Benefits Of Echinacea
The Well-Known Benefits of Echinacea
The benefits of Echinacea have long been known by American Indians and is popularly known as Sampson root, purple cone flower, red sunflower, or black Sampson. Echinacea is indigenous to North America and has been used by Native Americans for centuries. It was used as a medication for colds, flu, and infections. It was used topically on cuts, burns, and insect bites. It was revered as a general cure for nearly every ailment. Echinacea has remained a very popular herbal remedy throughout the world.
When Europeans first encountered the plant and were introduced to its curative properties, they became firm believers in the medicinal effects of Echinacea. As late as the 1980’s Americans doubted the effectiveness of this herb and it was not commonly used in the United States, despite the fact that it has its origins in this country. Europeans, however, spent a large amount of time trying to unlock the secrets of the benefits of Echinacea.
In Germany, there were large research studies which eventually isolated the herb’s main constituents. It is believed that the combination of ingredients in Echinacea makes the herb act as a natural antibiotic which stimulates the activation of T-cells in the body, while suppressing the virus or bacterial activity. As the plant was further studies, it has been determined by scientists that the plant does not cure diseases outright, but it does help the body to resist illnesses by boosting the body’s immune system. By taking Echinacea, people tend to become ill less often and when they do fall ill, their symptoms are generally more mild and they recover from their illnesses sooner.
Echinacea has proven to be effective against many illnesses. Respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis, sinusitis, and hay fever are helped by this herb. Ear infections, urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and throat infections also heal quicker when Echinacea is made part of the treatment plan. Echinacea can also be used topically to help heal eczema and psoriasis and other slow healing wounds.
Echinacea has proven to be very beneficial in boosting the immune systems of cancer patients after treatment with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy treatment is stopped or delayed if the patients’ white blood count remains too low after treatment. Echinacea does not boost the white blood cell count by itself, but it does allow the body to fight infection better during the time that the white blood cell count is low.
There are some claims that Echinacea has no side effects. There are some studies that have shown that people can experience dizziness, allergic reactions, sleepiness, headaches, sore throat, nausea and stomach upset, as well as muscle aches. It is also possible that taking Echinacea can lead to an allergic reaction in some people.
Herbs in the United States are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Their effectiveness does not have to be proven through rigorous studies, although the benefits of Echinacea are well established. The problem with herbs not being regulated is that there is not test of purity and no agreed upon dosage recommendations. Purity is an issue since you may be used to taking a certain amount each day. If you switch brands, or even within the same brand, there may be drastic differences in the amount of active ingredients per dose. This is one reason that many doctors do not regularly recommend supplements to their patients.
Echinacea may be found in stores in throat lozenges, as pills or in powder form, or as a tincture. It has also been mixed with other ingredients and is marketed in the form of an ointment to be applied to wounds. From the tincture or extract form, a gargle rinse can be made to help ease throat infections.