Echinacea tincture treatment. Echinacea - medicinal properties and contraindications

american golden flower, snake root, prairie flower, purple cone, evening sun

A perennial herbaceous plant with pronounced immunomodulating properties, also has antiviral, antimicrobial and antibacterial effects, is widely used in pharmacology and traditional medicine.

Name in Latin: Echinacea purpurea

Name in English: purple coneflower

Family: Asters, or Compositae

The healing properties and contraindications of echinacea were first described by North American shamans. The Indians called this grass "golden flower" and "evening sun." She saved from many diseases: she was treated with colds, headaches, wounds, burns, ulcers, venereal diseases, used as an antidote for bites of poisonous insects and snakes. Taken in the form of decoctions, mixed with other herbs. Echinacea came to Europe in the 17th century. At first it was used only as an ornamental plant, later it began to be used in medicine.

Features of Echinacea purpurea

Translated from the Greek "echinos" means "hedgehog". Perhaps the name of the plant was due to the internal pointed flowers. When they dry out, they look like hedgehog thorns. What is the herb Echinacea purpurea famous for?

Distribution area

The homeland of this plant is the eastern part North America. Here echinacea grows in the wild, found on sandy river banks, rocky soils, loves dry areas. In Europe, the grass has taken root as an agricultural crop, which is often grown in home gardens, in parks, gardens as an ornamental and medicinal plant.

Botanical description

Echinacea purpurea. Botanical illustration by Sydenham Edwards from The Botanical Magazine, vol. 1., no. 2, 1792.

There are 11 species of this plant in the genus. The most famous of them are white, purple, narrow-leaved echinacea. They are used in folk medicine. But few people have heard of Echinacea paradoxical, feigning, bloody, Tennessee - all this decorative types plants that adorn our flower beds and front gardens. In folk medicine, Echinacea purpurea is most often used. What does this plant look like?

• It can be up to 1–1.5 m high.
• The leaves are narrow, oval, with pubescence and small teeth.
• Straight, rough stem splits upward.
• On a split stem, inflorescences are formed in the form of baskets.
• Baskets can be up to 15 cm in diameter.
• The inner tubular flowers are pointed, dark red or brownish.
• Reed marginal flowers are pink, purple.

Echinacea blooms for a long time, starting from the end of June and ending with the first frosts in the Central Russian zone. Sometimes you can find another name for this type of grass - purple rudbeckia. This is an erroneous synonym. In modern botanical catalogs, these are two different genera.

healing action

What kind medicinal properties echinacea? Thanks to what beneficial substances is it popular in traditional and folk medicine?

• Chemical composition. There are many trace elements in the grass. Among them are reserves of zinc, selenium, iron, manganese, silicon, calcium, cobalt, silver, potassium and other trace elements. The flower is rich in vitamins, valuable essential oils, tannins, organic acids, polysaccharides, alkaloids, glycosides, resins. It contains enzymes, flavonoids, phytosterols, saponins. Healing substances are found in flowers, stems, stem, basal leaves and rhizomes of echinacea.
• Immunomodulator. Such well-known plants as ginseng, lemongrass, eleutherococcus are immune system stimulants, that is, they invigorate the body, restore impaired immunity. Echinacea has a different principle of action: it pushes immune system to independent work, to use an internal resource. It has been clinically proven that the herb can be used as antiviral agent as a treatment and prevention of SARS, influenza.
• Antioxidant. Thanks to selenium, a group of vitamins B and C, echinacea is able to bind free radicals and remove them from the body, which prevents oncological diseases and premature aging organism.
• Antiseptic and antibiotic. Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties herbs were well known to the tribes of North American Indians. And today, preparations based on echinacea are used externally for antiseptic treatment skin, but they are also taken orally for viral (including herpes), fungal and bacterial infections. Conducted clinical trials in which it was proved that echinacea is active against staphylococci and streptococci.

Indications for use

• Colds, SARS, influenza (treatment and prevention).
• Inflammatory processes on the nasal mucosa, oral cavity, throat.
• Respiratory diseases.
• Gastric ulcer.
• infections urinary tract.
• Outwardly: dermatitis, trophic ulcers, burns, wounds, boils, eczema, insect bites, psoriasis.

Also, the drug is prescribed for rehabilitation after prolonged illnesses, radiotherapy for oncological diagnoses, to remove toxins from the body in case of poisoning with chemicals, heavy metals.

Contraindications

What are the contraindications for Echinacea purpurea?

• Autoimmune diseases.
• AIDS.
• Tuberculosis.
• Multiple sclerosis.
• Leukemia and leukemia.
• Individual sensitivity to grass.
• Pregnancy and lactation period.
• Older people take in limited doses.
• Children under 12 years old.

Echinacea can pose the greatest danger to people with diseases of the immune system. The drug can lead to unpredictable immune shifts that will be dangerous to health and life. However, some restrictions (eg, pregnancy, lactation, age) are introduced due to the lack of clinical trials. The harm of echinacea has not been proven in this case, but the benefits have not been clinically confirmed either.

Echinacea contains no toxic components. AT rare cases there are side effects in the form of an allergic reaction to the grass. Sometimes there is a tingling and numbness of the tongue after oral intake, which is explained by the action unsaturated acids. But this symptom passes quickly. In case of an overdose, the following manifestations are possible: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, chills, nervous excitement. In this case, the drug should be immediately discontinued and seek medical help.

How is echinacea used in pharmacology and traditional medicine

The most valuable thing in echinacea is its juice. To save it beneficial features, alcohol is used as a preservative in pharmacology, lemon acid, sugar, and in folk medicine - vodka and honey. Tinctures are made from the juice, but dry extract of the herb (flowers, leaves, stems, root) is also used.

Forms of release in pharmacology

Echinacea pharmaceutical preparations are available in different dosage forms. The herb extract is also added to other preparations that activate the immune system.

• Tincture. Produced with fresh crushed Echinacea purpurea (roots and rhizomes) and 50% ethyl alcohol. For preventive purposes, take 5-10 drops 2 times a day. AT acute period infections and at the initial stage of the disease, increased doses are recommended: the tincture can be drunk 15 drops 6 times a day. Read more about the use of echinacea tincture.
• syrup. It contains not only echinacea, but also extracts of wild rose, rowan fruits, green tea. The syrup can be taken in a tablespoon once a day for the prevention of seasonal viral infections. You can drink the medicine for 3 weeks. Then they take a break in treatment for a month, on the recommendation of a doctor, repeat the course.
• Tablets . The dry extract is obtained from Echinacea purpurea and angustifolia. Adults are allowed to take 1 tablet 3-4 times a day. Tablets are not swallowed, but dissolved until completely dissolved in the mouth. Therapeutic effect observed a week after the start of treatment. The course of treatment should not exceed 2 months. Tablets are prohibited for children under 12 years of age. Shelf life - 3 years. The most famous commercial names echinacea tablets - "Immunal", "Immunorm". Also offered dietary supplement "Neoline echinacea" in the form of effervescent tablets with the addition ascorbic acid and zinc.

