Home | Alphabetical Index | Conditions & Cures | Anti-Aging | Articles | Forums | Where to Buy

Echinacea

Though the supplements are prescribed in Germany for colds and flu, studies on them have yielded conflicting results. The plant is a complicated mix of chemicals; some might actually stimulate the immune system or promote healing. But you don't know what you're getting in the bottle. Little is known about toxicity. To be safe, don't take it if you have lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, or multiple sclerosis, or pregnant.

It comes in tinctures (dissolved in alcohol), capsules, pills, and teas. Whether you take this herb or not, you've almost certainly had it recommended to you: it has a devoted following. An ounce and a half of liquid can cost up to $15. Even the teas come at a premium price.

Nine kinds of echinacea grow in this country, the most common being echinacea purpurea. Known as purple coneflower, the plant is part of the sunflower/daisy family, and its extracts (and those from similar plants) have been used medicinally for centuries. Like all plants, it is a complicated mix of chemicals; some of these might actually stimulate the immune system or promote healing. It has been extensively studied, but with conflicting results. One study recently found that a commercially made supplement did seem to stimulate immune cells-but in a test tube. In some studies involving humans, echinacea seems to have no effect on colds or immunity; in others, it seems to help. In most studies that find echinacea to be an immune booster, however, the herbal extract was injected, which is not possible with the products on the market here. Studies of echinacea taken by mouth have had inconsistent results. The commercial preparations you can currently buy in this country have not been tested at all.

In addition, there's the problem of quality control: like all herbal products, echinacea is completely unregulated. What you're buying may not contain much, if any, echinacea. And nobody knows what a proper dosage might be. No one even knows what the active ingredient is, though 15 different compounds have been identified. No clinical trials have been done with any of these compounds. The herb has been around a very long time, and few adverse side effects have been reported. But anything, whether herb or drug, that is powerful enough to have benefits could also have side effects. Some researchers think it could have an adverse effect on T-4 cells, an important component of immunity.

Here's a list of people who should not try echinacea: those who know they're allergic to daisies, plus those with diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, and multiple sclerosis. Nor should pregnant or nursing women and small children.

Feature Article

The Fountain of Youth?

What if I told you that it may be possible for you to live to age 100 or even longer, in better health than you are in right now? And, if you are already experiencing the ill effects of aging, what if I told you that it may be possible for you to look and feel 20 years younger and stay that way beyond the age of 100.

Aside from the fact that you'd probably call me crazy, I have to tell you that we have never been as close as we are today to actually being able to extend human life!

Read More