Article Most Wanted: flu

Echinacea for Colds Flu and Wounds

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<span class="dropcaps">N</span>o sunny perennial 
border or herb garden is complete without echinacea, a robust and 
distinctive wildflower native exclusively to North America. Echinacea’s 
flowers consist of prickly, domed centers encircled by a single layer of
 lavender-hued petals, which are the source of the herb’s most common 
name, purple coneflower. The “cone” is the characteristic perfectly 
captured by the genus name, as <i>Echinacea</i> comes from the Greek <i>echinos</i>,
 meaning “hedgehog.” Centuries before European settlers arrived in North
 America, native tribes were using at least three species of echinacea 
medicinally. The herb was something of a universal remedy to Indians of 
the Great Plains and neighboring regions. It was used for more 
therapeutic purposes than almost any other herb.
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<b>Therapeutic Uses</b></h2>
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<i>Colds and flu</i></div>
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<i>Wounds</i></div>
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Echinacea is one of the best-studied herbs in herbal 
medicine today. It has gained a reputation for decreasing the severity 
and length of the common cold. It has been shown to have numerous 
effects on the immune system—from increased antibody responses to 
elevated interferon levels for fighting viruses to stimulation of white 
blood cells to work harder to fight infection. There are several 
chemical compounds in echinacea that vary among the three species of the
 plant, plant parts, and extraction techniques: Polysaccharides, 
glycoproteins, and alkylamides all have medicinal effects that boost the
 immune system and inhibit viruses and bacteria. Researchers continue to investigate how echinacea works.</div>
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Daily use of echinacea does not seem to protect 
against getting a cold; however, some studies point to an effect of 
reducing a cold’s length by one to two days. In order to see benefits, 
take adequate doses of good product at the first sign of illness.</div>
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<b>How to Use</b></h2>
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<i>Tea:</i> Steep 1 to 2 teaspoons echinacea 
leaf/flower in 1 cup boiling water, or boil 1 teaspoon of root in 1 to 2
 cups water for 10 minutes.</div>
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<i>Tincture:</i> When coming down with a cold, take either a tincture of echinacea root or the expressed juice from fresh <i>E. purpurea</i> aboveground parts stabilized in alcohol. Every 2 hours, take 1 to 2 ml directly or diluted in water.</div>
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<i>Capsule:</i> The dose varies with each 
echinacea product, depending on the plant part used and the species. 
Follow manufacturer’s instructions.</div>
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<b>Precautions</b></h2>
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Anyone with an autoimmune condition must exercise 
caution in taking an immune-boosting herb like echinacea. Echinacea may 
inhibit certain liver enzymes, theoretically increasing blood levels of 
medications such as itraconazole (for fungal infections), lovastatin 
(for lowering cholesterol), and fexofenadine (for allergies). Therefore,
 it is important to be careful when taking echinacea with these and 
other medications, including birth control pills. A rare allergic 
reaction can occur in people who are allergic to other plants in the 
Asteraceae (daisy) family. Some people experience very mild stomach 
upset or dizziness. High doses of echinacea can cause nausea.</div>