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Recommended Daily Intake
One echinacea capsule taken with food or as professionally directed.
Contra-indications
None known if recommended intake is followed.
Potential applications of Echinacea
- Viral infections (e.g. colds, influenza, herpes, etc.)
- Bacterial infections
- Candida albicans infections
- Arthritis and other inflammatory conditions
- Eczema, acne and other bacterially-related and/or inflammatory skin conditions
- Wound healing
Immune stimulant
A number of immuno-stimulatory compounds have been isolated from echinacea. Echinacea elevates white blood cell count and activity, enhances antibody activity, speeds migration of white blood cells to areas of infection, boosts interferon activity and inhibits hyaluronidase (an enzyme that allows pathogenic organisms to become more invasive).
Anti-bacterial
Echinacea exerts a mild anti-bacterial effect on the body. For example, two compounds found in echinacea, echinacoside and caffeic acid, inhibit the growth of staphylococcus aureas, corynebacterium diptheria, and proteus vulgaris.
Anti-viral
The various components of echinacea appear to block viral receptor sites on cell surfaces as well as having an inhibiting effect on hyaluronidase, which increases connective tissue permeability and allows the organism to become more invasive.
Anti-fungal
Studies have shown that echinacea specifically enhances the ability of macrophages (white blood cells which 'eat' pathogens) to destroy fungal organisms such as candida albicans.
Anti-inflammatory
Studies suggest that polysaccharides in echinacea exert anti-inflammatory activity, primarily due to what has been reported as a 'cortisone-like' effect.
Wound healing
It has been reported that echinacea speeds up the healing of damaged tissue - an action that appears to be associated with an ability to promote connective tissue regeneration and the herb's anti-inflammatory properties.
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