The name of the herbal product or dietary supplement ECHINACEA is EK e nay sha. It is marketed as a way to support the body’s defense mechanisms at work. It is frequently used to treat cold viruses-related sore throats and colds. However, there is little proof that echinacea treats colds or other comparable conditions. This herb has not been given FDA approval for any medicinal uses.
If you have any questions, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. This medication may also be used for other conditions.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
If you have any of the following conditions, they need to know:
- cancer
- diabetes
- immune system difficulties
- AIDS or HIV
- renal illness
- liver illness
- asthma is a respiratory or lung illness.
- organ donation
- other long-term disease
- tuberculosis
- a strange or adverse response to echinacea, other medications, foods, colours, or preservatives
- attempting to conceive or being pregnant
- breast-feeding
How should I use this medicine?
With a glass of water, consume. Pay attention to the instructions on the product label or get advice from a medical expert. Take this supplement with food if it bothers your stomach. Never use this supplement more frequently than recommended.
Regarding the use of this supplement in children, consult your pediatrician. You might need to take extra care.
Overdosage: If you believe you have taken too much of this medication, call an emergency room or a poison control center right away.
What may interact with this medicine?
- HIV/AIDS antiviral medications
- anti-cancer medication
- medications that decrease your ability to fight infection
- drugs like cyclosporine that reduce organ transplant rejection
- nimodipine
- steroid medications such as cortisone and prednisone
- warfarin
It’s probable that not all combinations are covered by this list. List all of the pharmaceuticals, herbs, over-the-counter remedies, and nutritional supplements you take for your health. Also let them know whether you smoke, consume alcohol, or engage in illicit drug usage. Your medicine may be impacted by certain things.
What should I watch for while using this medicine?
If your symptoms do not improve or worsen, consult a doctor. Unless your doctor instructs you to, do not use this supplement for longer than two weeks. The long-term benefits of this supplement have not been established, and it could even be dangerous.
Inform your healthcare practitioner that you are taking this supplement if you have an appointment for any type of medical or dental procedure. Before the surgery, you might need to stop using this supplement.
Like medications, nutritional supplements and herbs are not subject to regulation. For dietary supplements, strict quality control requirements are not necessary. These goods’ potency and purity can differ. It is unknown whether this dietary supplement is safe and whether it will help treat a particular ailment or illness. This item is not meant to be used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of any disease.
To assist consumers in safeguarding themselves, the Food and Drug Administration offers the following advice:
- Always read the directions on a product’s label.
- Natural does not guarantee a product is secure for consumption by people.
- Be on the lookout for items with USP following the component name. This indicates that the maker complied with US Pharmacopoeia criteria.
- A nationally recognized food or drug company is more likely to manufacture and sell supplements that are subject to stringent regulations. To learn more about how the product was created, you can write to the company.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
The following side effects should be reported as soon as possible to your physician or other healthcare provider:
- Skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue are examples of allergic reactions.
- breathing difficulties
- watery or bloody diarrhea
- chills and fever
- Dark yellow or brown urine, overall malaise or flu-like symptoms, light-colored feces, loss of appetite, nausea, right upper abdominal pain, unusual weakness or fatigue, and yellowing of the eyes or skin are all indicators of liver damage.
- eyes, mouth, and nose sores
Typically, side effects may not necessitate medical attention; however, if they persist or are unpleasant, inform your doctor or other qualified health care provider.
- changes in preference
- headache
- nausea
- stomach pain
Possibly not all potential side effects are covered by this list. For medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor. Call 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects to the FDA.
Where should I keep my medicine?
Keep at room temperature or as instructed on the label of the product. Defend against dampness. Any unused supplement after the expiration date should be thrown away.
This document serves as a summary. It might not include all relevant data. Speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare practitioner if you have any questions regarding this medication.
Why echinacea shouldn’t be taken?
Consult your doctor before using echinacea if you regularly take other medications. Additionally, if you smoke, use illegal substances, drink alcohol or caffeine-containing beverages, you should disclose this to your doctor. These might impact how echinacea functions.
If you have an autoimmune ailment (like lupus), an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, echinacea may not be beneficial to you (AIDS). Before beginning to use echinacea, you should discuss with your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing.
Echinacea allergy risk may be increased if you have a history of allergies to daisies, ragweed, marigolds, chrysanthemums, or other related plants.
Adult
Take echinacea three times daily for the first ten days of a cold, flu, upper respiratory infection, or bladder infection to stimulate the immune system generally.
Echinacea should NOT be taken on an empty stomach. Take it with food or a big glass of water instead.
Brief overview
However, no studies utilizing Echinacea in the prevention or treatment of illnesses similar to COVID-19 have been found. Current research suggests that echinacea supplementation may reduce the duration and severity of acute respiratory tract infections. There were not many side events reported, indicating the relative safety of this herbal medication. Clinical studies have shown that Echinacea lowers levels of immunological molecules associated with cytokine storm, despite the fact that it might boost immune activity, which raises concerns that it can worsen over-activation of the immune system in cytokine storm.