How to prepare medicine at home

Echinacea has found wide application in folk medicine. Healers with more experience prefer to grow it themselves valuable plant and give advice on preparing echinacea potions.

Echinacea tea preparation

1. Pour 0.5 liters of boiling water.
2. Insist 30 minutes.

You can take tea 1 glass a day for prevention. At the beginning of the flu, colds, SARS, you can drink a loading dose - 3 glasses a day, with the addition of honey.

Preparing the mixture with honey

1. Grind the dry parts of the plant into a powder.
2. Take 100 g of powder.
3. Put 300 g of honey in it.
4. Mix thoroughly.

This mixture can be taken 3 times a day in a tablespoon with tea. It is recommended as a prophylactic for ARVI, fatigue, headache.

Preparation of alcohol tincture

1. Take 20 g of dry echinacea.
2. Pour 200 g of vodka.
3. Infuse for 14 days, shaking occasionally.

In therapeutic doses, the tincture is taken 30 drops 3 times a day, it can be diluted with water.

Decoction preparation

1. Take 1 teaspoon of dried echinacea herb.
2. Pour in a glass of boiling water.
3. Hold in a water bath for 15 minutes.
4. Leave for 1 hour.

Take a decoction 3 times a day for ½ cup. Can be used instead of dry herb fresh leaves and flowers.

The health of the family is in the hands of a woman - a Simple Queen in the home kingdom

Hello, friends. On a cold autumn day, it is just right to continue talking about adaptogen plants that help the body cope with seasonal ailments. Echinacea deservedly becomes the queen of my publication today, the medicinal and beneficial properties of which are very much appreciated by pharmacists and herbalists around the world.

Miraculous healer flower

Echinacea has recently begun to compete with the famous ginseng, which is actively used in medicine and pharmacy. This plant is another powerful biological stimulant of the immune system. And literally works wonders.

jet bow history

One day, Jett Bow, who was ill with a severe form of streptococcal tonsillitis. This disease became a constant companion of a young woman and annually poisoned her life. But this time, Jett was determined to finally defeat the disease without resorting to antibiotics. The herbalist's advice was simple: take a crushed clove of garlic every hour, and every two hours - high dose echinacea tinctures and vitamin C. How surprised the young woman was when the day after the start of treatment she was able to swallow painlessly, and then she felt completely healthy.

origin

Echinacea is native to the prairies of North America. In the local traditional medicine this green healer has been used for a long time and successfully. For the ancient Indians of North America, the plant was sacred, with its help they treated almost all diseases - from toothache to intoxication from the bites of poisonous snakes. Interestingly, the very name "echinacea" is translated from Indian (not to be confused with the language of the Hindus) as "deer root". Everything is explained simply - observant Indians have noticed more than once how sick deer ate this grass and soon recovered.

emergence in Europe

Europeans learned about amazing plant relatively recently, at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. However, having studied its beneficial properties and effects on the human body, pharmacists have created a whole series of drugs based on echinacea. After all, it is deservedly considered one of the most famous natural antibiotics and the best stimulants of the immune system.

Useful, medicinal properties of Echinacea purpurea and its application

The chemical composition of echinacea is unique. The plant contains:

• essential oils;
• antioxidants (echinocin and echinolone);
• essential organic acids;
• vitamins A, C, E;
• trace elements (iron, silicon, calcium, selenium);
• starch;
• polysaccharides;
• antibacterial glycosides.

All of the above natural substances and components are harmoniously combined, and, moreover, enhance therapeutic effect each other. Moreover, healing effect possess all parts of the plant (root, flowers, leaves). As a rule, in folk medicine, plants are used that are at least two years old.

In the course of the studies, the main therapeutic property of echinacea was revealed - the activation and strengthening of the nonspecific immune system, that is, in other words, it is a natural immunomodulator.

In addition, the plant

• removes radionuclides and protects cells from radiation sickness;
• prevents cell aging and the formation of malignant tumors;
• promotes cleansing lymphatic system, blood, liver, kidneys, it is not without reason that echinacea is called the "cleaner";
• accelerates healing various kinds wounds, bruises, fractures;
• has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic properties;
• enhances sexual potency.

Echinacea can be called a universal healer. The list of diseases for which it is used includes 70 items. Among them are such heavy ones as:

• anemia,
• radiation sickness,
• atherosclerosis,
• rheumatoid arthritis,
• hepatitis,
• depression and neuroses,
• infectious diseases ( typhoid fever, erysipelas, scarlet fever, meningitis).

The healing properties of echinacea are successfully used in the treatment of gynecological diseases, eczema, and trophic ulcers.

Echinacea-based infusions and extracts can be used as adults (including old age), and children from two years old, with their still imperfect immune systems.

The plant is absolutely non-toxic and does not give side effects. Therefore, at the first sign of a cold in children, doctors include echinacea in mandatory list medicinal help.

And it gives a positive effect! After all, stimulating defensive forces organism, the disease is defeated many times faster and does not turn into chronic form. At the same time, the duration of the disease is reduced, which means that the number of complications also decreases. In turn, this approach provides a minimal burden on the immune system.

There are several ways to use echinacea

Alcohol tincture

Alcohol tincture is made from the flowers or roots of the plant. Regarding the dosage, it is worth consulting with your doctor in each case.

dose for adults

Usually 15-20 drops of tincture are diluted with water or added to tea and consumed 15 minutes before meals. In the first days of the course, the maximum dose for an adult should be 40 drops per day. After a few days, the dose is increased to 60 drops.

The duration of treatment is adjusted by the attending physician, who makes a decision based on the severity of a particular disease.

1. Also treated chronic gastritis, pancreatitis, allergic manifestations, gynecological diseases, constipation, gastric ulcer, kidney stones, hydradenitis (purulent inflammation sweat glands, also called - bough udder), etc. With the latter disease, the dose increases to 30 drops, and echinacea compresses can also be applied to the affected skin. They are prepared as follows: 40 drops of tincture are diluted in 100 ml of sodium chloride.
2. For treatment bronchial asthma, pneumonia, cough alcohol tincture rubbed into the back in the area of ​​​​the shoulder blades. The duration of this treatment is seven days.
3. At the first sign colds (sore throat, runny nose, cough) a bath with the addition of an alcoholic tincture of echinacea helps a lot.

Folk recipes with echinacea tincture

We take ten grams of crushed plant roots and pour 90 milliliters of 70% alcohol. You need to insist for a week in a warm place. You need to take twenty to thirty drops three times a day before meals. This tincture will help for gastritis, constipation and to normalize metabolism. The course of treatment is carried out no more than a month, and with bronchitis you can rub the blades with this infusion for a week.

