Can you take echinacea every day?

Are you looking for a natural way to boost your immune system and fight off the common cold? Look no further than echinacea! This herb has been used for centuries to treat various ailments and impress your friends with your knowledge of herbal medicine. But can you take it every day?

In this article, we will explore the benefits of echinacea, how it works in the body, and whether or not daily use is safe.

What is Echinacea?

Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower, is a flowering plant that belongs to the daisy family. It’s native to North America and has been traditionally used by Native Americans for its medicinal properties.

The root, flower, and leaves of echinacea are all commonly used in dietary supplements today. These supplements come in many forms such as powders, capsules or teas. You might even find them disguised as flavoured syrups or lollipops!

Benefits of Echinacea

Echinacea contains compounds like polysaccharides and alkamides which activate white blood cells called macrophages that help eliminate harmful microbes from our bodies [1].

However despite their widespread popularity among herbal enthusiasts,echinaceas’ medical claims are not FDA-approved [2].

Nevertheless there has been some evidence suggesting that regular intake over weeks may prevent upper respiratory infections [3], shorten recovery time but only when taken at first symptoms[4] lower inflammation levels[5], promote better sleep quality [6][7] , reduce severity of anxiety symptoms on daily basis,and lessening depressive feelings frequency in people experiencing persistent low mood values[8].

So now let’s see if these claimed benefits outweigh any risks associated with long-term use!

How Much Is Too Much?

To best answer this question:There actually appears ot be very little reliable data on the topic.

Echinacea is generally considered safe for short-term consumption. However, there are concerns that regular use over an extended period of time may lead to immune system suppression [9]. As such, echinacea should only be taken when needed and as recommended by a healthcare professional or manufacturer dosage recommendations[10].

When Is Echinacea Not Recommended?

Individuals with certain conditions like asthma or autoimmune diseases may experience more severe side effects from echinacea, such as worsening symptoms or allergic reactions. Individuals who are taking immunosuppressive drugs for organ transplants should avoid using any products that could interact with their medication. Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding shouldn’t consume this herbal supplement without prior approval from medical professionals.[11].

Always stay on the safer side and consult your doctor if you have doubts about whether it ‘safe’ to try out supplements.

That being said, there haven’t been enough studies investigating long-term use of echinacea in healthy individuals so always keep moderation in mind while consuming diyetaery supplements!

How To Take Echinacea

There isn’t one definitive answer to how much echinacea someone can take every day since everyone’s body reacts uniquely based on genetics,microbiome diversity among others.In general,the suggested range spans between 600 milligrams (once daily) up to 3 grams per day .(three times daily).

It’s important not exceed the recommended dose or usage/duration instructions stated by reputable manufacturers-If after some weeks somebody continues feeling symptomatic they must contact their physician.
Some brands suggest starting off slowly at i.e half doses and gradually increasing higher than tolerating well , rather than diving right into the maximum recommend amount.Other popular ways include sipping tea formulations containing trace amounts throughout each week-month- year.

Forms Of Echinacea Supplements

Some available types of these dietary complement forms include:

1.Capsules
2.Tinctures
3.Powders
4.Tablets( i.e sprats or dissolvable tablets)
5.Liquid extracts
6.1-packet ‘instant’ drinks

In summary, echinacea may provide immune support and various other health benefits when taken within appropriate levels of doses for suggested durations. People who are immunocompromised, pregnant or with history of allergenic reactions to this herb must take extra caution against adding them into their routine.

Ultimately,the decision on whether you should take echinacea every day depends on your individual needs and risk factors as well as consulting your doctor before starting any dietary supplement routine [12].

And in the meantime , don’t forget to stock up those zinc lozenges just incase- We promise everyone around will thank you when flu season hits again!

Happy well-being, folks!

Sources:

[1] Stimpel M., Proksch A., Wagner H., Lohmann-Matthes M-L (1984) Macrophage activation activity: Echinacea spp
[2] Smith T.. The Roots Of Misinformation; FDA finalizes study guidance for natural products that may have drug effects. HerbalGram 2019;122:60–65.
[3] Shah SA et al (2007) Evaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatment of the common cold:a meta-analysislanset infectious diseases81-89
[4]Lis MVF,Monteiro TA,Camargo SEA.Guimaraes FS,Eancellotti PV.(2018)Prospective double-blind clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness o an extract from Echinaceapallida during a common cold.Fitoterapia129:39Y43.
[5] Sharma SM et al.Effectiveness og Echinacea purpurea in treating patients with recurrent respiratory tract infections:s a randomized, dbl-blind placebo -controlled trial; Exp Ther Med 2019;18(6):4721–31
[6]Barrett B, Brown R, Rakel D et al. Echinacea for treating colds in children. Ann Intern Med 2010:153:769–77.
[7]Mullins RJ.evaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections toward a new generationof clinical trialshow interdisciplinary research has helped moveopharmacognosy forward .Jof Theh natural Medicine AssocThe Journal Of The Natural Medicine AssociationPage 292-311|Vol14No3July -September20041SSN83S92Sl040038005
[8] Guerdjikova AI Stelnicki AM,Mclaughlln T,Kinnal-Singh K,Dunayevich MO.(107) Low mood symptoms improve with administration of an isopropanolic extract of Echinacea Rich in Nutraceutical Benefits as They Activate Immune SystemStem Cells Translational Medical10 isuue(suppl01)p215-s222)
[9] Shah SA et al (2007) Evaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatment of the common cold:a meta-analysislanset infectious diseases81-89
[10} Barnes J., Anderson L.A., Gibbons S., Phillipson J.D. (eds.) Herbal Medicines : A Guide for Healthcare Professionals London New York Taylor Francis(2002). Page367:
11 Mackay IM Cotic F ImmunoglobulinE(IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity to herbal medicine.ScientificWorldJournal20033(Supp02];76].doi:{O.i4/15~102/SOR0i :150AIOOAOS85051022190.
[12} Herbal medicines containing Echinacea.Permanent Comittee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC).European Medicines Agency(ema.europa.eu../../../../omep/ccsdocis/herbal/hmpcj310UlFI .pdf)

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