Question 1

does echinacea every interact with any major prescription medications?

Accepted Answer

Yes: All herbals have the potential of altering the actions of prescription drugs.  Always ask your pharmacist to run a cross check when ingesting anything; including foods.

Question 2

can i take echinacea while on immunosuppressant?

Accepted Answer

Yes.: However, taking echinacea for an extended period may itself cause some immune dysfunction.  So only take it for short periods of time.

Question 3

what is echinacea?

Accepted Answer

Echinacea: Echinacea is the name for a group of flowers in the daisy family.  It's sold as an herbal supplement to prevent or cure illness - however, there is no conclusive evidence showing it to be any more potent than placebo.

Question 4

can you give a child under 5 years echinacea?

Accepted Answer

Echinacea: Probably, but there is no published reputable dosage published for children that would meet fda standards. The nih published a controlled, double-blind study a few yrs ago (nejm) that showed that echinacea was no better than placebo for bolstering immune function or  treating viral upper respiratory infections. That said, placebo is pretty good for most folks!

Question 5

can you tell me when should i stop taking echinacea?

Accepted Answer

Echinacea: Based on the current literature, it appears that prophylactic echinacea does not have a significant impact on the frequency, severity, or duration of upper respiratory infection. The data regarding treatment of upper respiratory infection appear to support a modest positive effect. As such, it is reasonable to stop taking echinacea after cold symptoms abate.

Question 6

how much time should my break from taking echinacea pills be?

Accepted Answer

Echinacea: Based on the current literature, it appears that prophylactic echinacea does not have a significant impact on the frequency, severity, or duration of upper respiratory infection. The data regarding treatment of upper respiratory infection appear to support a modest positive effect. Based on this, a reasonable length of break would be the time between colds.

Question 7

could echinacea cause infertility?

Accepted Answer

No such evidence: I am not aware of such a relationship.

Question 8

what's your thoughts are on using echinacea? does it really work to boost immune system, fight colds? dose/strength/name brand?

Accepted Answer

Only trust: Echinacea is a plant that indeed if processed have the ability to produce products that have medicinal, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic effect. It seemed to have the ability to boost immune system in animals, no scientific study in humans. There is no standard way they are processed for these effects and therefore no fda approved studies have been done yet.

Question 9

does echinacea help suppress herpes?

Accepted Answer

No : Systemic use is believed to act like an immunostimulant for preventing and treating infection. Recent studies suggest no benefits. 
Barrett (2002) ann intern med 137:939-46
yale (2004) arch intern med 164:1237-41.

Question 10

does echinacea work against the common cold?

Accepted Answer

Probably not much: There is some german literature that shows minor benefit.

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Echinacea c complete medication

A member asked:

Does echinacea every interact with any major prescription medications?

A member asked:

Can i take echinacea while on immunosuppressant?

A member asked:

What is echinacea?

A member asked:

Can you give a child under 5 years echinacea?

A member asked:

Can you tell me when should i stop taking echinacea?

A member asked:

How much time should my break from taking echinacea pills be?

A member asked:

Could echinacea cause infertility?

A member asked:

What's your thoughts are on using echinacea? does it really work to boost immune system, fight colds? dose/strength/name brand?

A member asked:

Does echinacea help suppress herpes?

A member asked:

Does echinacea work against the common cold?

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