Echinacea how much per day

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Evaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatment of the common cold: a meta-analysis. Lancet Infect Dis. The potential use of Echinacea in acne: control of Propionibacterium acnes growth and inflammation.

Recurrent erythema nodosum associated with Echinacea herbal therapy. J Am Acad Dermatol. Summaries for patients.

Echinacea for the common cold. Herbs in dentistry. Int Dent J. Cytotoxic effects of Echinacea purpurea flower extracts and cichoric acid on human colon cancer cells through induction of apoptosis. J Ethnopharmacol. Ineffectiveness of Echinacea for prevention of experimental rhinovirus colds. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. An evaluation of Echinacea angustifolia in experimental rhinovirus infections.

N Engl J Med. Benefit of echinacea in the prevention and treatment of the common cold? The Lancet Infectious Disease. Echinacea purpurea for prevention of upper respiratory tract infections in children. Bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of Echinacea purpurea preparations and their interaction with the immune system. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. A comparison of the immunostimulatory effects of the medicinal herbs Echinacea, Ashwagandha and Brahmi.

Echinacea Echinacea angustifolia; Echinacea pallida; Echinacea purpurea; Purple coneflower. Plant Description Echinacea is a perennial herb native to the midwestern region of North America.

What Is It Made Of? Available Forms Three species of echinacea are commonly used for medicinal purposes: Echinacea angustifolia , Echinacea pallida , and Echinacea purpurea. How to Take It Pediatric You should work with your child's pediatrician or an herbal practitioner trained in children to determine pediatric dosing. Use alcohol-free preparations for children.

Adult 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. Apply creams or ointments for slow-healing wounds as needed. Precautions The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Minor side effects can include stomach upset, nausea, dizziness, and dry eyes.

When taken by mouth, echinacea may cause temporary numbing and tingling on the tongue. Talk to your doctor if you have questions. Possible Interactions If you are taking any prescription medications, including medications used during surgery, such as anesthesia medications, you should talk to your doctor before taking echinacea.

Some of the well-known interactions include the following: Econazole. Echinacea may be useful in combination with econazole, an antifungal agent used to treat yeast infections such as athlete's foot.

When echinacea is used together with econazole, recurrence rates of these infections may be reduced. Immunosuppressants refers to a group of medications that are used for two main purposes, treating cancer and suppressing the immune system following organ transplant so that the new organ is not rejected. Because echinacea can enhance immune function, people should not use the herb with immunosuppressive medications, especially when taken for organ transplant. Sometimes inflammation can get out of hand and last for longer than necessary and expected.

This may raise your risk of chronic diseases and other health problems. In a mouse study, echinacea compounds helped reduce important inflammatory markers and memory-loss caused by inflammation In another day study, adults with osteoarthritis found that taking a supplement containing echinacea extract significantly reduced inflammation, chronic pain and swelling.

Interestingly, these adults did not respond well to conventional non-steroidal inflammatory drugs NSAIDS but found the supplement containing echinacea extract helpful In another study in 10 healthy people aged 25—40, skin care products containing echinacea extract were found to improve skin hydration and reduce wrinkles However, echinacea extract appears to have a short shelf life, making it difficult to incorporate into commercial skin care products.

Cancer is a disease that involves the uncontrolled growth of cells. Test-tube studies have shown that echinacea extracts may suppress cancer cell growth and even trigger cancer cell death 25 , In one test-tube study, an extract of Echinacea purpurea and chicoric acid naturally found in echinacea plants was shown to trigger cancer cell death In another test-tube study, extracts from echinacea plants Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea pallida killed human cancer cells from the pancreas and colon by stimulating a process called apoptosis or controlled cell death There was some concern that echinacea could interact with conventional cancer treatments, such as doxorubicin, but newer studies have found no interaction 28 , 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 on these benefits is often limited. There have been cases where people experienced side effects, such as 3 :. However, these side effects are more common among people with allergies to other flowers, such as daisies, chrysanthemums, marigolds, ragweed and more 30 , As echinacea appears to stimulate the immune system, people with autoimmune disorders or people taking immunosuppressive drugs should avoid it or consult their doctors first 3.

While it appears to be safe for short-term use, its long-term effects are still relatively unknown. Echinacea appears to be safe and well tolerated in the short term, but its long-term effects are relatively unknown.

It may not be safe for people with certain health conditions or who are taking certain medications. In addition, echinacea products often may not contain what is written on the label. That said, research has found the following doses to be effective in aiding immunity 11 :. Echinacea products are highly variable, which makes it hard to set a standard recommended dosage. However, human-based research is often limited. While research has shown it may help prevent colds, shorten their duration or provide symptomatic relief, many studies have been poorly designed or shown no real benefit.

Herbal teas have a wide variety of tastes, flavors and even health benefits. Here are 10 healthy herbal teas you'll want to try today. Also, be careful if you have allergies. Individuals allergic to ragweed or other flowers may experience severe allergic reactions to echinacea. People with other types of allergies may be at increased risk for an allergic reaction as well. Concentrations of echinacea vary among manufacturers, as does the mixture of plant species and the various parts of the echinacea plant.

Before purchasing echinacea, ask your doctor to make a recommendation of a credible brand. You can also talk to an herbal supplement professional at a credible health food or vitamin store for suggestions.

Echinacea supplement manufacturers recommend various dosages, so check the label or ask your doctor to recommend how much echinacea you should take. Most dosages suggest one or two capsules between two and four times per day for up to 10 days.