Is Echinacea Safe?

Introduction

Echinacea, a genus of herbaceous flowering plants, is widely used for its purported medicinal properties, particularly in treating and preventing the common cold and other upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Despite its popularity, questions about the safety of Echinacea remain, especially concerning its use in different populations and over extended periods.

Key Insights

General Safety Profile
- Echinacea is generally considered safe for short-term use, with adverse events being infrequent and mild, such as gastrointestinal upsets and rashes .
- Long-term use of Echinacea, up to six months, has not shown significant toxicological concerns, making it suitable for extended use in healthy adults .
Allergic Reactions
- Although rare, Echinacea can cause severe allergic reactions, particularly in individuals with allergies or asthma. Such individuals should use Echinacea with caution .
Safety During Pregnancy and Lactation
- Echinacea is considered non-teratogenic and safe during pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester, based on available evidence. However, caution is advised during lactation due to insufficient high-quality studies .
Safety in Children
- Echinacea has been found to be safe and well-tolerated in children, with no significant adverse reactions reported in studies .
Drug Interactions and Contraindications
- No significant herb-drug interactions have been found with standardized Echinacea preparations. However, the safety of Echinacea in individuals with autoimmune diseases or those undergoing immunosuppression remains uncertain.
Toxicological Evaluations
- Studies on tissue-cultured Echinacea purpurea roots have shown no significant mutagenicity or toxicity, supporting its safety for use in traditional medicine and the food industry.

Conclusion

Echinacea is generally safe for short-term and long-term use in healthy adults, with mild and infrequent adverse events. It is also safe for use during pregnancy and in children, though caution is advised during lactation and for individuals with allergies or asthma. No significant drug interactions have been reported, but its use in autoimmune conditions and immunosuppression requires further investigation. Overall, Echinacea appears to be a well-tolerated herbal medicine with a favorable safety profile.

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Summary

Consensus Meter

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

The Safety of Herbal Medicinal Products Derived from Echinacea Species

Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold.

Evaluation of Echinacea for Treatment of the Common Cold

Safety and efficacy of echinacea (Echinacea angustafolia, e. purpurea and e. pallida) during pregnancy and lactation.

Benefit-risk assessment of the squeezed sap of the purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) for long-term oral immunostimulation.

Review and Assessment of Medicinal Safety Data of Orally Used Echinacea Preparations

Biosafety and toxicological evaluation of tissue-cultured Echinacea purpurea adventitious roots.

Echinacea purpurea: A Proprietary Extract of Echinacea purpurea Is Shown to be Safe and Effective in the Prevention of the Common Cold

Echinacea purpurea L. in children: safety, tolerability, compliance, and clinical effectiveness in upper respiratory tract infections.

Echinacea plants as antioxidant and antibacterial agents: From traditional medicine to biotechnological applications

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