Echinacea

What is it: Three different plants from the astor family, Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida, are used to treat the common cold. The part of the plant used is important to know: for E. purpurea it is the whole herb, but not the root. For E. pallida the root is the best part.

Mechanism of action: It stimulates the immune system and decreases inflammation. Echinacea increases macrophage and PMN cell activities. The parts of Echinacea species that may be important in this process are alkamides, glycoproteins, polysaccharides, and caffeic acid derivatives. Anti-inflammatory properties may contribute to reduction in symptoms.

How to use it: 1200 mg of powdered E. purpurea herb extract taken daily until symptoms are gone. Or, E. purpurea tincture dosed according to the product label. This last is based on the expert opinion of herbalists.

Products to use: Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database lists 113 products containing echinacea. Not all products are created equal! ConsumerLab.com found a product containing unacceptable lead levels. Several other products contained less than the claimed amounts of phenols. Echinacea products that passed CL testing include Nature's Way, Nature's Resource, Puritan's Pride, Sundown, and Vitamin World.

Results to expect: When taken at the first sign of a cold, reduction in the development of a full cold (relative risk reduction 0.67) and reduction in symptom severity.

Side effects: Patients may experience GI upset, such as nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea, rash, or urticaria. People with allergies to ragweed, daisies, marigolds, or chrysanthemums may experience allergic or anaphylactic reactions.