• Prostatitis.Fresh plant must be crushed, poured into glass containers and poured with 60% alcohol. You need to pour until the alcohol fills the container two fingers above the grass. You need to insist twenty-one days in a dark place, shaking the solution daily. Strained tincture taken three times a day for an hour before meals. It is better to drink thirty to forty drops, diluted in a tablespoon of water, tea or juice.
• Polycystic kidney disease. To alleviate the condition with polycystic kidney disease, you need to take a pharmacy tincture of the plant. It is worth drinking ten to fifteen drops three times a day for six months.
• Psoriasis. It is necessary to take thirty grams of powder from the roots of the plant and mix with 70 grams of alcohol. Insist for twenty days in a dark room and drink twenty-five to thirty drops three times a day. In parallel with this, the scabs are smeared with Celestoderm ointment, and the course of treatment is carried out for fifty days.
• For gastritis and constipation you can use this recipe. We take ten grams of crushed raw materials and pour it with 90 milliliters of 70% alcohol. You need to insist for a week, then take twenty to thirty drops three times a day before meals. The course of treatment is two weeks, but it can be carried out up to a month.
• Lymphadenitis. For the treatment of lymphadenitis, it is recommended to take thirty drops of pharmacy alcohol tincture of the plant three times a day. It is best to dilute half with water and use for compresses.
• Felon. It is necessary to take one part of raw crushed roots or flower baskets of a plant and fill them with five parts of 70% alcohol. You need to insist for a week, and then drink thirty drops three times a day until recovery.
• Meningitis. Pour one part of the flowers of the plant with five parts of 70% alcohol and leave for ten days. Take thirty drops three times a day.
• Gastritis with high acidity. One hundred and fifty grams of crushed raw plant root should be poured with 0.6-0.7 liters of 96% alcohol. Insist for a month and drink a teaspoon before meals.

Tea

For high-quality prevention of various types of acute respiratory infections, influenza, after antibiotic treatment, transferred serious illnesses doctors recommend drinking tea from fresh echinacea flowers or from its crushed roots and leaves.

On the day you need to drink at least a glass of healing tea, and if necessary (if the disease is just beginning) and three glasses. In addition to therapeutic, tea has a rejuvenating and cleansing effect on the body, slows down aging.

In the cold season, you can drink tea from the plant. It will strengthen the immune system and protect against colds.

how to make tea

To prepare such a drink, you need to take two teaspoons of crushed raw materials and pour half a liter of boiling water. You need to insist it for about forty minutes and drink a glass a day for a month.

Decoction

• For flu and colds useful and just a decoction of echinacea. Use it before meals, three times a day, 1/3 cup. It also helps with edema, headache, joint pain, stomach ulcers, to normalize blood pressure, improves vision, increases appetite, has a tonic and firming effect. Store a decoction of echinacea for no more than two days, in a cool place, then prepare a new one.
• In order to normalize blood pressure, improve appetite, cure colds and flu this recipe is worth a try. We take one teaspoon of dry crushed leaves of the plant, and pour a glass of boiling water and soak in a boiling water bath for no more than fifteen minutes. Strained broth should be drunk in a third of a glass three times a day before meals.

• For chronic pneumonia or bronchiectasis you need to grind and mix twenty grams of echinacea herb, peppermint leaves and elecampane root; fifty grams of celandine and sage grass; thirty grams of plantain leaves; ten grams of anise seeds, pine buds, St. John's wort, calendula flowers, coltsfoot leaves and eucalyptus. Two tablespoons of this mixture should be poured with half a liter of boiling water and brought to a boil. After boiling for five minutes on low heat, the broth must be cooled and filtered. Drink a third cup three times a day after meals.
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). We mix two parts of echinacea flowers with four parts of pine needles, five parts of wild rosemary grass, six parts of elecampane root, seven parts of plantain leaves, eight parts of lingonberry leaves, raspberries, thyme herbs, oregano, calamus rhizomes and ten parts of St. John's wort herb. You need to take two teaspoons of the collection and pour them with a glass of boiling water. We send the solution to low heat and boil for ten minutes, then cool. Drink a third cup three times a day half an hour before meals or one hour after.

• One teaspoon of fresh or dried flowers and leaves of the plant should be poured with a glass of hot water and heated for twenty minutes in a water bath. You need to drink a third of a glass three times a day before meals. The decoction helps with insomnia, stomach ulcers, headaches and joint pain.
• cuts. You need to take one tablespoon of dry crushed root of the plant and pour a glass of hot water. The solution is sent to a water bath and kept for half an hour, after which we cool and use the decoction for compresses and lotions. Cotton pads with the solution are applied four to five times a day to sunburn, insect bites, cuts or rashes.

The healing properties of echinacea decoction are great, but one should not forget about contraindications. Be attentive to your health!

Infusion

In winter, during the rampant influenza epidemics and viruses, a weakened body will not be out of place with an infusion of echinacea. He will do his job right: strengthen immunity, protect against colds, increase efficiency and relieve fatigue and give strength, so necessary in this cold and uncomfortable period. Reception of infusion improves the composition of the blood.

Traditionally, the infusion is used three times a day for half a cup. The plus is that you can add honey, syrup, berry juice or sugar to your choice to taste.

• Flu. Perfectly improves immunity, cleanses the lymph and blood following recipe. You need to take three fresh flowers of the plant or two teaspoons of crushed roots or leaves. Herbs are poured with half a liter of boiling water and infused for forty minutes. After you need to strain the infusion and drink a glass a day for prevention or three glasses at the beginning of the disease.
• Immunity in women's diseases. To strengthen the immune system, you can take equal parts of the herb echinacea and leuzea. Pour one tablespoon of the mixture with a glass of boiling water and after an hour you can take the infusion.
• Pour three fresh flowers or two teaspoons of crushed plant roots with half a liter of boiling water and insist for forty minutes. You need to drink one cup a day for prevention and recovery, and three cups with colds and SARS.

• For pain in the pancreas. Water is poured into a liter enamel mug and sent to the fire until it boils. After that, you need to add ten grams of echinacea herb and cover with a lid so that the herb is well steamed. Drink three times a day for a glass.
• After operations. An infusion can be prepared from dry herbs by pouring a tablespoon of the plant into a glass of water. You need to drink in the morning and in the evening half a glass twenty minutes before meals. The course of treatment is ten days, after which they take a ten-day break and repeat the treatment again. You can add one teaspoon of honey to the drink for a richer taste.
• Burns, scars. We take three tablespoons of herb plants, and pour one and a half cups of boiling water. You need to insist for half an hour and, without filtering, wipe the sore spots with infusion.
• Infusion from boils. It is necessary to take half a liter of boiling water and three fresh flowers. Flowers can be replaced with two teaspoons of dried crushed roots or leaves of the plant. You need to insist for forty minutes and drink three glasses a day, and one is enough for prevention.

