manufacturer.

For slow-healing wounds, apply Echinacea creams or ointments as desired.

Precautions for Echinacea

The American Herbal Products Association gives echinacea a class 1 safety rating, so it’s safe as long as you use it as recommended by your health care provider or as instructed on the product label. In Germany, continual use of echinacea is restricted to eight weeks. Discuss long-term use with your health care provider.

Echinacea is a member of the Compositae family and as such may rarely cause an allergic reaction.

When you take echinacea orally, you will notice a strong numbing and tingling sensation on your tongue. This is normal and goes away quickly.

Some cases of skin rash and itching have been reported, but these are rare. Do not use echinacea if you have tuberculosis, leukoses, diabetes, collagenosis, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, HIV infection, or an autoimmune disease. If you are pregnant, consult with your health care provider before taking echinacea.

Possible Interactions with Echinacea

Because echinacea can affect your immune system, do not take this herb if you are on any immunosuppressive therapies.

Supporting Research on Echinacea

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Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicine. Boston, Mass: Integrative Medicine Communications; 1998.

Bräunig B, Dorn M, Knick E. Echinacea purpurea radix for strengthening the immune response in flu-like infections. Z Phytotherapie. 1992;13:7–13.

Dorn M, Knick E, Lewith G. Placebo-controlled, double-blind study of Echinacea pallidaeradix in upper respiratory tract infections. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 1997;5:40–42.

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Hobbs C. The Echinacea Handbook. Sandy, Ore: Eclectic Medical; 1989. Coeugniet E, Kuhnast R. Adjuvant immunotherapy with different formulations of echinacin [in German]. Therapiwoche. 1986;36:3352–3358.

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Melchart D, Walther E, Linde K, Brandmaier R, Lersch C. Echinacea root extracts for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. Arch Fam Med. 1998;7:541–545.

Melchart D, Linde IK, Worku F, Sarkady L, Holzmann M, Jurcic K, et al. Results of Five Randomized Studies on the Immunomodulatory Activity of Preparations of Echinacea. J Alt Comp Med. 1995;1(2):145–160.

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