Verdict
When given at the earliest sign of infection, Echinacea supplements may help with the symptoms of acute respiratory infections (ARI) and the common cold. No trials employing Echinacea in the prevention or treatment of illnesses like COVID-19, however, have been found. When taken at the outset of symptoms, Echinacea may lessen the intensity and/or duration of ARI, according to earlier research. E. purpurea or a mixture of E. purpurea and E. angustifolia having standardized levels of active components were employed in trials claiming benefit.
Echinacea use hasn’t been associated with many side effects, which suggests that this herbal remedy is generally harmless. No human studies using echinacea for up to 4 months could be found that showed cytokine storm symptoms.
The results were largely consistent with a reduction in the pro-inflammatory cytokines that are involved in the progression of cytokine storm and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), factors that are highly significant in the death of COVID-19 patients when looking at all human trials that reported changes in cytokine levels in response to Echinacea supplementation. Even though there isn’t any research on the therapeutic benefits of echinacea in the treatment of cytokine storms right now, this evidence shows that more study is necessary.
How safe is echinacea for people?
Though typically harmless, echinacea is not suitable for everyone. If you have multiple sclerosis or an autoimmune ailment (like lupus), you should not use echinacea.
Who shouldn’t consume echinacea?
Echinacea may be safe to consume while pregnant for up to 7 days if taken orally. There isn’t enough trustworthy data to determine whether taking echinacea for more than seven days is safe.
Breast-feeding: There isn’t enough trustworthy data to determine whether echinacea is safe to use while nursing. Avoid use to be on the safe side.
Children: Echinacea may be safe when ingested or topically administered for up to 10 days. Most kids between the ages of 2 and 11 seem to be safe when taking echinacea orally, however allergic reactions can cause rashes. There is considerable worry that some youngsters may experience more severe allergic reactions to echinacea.
People with this condition are more prone to experience an allergic reaction to echinacea. Atopy: An inherent inclination for allergies. In the event that you have this condition, it is better to prevent echinacea exposure.
Echinacea may have an effect on the immune system that could exacerbate “auto-immune illnesses,” such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), pemphigus vulgaris, or others. If you suffer from an auto-immune illness, avoid using echinacea.
Can echinacea harm the liver?
The more frequent echinacea adverse effects are as follows:
- headaches
- dizziness
- feeling unwell
- belly pain
- constipation
- skin repercussions (redness, itchiness and swelling)
- Children are more likely to have them.
Echinacea use for longer than 8 weeks at a time may cause liver damage or immune system suppression. If you are taking medications known to have an adverse effect on your liver, herbalists advise against taking echinacea.
If you use any additional medications, herbs, or supplements, check with your doctor first.
Using echinacea safely
If you want to substitute echinacea for your cancer therapy, let your doctor know. Additionally, if you are considering taking it concurrently with your cancer therapy.
In some people, it may not be safe to use in conjunction with other cancer treatments.
Echinacea may impair the effectiveness of some chemotherapy medications, including etoposide.
Sometimes pharmacists and medical professionals advise lymphoma patients not to consume echinacea. This is so that it won’t affect how they’re being treated.
Researchers discovered that echinacea and etravine were safe to ingest together in HIV-positive individuals.
If any of the following apply to you before consuming echinacea:
- are breastfeeding or pregnant
- have a medical condition like autoimmune illness, HIV, or AIDS that impairs your immune system
- are medicating to weaken your immune system because it might fight them
- are under 12 years old
- There is a possibility of allergic responses including skin rashes, according to the medical health regulatory association (MHRA).
Always discuss the use of complementary or alternative cancer therapy with your doctors and nurses. They could affect how well your other therapies work.
Your treatment team can point you in the direction of further resources if they don’t have the knowledge you need.
Echinacea and kidney health
If you have renal illness, stay away from herbal medications because they can increase blood pressure.
Some, like St. John’s Wort (for poor mood), may interfere with renal disease medications.
Before using some, such as the cold and flu treatment echinacea, consult with your doctor or pharmacist because they may have an adverse effect on kidney function.
Another issue is that the amount of the active ingredient in herbal remedies can vary significantly across brands (and even between batches of the same brand). This makes it challenging to anticipate how potent a dose will be.
Can I take echinacea and vitamin D together?
Vitamin D3 and echinacea did not interact in any way. This does not imply that there are no interactions, though. Always get advice from your doctor.
Echinacea: Does it really work?
the final result. A strong herb with strong therapeutic qualities is echinacea. While some research suggests that it may help treat and prevent the common cold, other studies have come to the opposite conclusion and found that it is unlikely to make a substantial difference. As a result, more thorough human research are required.