Compresses, lotions, baths

1. At skin diseases (psoriasis, eczema, boils), burns, bedsores infusion (or alcohol tincture) is applied externally, in the form of lotions or wet compresses. Also accept healing baths for skin cleansing.
2. In order to heal wounds and bruises you can use this recipe. Take one part of the dried and crushed plant, which is harvested during the growing season, and mix with three parts of honey. You need to apply it in the form of a compress or drink one or two teaspoons two or three times a day, diluted in a glass of tea.
3. It is necessary to take five to six teaspoons of dry grass of the plant and pour them with a liter or one and a half liters of boiling water. Infuse for forty-five or fifty minutes, then add to the bath.
4. Snake bite. It is necessary to apply a chewed slurry from the roots of the plant to the bite site and take one tablespoon five times a day a mixture of the stem, flower and root of the plant passed through a meat grinder.
5. With honey

Useful and healing properties of echinacea are greatly enhanced when mixed with honey. We are talking about such an unusual form of using the plant as dry crushed raw materials.

It turns out that among the people, gruel made from honey and dry or fresh echinacea has also found its application.

All parts of the dry plant must be ground into powder and mixed with honey. For one hundred grams of powder, take no more than three hundred grams of honey and take half a teaspoon with tea three times a day. This tool helps normalize sleep and relieve headaches.

For wounds and bruises it is worth taking a plant with all its parts that are harvested during the growing season, and grind them into powder. Mix one part of the powder with three parts of honey and take this mixture as a compress. It can also be taken for atherosclerosis and headache, one to two teaspoons two to three times a day, diluted in a glass of tea.

Oil solution for tuberculosis

Tuberculosis. We take half a kilogram of crushed flower baskets or raw plant roots and fill them with two and a half liters of fresh sunflower unrefined oil. The infusion should be left for forty days and shaken as often as possible. After that, you need to add the same amount of sea buckthorn oil to the oil infusion and drink a tablespoon three times a day.

homemade acne lotion

In order to prepare the lotion, you need to take twenty-five grams of herb and echinacea roots, twenty grams of string grass and twenty grams of chamomile. A mixture of herbs is poured with half a liter of vodka, and better than alcohol. The mixture is infused for two weeks, after which the skin is wiped after washing with soap.

Additive to salads

Fresh echinacea leaves can be added to salads, dressed with any vegetable oil. This is a wonderful remedy for anemia and spring beriberi.

Juice

For problems with the skin of the face (freckles, warts, age spots, acne, purulent formations, wrinkles), wipe the face at night with freshly squeezed juice from echinacea flowers and leaves.

Perfectly cleanses the skin age spots, acne and lichen juice of the plant. To do this, you just need to lubricate the problem areas with this solution.

Syrup

Increases the defenses of the immune system and echinacea syrup. Doctors usually prescribe it at the beginning oncological processes. Such a syrup actively normalizes the metabolism and functioning of the thyroid gland, helps healthy cells resist the effects of harmful microorganisms.

Extract

The most powerful in action is the extract from echinacea. It has a positive effect on nervous system, relieves unnecessary stress, at times increases efficiency, gives strength and vigor at any time of the day. If the extract is consumed regularly, you will be bypassed. respiratory diseases and SARS, immunity will become strong, and nerves of steel.

Echinacea extract - strong remedy so be careful with the dosage.

For an adult, 8 drops of the drug are enough, for a child - from 3 to 5 drops (depending on age). Children can dilute the extract in in large numbers water or tea.

In addition, the extract can also be used as an external agent in the form of lotions for wounds.

Contraindications and side effects

Like any other plant, echinacea has contraindications and can have side effect on the body. So, this plant is not recommended:

• children under the age of 2 years, alcohol tinctures and extracts - children under 12 years old;
• pregnant women;
• nursing mothers;
• with individual intolerance;
• with allergic reactions;
• with chronic hypertension;
• at diabetes, leukemia, autoimmune diseases;
• in addition, the course of admission should be no more than one month, and preferably two to three weeks.

Echinacea is undesirable to take in the warm season.

Almost all adaptogens (except for the golden root - Rhodiola rosea) negatively affect the body in the hot season. There are inflammations of chronic foci of infections, deterioration in general well-being, pressure surges, up to loss of consciousness. Keep this in mind if you want to take advantage of the healing properties of echinacea!

Echinacea tincture for immunity how to take

Tincture to increase immunity can be purchased at any pharmacy, or you can prepare it at home. To do this, you need raw chopped root or flowers, alcohol 70%. Pour the prepared raw materials with alcohol in a ratio of 1: 4, leave for more than a month (about 40 days).

how to cook on your own

At home, in the summer you can prepare a medicine for vodka, which is useful to take twice a year - in spring and autumn to prevent colds. It is necessary to take two hundred grams of fresh or fifty grams of dry raw materials of the plant and pour a liter of vodka. Infuse for two weeks, or even twenty days in a dark place, shaking occasionally. Drink twenty to thirty drops three times a day half an hour before meals for ten days. The course should be carried out twice with a break of three days.

How to take echinacea tincture to strengthen the immune system and prevent influenza. It is necessary in the morning on an empty stomach to drink fifteen to twenty drops of the pharmacy tincture of the plant, diluting it in half a glass of boiled warm water.

If your work is related to management, potentially dangerous mechanisms or car, be careful when using the tincture (because it contains alcohol).

Echinacea purpurea: planting and care

Echinacea purpurea - beautiful perennial aster family. It has a specific taste and smell. Nowadays it is cultivated in many countries as an ornamental and medicinal plant.

The plant is sun-loving, in the shade and even partial shade will quickly wither away. It is unpretentious to the ground, but will grow poorly on light sandy soils.

Planting and caring for Echinacea purpurea - 3 ways

1. Method one. If you purchased echinacea in pots or containers, you can plant it during the season. For planting, a pit 40 cm deep is prepared and 1/3 filled with a mixture of sand, compost and garden soil. The plant, along with the soil, is carefully moved into the pit and planted at the same depth at which it grew in a pot.
2. Method number 2. Echinacea propagates by seeds and division of the bush. Seeds can be sown both in open ground and in previously prepared containers. The ideal temperature for seed germination is + 13 C. Sprouts appear after one and a half to two months. Seedlings require watering and heat, therefore it is optimal to sow the seeds in containers, and then transplant them into open ground.
3. Method three. If echinacea is planted by dividing the bush, then the cuttings must be immersed in a liquid immunostimulant solution for two hours. Plant so that the root collars of plants are not lower than the soil level. In this way, echinacea is usually planted in April.

watering and feeding

The plant is unpretentious in care, likes frequent watering. Twice a year (in the spring, a week after planting and at the time of the appearance of buds), it is fed with organic and mineral fertilizers.

Echinacea purpurea is very similar to our chamomile, only pink. It blooms in the second year of life, in the first year it only forms a rosette with leaves. The flowering period lasts from mid-July to mid-September.

for the winter

At the end of October, the echinacea stems are cut off, and the root neck is lightly mulched with compost and carefully covered with dry leaves. This is protection from little snow cold winter when there is a high probability that the plant will freeze and die.

Dear readers! I have been preparing this collection of recipes for a long time in order to maximize all the useful and healing properties of echinacea, as well as contraindications that you can’t forget about. Take care of your health in advance - take echinacea tincture for immunity in order to prevent, drink healing teas and decoctions. Your body will react to it good health and cheerfulness.

All health and joy!

As always with love, Irina Lirnetskaya

Echinacea purpurea is a widely used medicinal plant, the preparations of which are used to increase. Means based on it are used to combat allergies, as well as viral and fungal infections.

Biological characteristic

Echinacea purpurea is a perennial plant native to the eastern part of the North American continent. It belongs to the Compositae (Asteraceae) family.

The height of straight leafy and strongly branching rough stems reaches 1 m. Bright pink or purple reed and tubular Echinacea flowers are collected in large (up to 15 cm) inflorescences-baskets.

Flowering time in our country is from mid-summer to early autumn. Echinacea blooms for the first time in the second year of life.

This plant is cultivated as an ornamental and medicinal; it does not grow well in shady areas and prefers drained fertile soils, although it is quite drought tolerant. Echinacea is well tolerated low temperatures which gives it a wide range of distribution.

Rhizomes are harvested as medicinal raw materials, as well as aerial parts - stems, leaves and flowers. Drying is recommended in attics with good air circulation.

Active substances

Found in Echinacea purpurea whole line biologically active substances, including organic acids with antifungal activity, polyenes, phytosterols, glycosides, resins, essential oils, tannins, saponins and alkaloids. Thanks to high content phenolic acids, the plant is a powerful natural antiseptic.

The herb contains many bioflavonoids, polyamines, resins and polysaccharides. Rhizomes contain immune-stimulating phenolcarboxylic acids, glucose, inulin, and betaine, which can significantly reduce the risk of strokes and.

Both in the roots and in the aerial parts of Echinacea purpurea, micro and macro elements (iron, molybdenum, calcium, potassium, manganese, selenium, zinc, cobalt, beryllium and aluminum) are present in large quantities.

Useful properties of Echinacea purpurea

Preparations based on Echinacea purpurea are characterized by pronounced anti-allergic, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. They are also used to fight fungal, bacterial and viral infections.

Echinacea accelerates tissue healing ulcerative lesions and wounds. The plant is effective tool from a skin disease such as eczema.

Due to the ability to stimulate general immunity, it helps to prevent or alleviate the course of colds and SARS.

The herb extract is a very effective adaptogenic agent.

Important:it has been established that Echinacea contributes to the production of a factor in the body that prevents and slows down growth.

Indications

Preparations from various parts medicinal plant indicated for the treatment and prevention of the following diseases:

• intestinal infections;
• (outwardly locally);
• long non-healing wounds;
• trophic ulcers;
• polyarthritis;
• liver pathology;
• diseases of the urinary system (in particular -);
• heavy metal poisoning;
• neurological disorders;
• bites of snakes and insects (externally in the form of lotions).

Important:decoctions of Echinacea have a tonic effect and normalize blood pressure.

Recipes for the use of Echinacea preparations for various diseases

Reception of tincture promotes an increase in the number of leukocytes and prevents reproduction pathogenic microorganisms. During the period of seasonal colds, the drug activates the immune system. Alcohol tincture of Echinacea can also be applied topically, topically to treat skin and wounds to reduce inflammation and accelerate tissue regeneration.

Note:for external use (lotions, compresses and rinses), it is advisable to prepare the preparation at the rate of 40 drops of alcohol tincture (in 70% ethanol) per 100 ml of saline.

Contraindications to the use of Echinacea preparations

Most people tolerate treatment with Echinacea purpurea well. Allergic reactions are extremely rare in patients.

Contraindications to the use of this plant are:

• individual hypersensitivity;
• multiple sclerosis;
• acute angina;
• increased nervous excitability;
• systemic red;
• rheumatoid arthritis;
• leukemia.

Important:Do not take drugs for more than a month in a row! Large doses can provoke dyspeptic disorders and sleep disturbances.

Echinacea during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Women who are carrying a baby, as well as nursing mothers, are advised to refrain from taking Echinacea. Data on the safety of the plant is not enough, although it is well established that it does not lead to fetal malformations. The issue of increasing the likelihood of spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) remains controversial.

Some experts are of the opinion that Echinacea during pregnancy is a good alternative to antibiotics and synthetic immunomodulators. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe herbal preparation for outdoor use purulent inflammations skin.

Pediatricians recommend giving children who have reached the age of 12 a tincture previously diluted with water 1: 3. single dose for children and adolescents is 3-10 drops (depending on age), and the frequency of administration is 2 times a day. The tincture is excellent tool to strengthen the child's immunity. For babies (over 2 years old), it is better to take syrup or tablet forms.

Do you grow echinacea? This flower is able not only to decorate the garden, but also useful for strengthening our immunity. Let's take a closer look at what is remarkable about echinacea. Medicinal properties and contraindications to help, not harm our health, you just need to know. This useful perennial is endowed with bright beauty and the same unique beneficial properties.

Photo of an echinacea flower:

Echinacea: flower in the garden

In its form, the echinacea flower resembles a chamomile, but its petals can be painted in deep pink, orange, purple or lilac. This plant loves the sun and fertile, preferably drained soil. In nature, there are other types of echinacea, but the most popular is Echinacea purpurea. It can often be found in gardens and country beds. In addition to external attractiveness, it is valuable for its immunomodulatory, antiviral properties. The advantages of Echinacea purpurea are recognized not only by folk, but also by official medicine.

It's pretty tall plant(100-120 cm) with large flowers and branched roots with many thin shoots.

What is the benefit of echinacea?

People often ask this question, even if they already have echinacea growing on their site. What to collect, leaves or flowers? The answer will be: all parts of this perennial are equally useful. The roots of the plant contain essential oils and resins, phenol carboxylic acids, betaine, calcium, iron, zinc, aluminum, potassium, manganese, magnesium, selenium, molybdenum and other mineral compounds.

When to harvest echinacea flowers? Ideally, at the very beginning of its flowering, when the content of active substances in all parts of the flower reaches its peak.

It is also advisable to stock up medicinal raw materials in the very middle of summer, in July, when the plant is in the phase of mass flowering. Usually the cut part of the stem is 20-30 cm, the buds and foliage are crushed and dried thoroughly. The method of drying in bunches is also common: the stems are tied and hung with the inflorescences down.

When Echinacea purpurea fades (in autumn), you can start harvesting the root. The root extracted from the ground is cleaned from the ground, washed well and cut into pieces, then washed again with water and dried in the oven (with the door slightly open for ventilation).

Echinacea roots, photo:

You can also use an electric vegetable dryer for this purpose.

There is an important point here: the drying of the rhizome of Echinacea purpurea should be done only at a high temperature!

You can’t just wash, cut the roots and lay them out on clean paper, because at a drying temperature below +60 ° C they will rot. Next, medicinal raw materials are transferred to hermetic storage containers. You can also grind all the fragments of the plant in a coffee grinder and pour such a healing "tea" into glass jars with tight lids.

Echinacea: benefits and harms

One of the most remarkable qualities of the plant is its positive effect on human immunity. Biologically active components and minerals, present in large quantities in the composition of echinacea, significantly enhance the vitality of the body and create a kind of shield against diseases. It can be said without exaggeration that echinacea is the best natural medicine for boosting immunity, which can be given even to children.

Preparations and infusions (teas, decoctions) based on this flower are consumed orally and applied externally. Compresses and lotions are successfully used for burns, abscesses, wounds, manifestations of eczema or urticaria, streptococcal skin lesions, bedsores.

Ingestion is recommended for all kinds of infections, internal inflammatory processes, after chemotherapy, for diabetes, for colds, after taking antibiotics, for liver, kidney, stomach and intestinal diseases.

Echinacea properties

The list of properties of Echinacea purpurea is quite wide:

• antiviral;
• immunomodulating;
• detoxification;
• antifungal;
• antiviral;
• sugar-removing;
• anti-inflammatory;
• antiallergic;
• antirheumatic;
• decongestants.

In addition, drugs that contain echinacea in their composition inhibit the growth and development of staphylococcus aureus, coli, streptococcus, herpes, and also regulates lipid metabolism.

Echinacea Benefits Also Extend to Improve Conditions skeletal system. pharmaceutical preparations and folk remedies have long been successfully used to treat and strengthen joints.

Echinacea, as an immunomodulator, affects the human immune system, models it depending on what its initial state was.

Focusing on the immunomodulating qualities of the plant, I want to clarify that echinacea is precisely an immunomodulator, and not an immunostimulant. The latter includes aloe, ginseng, eleutherococcus, lemongrass - they are recommended to be taken orally for a certain period. Immunostimulants support the body's strength and tone it.

Dried flowers and leaves of echinacea, photo:

Immunomodulators, and in our case - echinacea for immunity ( natural medicine), tune the body to self-healing, “launch” its internal resources. If suddenly you get sick with seasonal SARS or flu, start taking a decoction of echinacea. You will definitely see a change in your condition for the better, and the disease itself will pass much faster and easier. Below I will give a few simple folk recipes that you can cook yourself. By the way, echinacea tincture is sold in almost every pharmacy and is relatively inexpensive. If you haven't stocked up yet medicinal raw materials, then this alcohol tincture will definitely come in handy in your home first aid kit.

Echinacea: contraindications and side effects

Like any medicinal plant, it has contraindications for use.

Individual intolerance to the components of echinacea should not be ruled out. Remember that the course of treatment with drugs or tinctures should not exceed 10 days (sometimes two weeks). If you overdo it with treatment, you can earn insomnia or nervous irritability. Start taking it with small doses so that the body gets used to the new medicine.

Contraindications: Echinacea purpurea is prohibited for use:

• In case of a threatened miscarriage during pregnancy.
• With multiple sclerosis.
• With leukemia.
• Any autoimmune disease.
• During lactation.
• With hypertension.
• With progressive oncological diseases.
• With tuberculosis.
• With lupus erythematosus.
• With AIDS and HIV carriers.
• At acute manifestations sore throats.
• With bronchospasm.

If you experience nausea, numbness of the tongue or palate, upset stomach, stomach pain, or headache, stop taking it immediately and report these symptoms to your doctor. The same applies to external use - ointments and creams with echinacea can provoke a rash and / or itching. If you have previously suffered from an allergy to ragweed or other flower representatives, keep in mind - you are at risk, you can also be allergic to echinacea.

Echinacea for pregnant women and children

In a separate paragraph, I want to clarify the possibility of using decoctions and preparations based on echinacea by pregnant women and children. On this occasion, many controversial opinions arise, but, again, let us recall the well-known: “in a spoon there is medicine, in a cup there is poison.” In both cases, the doses of the drug must be carefully verified and agreed with the doctor.

Echinacea for children

Despite the fact that earlier in medical practice children were forbidden to give echinacea, clinical researches have proven otherwise. It was observed positive influence plants on the children's body, today the drug "Immunal" (the main substance of which is echinacea) is officially approved for use in children from 1 year of age. Frequent colds in children due to the immaturity of the immune system. That is why this natural immunomodulator increases the body's resistance to disease, thereby eliminating the "root of evil" - the very cause of the disease.

Studies have shown that at the very peak of the disease, echinacea for children should be taken in combination with other antiviral drugs and supporting vitamins. When the body is already at the stage of recovery, you can use echinacea as the main (and only) drug. It is not always convenient for children to swallow tablets, but lollipops and syrup based on this useful plant will only make them happy. By the way, doctors often recommend diluting children's syrups with water before use. If your child has a tendency to diathesis, perhaps the syrup is not suitable for him, since it contains sugar in its composition.

Echinacea purpurea, photo:

As for alcohol tinctures, they are, of course, prohibited for children of any age. To raise immunity for very young children (up to 1 year of age), the doctor may prescribe a decoction of echinacea. Babies from 1 year to 6 years old are given children's "Immunal" in the form of drops, usually the doctor recommends taking from 4 to 8 drops 3 times a day. Tablets of plant origin with the same name should be crushed and diluted before use clean water. From 6 to 12 years old, children can be given decoctions, extracts, syrups, teas with echinacea. And, of course, always consult a doctor beforehand, even if you are going to give your child weakly brewed medicinal tea.

Echinacea during pregnancy

In all kinds of women's forums, you can often come across controversy about the use of echinacea during pregnancy. One half of mothers claims that this plant is strictly contraindicated, while the other half actively recommends it for use. Let's look at this issue in more detail. During the bearing of a child, immunity is significantly reduced - nature itself took care of this, because on early term too strong immunity can determine the fetus as foreign body. In such cases, the threat of miscarriage increases sharply, and to prevent this from happening, the body itself “lowers” ​​the immune system in a physiological way.

That is why in the first trimester of pregnancy, doctors do not recommend taking any medications, even natural ones. After all, as we know, at this time, the child forms all vital important organs. One more important reason the prohibition of echinacea is a factor in the failure of immunity in the fetus. This happens if future mother listened to the recommendations of incompetent people and did not consult a doctor - she actively drank teas, took pills or made injections of Echinacea Compositum C.

While maternal immunity is being stimulated, children's immunity simply "gets used" to this state of affairs - his body does not feel the need to develop protection. When a child is born, he simply will not be protected from bacteria and viruses.

Echinacea during pregnancy can only be used under the watchful supervision of a doctor! Doses of application should be strictly established taking into account the individual characteristics of the organism.

It is quite acceptable to use echinacea externally if necessary, but a decoction or tea - only after consulting your doctor.

Echinacea: the use of decoctions and tinctures

I want to describe a few folk ways preparation of decoctions and tinctures from echinacea. Parts of the plant can be either fresh or dried. Decoctions are best prepared in a water bath, so the plant will retain more useful components. You can separately brew foliage, roots and flowers, or you can mix all the parts together.

What is needed for this:

• We take 1 tbsp. l. finely chopped medicinal raw materials, pour 0.5 liters of water and keep in a water bath for 15-20 minutes. After we cool, filter and use a quarter cup twice a day, morning and evening 10 minutes before meals.
• For 0.5 liters of water we take 2 tbsp. l. any parts of the plant, stand for half an hour in a water bath. After the broth has cooled, we filter it and take one or two tablespoons orally 3 times a day.
• To prepare the infusion, take 1 tbsp. l. crushed roots, leaves or flowers, pour 250 g of boiling water, cover with a dense object and hold for half an hour. After the specified time, the infusion should be filtered and taken orally one-third of a glass, three times a day before meals.
• To make an alcohol tincture, you need to take 0.5 liters of high-quality vodka and 150 g of dried and crushed echinacea roots. If you want to add flowers or leaves, then 50 g of buds and / or leaves will be enough. We put the crushed raw materials in a jar, fill it with vodka, close the lid, put it in a dark corner for two to three weeks. The jar should be shaken from time to time. After the specified time, the contents of the jar should be filtered and then taken 10-20 drops (it is better to start with small doses) three times a day. Do not take tincture for more than 10 days, further treatment you must be allowed by the doctor.

Echinacea, whose beneficial properties continue to be studied by scientists, can enhance the effects of other drugs, or, conversely, reduce their effectiveness.

Any application and use of echinacea should be coordinated with a doctor - do not ignore this rule. Even if you have no contraindications to its use, incompatibility with another drug you may be taking at this time may occur.

Echinacea, and the contraindications of which we examined in this article, with a competent approach to business, can become a real elixir of health and a source of vitality.

Echinacea is widely used to fight infectious diseases, especially acute respiratory infections, influenza and other upper respiratory tract infections. Some people take echinacea at the first sign of a cold to prevent infection. Other people take this remedy after the symptoms of a cold have already fully manifested themselves, hoping that it will help them reduce the severity of the disease.

Echinacea is also used in the treatment of other infections such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), vaginal yeast infections, herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), bloodstream infections (sepsis), tonsillitis. streptococcal infections, syphilis, typhoid, malaria, ear infections, swine flu, warts and diphtheria.

In addition, echinacea is used for anxiety states, low white blood cell count, syndrome chronic fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, heartburn, pain, dizziness, bites rattlesnakes, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and to enhance athletic performance.

Echinacea is also used as a douche in the treatment of vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Echinacea products are widely available commercially in many forms such as tablets, capsules, powders, juices, and teas.

However, not all echinacea-based preparations sold are of the proper quality. It happens that the product label says that it contains echinacea, but in fact it does not contain it. Buy drugs only proven trademarks, as some unscrupulous manufacturers use plants collected in environmentally polluted areas, as a result of which you get a drug with an admixture of selenium, arsenic and lead.

Echinacea promotes the activation of chemicals in the body that reduce inflammation, thereby reducing the intensity of symptoms of colds and flu, as well as other infectious diseases.

Laboratory studies have shown that echinacea can boost the body's immune system, but evidence that this occurs in humans is lacking. Echinacea also contains some chemical substances, which can attack a yeast infection.

Strengthening immunity

One of the most expressed properties echinacea is its ability to have a powerful stimulating effect on the immune system. This property enables the body to quickly restore immunity and begin to effectively fight pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi, various inflammatory processes and infections.

Skin Benefits

Due to its rich composition, echinacea has a beneficial effect on skin covering. It has a rejuvenating effect, eliminates "senile" spots, accelerates the healing of wounds and skin lesions of various origins.

Benefits for the cardiovascular system

Echinacea has powerful antioxidant properties, which allows the body to reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood and body tissues, greatly improve elasticity blood vessels and clear them of cholesterol plaques formed over the years.

Cleansing the body

This plant helps to purify the blood, promotes active cleansing of the lymphatic system, while improving the functioning of the kidneys and liver.

Benefits for the nervous system

Echinacea effectively stimulates the central nervous system, which makes it possible natural way improve the condition of people in various depressive states, fatigue and nervous exhaustion.

Same

Echinacea has the ability to increase blood clotting, is an oncoprotective agent, has a rejuvenating effect on the entire body and prevents premature aging. It improves metabolic processes, has a diuretic, anti-allergic and anti-rheumatic effect.

Echinacea tea is believed to be effective in stimulating the immune system.

The effectiveness of echinacea

Consider the effectiveness of the use of drugs with echinacea in various diseases. Since they were carried out various studies its effectiveness, we have mixed results, which you can read below.

Echinacea may be effective:

Cold. Many scientific studies show that taking some echinacea-based drugs during initial signs colds may slightly reduce symptoms in adults. However, other scientific studies show no benefit. The problem is that research has used different kinds echinacea, processed different methods. Since studies are not consistent, it is not surprising that various studies show different results. If this remedy helps in the treatment of colds, the benefits of using it in best case will be moderate. Research on the effectiveness of echinacea preparations as a preventative for colds is also mixed. Some studies show that taking echinacea can reduce the risk of developing a cold by 45% - 58%. However, other studies show that taking echinacea does not reduce the risk of the common cold.

Not Enough Evidence:

Anxiety. Early research showed that daily intake 40 mg of echinacea extract (ExtractumPharma Zrt, Budapest, Hungary) for 7 days reduces anxiety. But, taking less than 40 mg per day does not have the desired effect.

Improving sports performance. Early studies have shown that taking echinacea (Puritan's Pride) four times a day for 28 days increases oxygen absorption during exercise tests in healthy men.

Gingivitis. Early research has shown that using a mouthwash containing echinacea, gotu kola, and elderflower (HM-302, Izum Pharmaceuticals) three times a day for 14 days can prevent gum disease from worsening.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV). Data on the efficacy of echinacea for the treatment of HSV remain unclear. Some studies show that Echinacea extract (Echinaforce, A. Vogel Bioforce AG) 800 mg twice daily for 6 months does not prevent, reduce the frequency, or duration of recurrent genital herpes outbreaks. However, other studies show that taking combination drug containing echinacea (Esberitox, Schaper & Brummer, Germany) 3-5 times a day reduces itching, tension and pain in most people with herpes (Herpes Labialis).

Human papillomavirus (HPV). Early studies have shown that taking a combination preparation containing echinacea, andrographis, grapefruit, papaya, ant tree bark, and cat's claw (Immune Act, Erba Vita SpA, Italy) daily for one month reduces the recurrence of anal warts in people who have undergone them surgical removal. But this study was not of high quality, so the results are questionable.

Flu. Early research has shown that taking a specific echinacea product (Monoselect Echinacea, PharmExtracta, Italy) daily for 15 days may improve flu vaccine response in people with medical conditions respiratory system such as bronchitis or asthma.

Low content white blood cells (leukopenia). Early research suggests that taking 50 drops of a combination product containing echinacea root extract, arborvitae leaf extract, and wild indigo (Esberitox N, Schaper & Brummer, Germany) between chemoradiotherapy may improve red and white blood cell counts in some women with cancer mammary gland. But not all patients have this effect, and taking less than 50 drops does not seem to work.

Middle ear infections. Early research shows that taking liquid extract echinacea at the first sign of a cold three times a day for 3 days does not prevent the development of ear infections in children 1-5 years old (especially if the child has already had this problem).

Tonsillitis. Early research shows that using a throat spray containing sage and echinacea every two hours, up to 10 times a day for 5 days, relieves sore throat symptoms. Other early studies show that taking 50 drops of a preparation containing echinacea (Esberitox, Schaper & Brummer, Germany) three times a day for 2 weeks, along with an antibiotic, reduces sore throat and improves general well-being in people with tonsillitis.

Eye inflammation (uveitis). Early studies have shown that taking 150mg of echinacea (Iridium, SOOFT Italia SpA) twice a day, in addition to eye drops and steroids used to treat inflammation for 4 weeks, does not improve vision when compared with the results that people get using only eye drops and steroids.

Warts. Early studies have shown that taking Echinacea daily by mouth for 3 months does not help to clear the skin of warts. But taking supplements containing echinacea, methionine, zinc, probiotics, antioxidants, and ingredients that stimulate the immune system for 6 months, in addition to using traditional methods treatment seems to be a more effective method of treating warts than using only traditional ways treatment.

There is also insufficient evidence for the effectiveness of echinacea preparations in the treatment of the following diseases:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Yeast infections
• Bloodstream infections
• streptococcal infections
• Syphilis
• Typhoid fever
• Malaria
• Diphtheria
• Migraine
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• Eczema
• Hay fever or other allergies
• bee stings
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Swine flu
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Dizziness
• Rattlesnake bites
• Other states

More research is needed to understand the efficacy of echinacea in these conditions.

Contraindications, side effects and safety

Echinacea is probably safe for most people when taken by mouth for a short amount of time. Various liquid and solid forms of echinacea are safe to use for up to 10 days. There are also some products such as Echinaforce (A. Vogel Bioforce AG, Switzerland) that can be used safely for up to 6 months. With regard to the safety of injectable echinacea, there is not yet enough information on this.

During the use of drugs with echinacea, some side effects such as fever, nausea, vomiting, bad taste mouth, abdominal pain, diarrhea, sore throat, dry mouth, headache, numbness of the tongue, dizziness, insomnia, disorientation, and joint and muscle pain.

Applying echinacea creams and ointments to the skin may cause redness, itching, or a rash.

Echinacea is most likely to cause allergic reactions in children and adults who are allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, or chamomile. If you have any allergies, be sure to check with your doctor before taking Echinacea.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Lactation: There is not enough reliable information on the safety of taking echinacea while breastfeeding, so avoiding it is recommended.

Inherited allergy susceptibility (atopic dermatitis): People with this condition are more likely to develop allergic reactions to echinacea. If you are suffering atopic dermatitis, your best bet is to avoid using echinacea.

Echinacea drug interactions

Moderate interaction - be careful with this combination:

• Caffeine interacts with echinacea. The body breaks down caffeine to get rid of it. Since echinacea may reduce the breakdown of caffeine, eating caffeinated foods or medications with echinacea may increase blood levels of caffeine and increase the risk of side effects such as nervousness, headache, and heart palpitations.
• Drugs that are converted in the body (cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) interact with echinacea. Some drugs are converted and broken down in the body. Echinacea may interfere with the breakdown of certain drugs. Taking echinacea with certain medications may increase their effects and side effects. If you are taking any medication and would like to take echinacea as well, you should speak to your doctor first. Drugs of this type include: lovastatin (Mevacor), clarithromycin (Biaxin), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmun), diltiazem (Kardizem), estrogen, indinavir (Crixivan), triazolam (Halcyone), and many others.
• Hepatic metabolizing drugs (cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) interact with echinacea. Some drugs are converted and broken down in the liver. Echinacea may decrease the rate at which the liver converts certain drugs. Taking echinacea with some medications may increase the effects and side effects of some of them. Talk to your doctor before taking echinacea with this type of medication. These drugs include: clozapine (Clozaril), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), fluvoxamine (Luvox), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), mexiletine (Mexitil), olanzapine (Zyprexa), pentazocine (Talvin), propranolol ( Anaprilin), tacrine (Cognex), theophylline, zileuton (Zyflo), zolmitriptan (Zomig), and others.
• Medicines that suppress the immune system (immunosuppressants) interact with echinacea. Echinacea can boost the immune system. Taking echinacea along with certain drugs that suppress the immune system may reduce the effectiveness of these medicines. Drugs of this type include: azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmun), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OCT-3, Orthoclon OKT-3), mofetil (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisolone (Deltazone, Orazon), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids), and others.

Minor interaction - be vigilant with this combination:

Midazolam (Versed) interacts with echinacea. Taking midazolam with echinacea increases the absorption of midazolam in the body. This may increase the action and side effects of midazolam.

Dosage

oral:

• For the treatment of colds, Echinacea purpurea extract (Echinacin, Madaus AG, Cologne, Germany) should be taken 5 ml twice a day for 10 days. Echinacea purpurea extract (EchinaGuard, Madaus AG, Cologne, Germany), to be taken 20 drops with water every 2 hours on the first day of the onset of cold symptoms, and then three times a day for up to 10 days. Echinacea purpurea whole plant extract (Echinilin, Inovobiologic Inc., Calgary, Alberta, Canada) to be taken 4 ml ten times on the first day of cold symptoms, then four times daily for 6 days, or 5 ml eight times on the first day the onset of cold symptoms, and then three times a day for 6 days. "Echinacea plus tea" should be drunk five or six times on the first day of the onset of cold symptoms, and then reduced to one cup a day for the next 5 days.
• For the prevention of colds, echinacea extract (Echinafors, A. Vogel Bioforce AG, Switzerland) should be taken at 0.9 ml three times a day (total dose: 2400 mg per day) for 4 months. At the first sign of a cold, you can increase the intake to five times a day for 0.9 ml (total dose: 4000 mg per day).