Echinacea is a plant group that has substances to boost immunity and it serves as an antioxidant for the body. It is a popular herb that has found use in traditional medicine.
Echinacea
Echinacea is a group of flowering plants that belong to the daisy family. The eastern and central parts of North America have plentiful of these plants. There are 9 species of this genus and 3 of these are healing. It is also called purple coneflower.
The roots and other plant parts are mainly used in the making of therapeutic products such as supplements, pills, extracts, teas and tinctures. The phytochemicals in them include caffeic acid, phenolic acids, alkamides, polyacetylenes, and rosmarinic acid.
Echinacea (Source: HGTV)Health benefits
The plants parts are loaded with antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid, flavonoids, and cichoric acid. The flowers and roots are particularly rich in them. Their alkamides enhance the action of these antioxidants. They mop up the harmful free radicals in the body. Thus, they can overcome risk of heart diseases, other chronic diseases, diabetes, body inflammation and improve gut health.
Immune system action
There are many older studies that have shown that it can fight colds and flus. It helps the body’s immune and recovery system. Therefore, you suffer mildly and recover faster. One research study showed that it reduces risk of a person contracting the infection by 22%.
But a meta-analysis done in 2014 of the previous studies showed that they had poor designs and showed no real health benefits.
Hence, more well-designed studies would be the answer to the unclarity that exists about its role in cold management.
Echinacea and its extract (Source: Medical news today)Blood sugar control
In vitro studies showed that extract of Echinacea purpurea reduced activity and secretion of enzymes used to digest carbs. Thus, in practice this could lead to lowered blood sugar levels. Additional animal studies also revealed that it can increase insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar.
Relief of anxiety
It has compounds to lessen anxiety feelings. These include rosmarinic acid, alkamides, and caffeic acid. There was one study that showed that eating 40 milligrams of Echinacea extract two times a day for a week reduced anxiety significantly in the treated group. While another study did not see any improvement in mental health with this extract. More research looking at this facet of emotional health would be useful.
Lessening of inflammation
One mouse study proved that this extract can lessen inflammatory markers in blood. Also, eating a supplement containing echinacea and ginger extract by osteoarthritis patients for a month led to improvement in symptoms. Swelling and pain was less. These patients had shown no response with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines. Another review showed its positive impact in reducing inflammatory markets such as IL-6, IL-8 and TNF.
Echinacea and its extract has health benefits (Source: Dr. Weil)Skin lesions clearance
Its extract along with eggplant extract can clear skin lesions like acne. A small study in 2010 on 10 patients showed that topical extract of this plant can improve skin moisture and reduce wrinkles. Also, a skin cream containing the extract relieved eczema symptoms.
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Cancer protection
Laboratory studies showed its potential to reduce growth of cancer cells. It killed cancer cells when used in combination with chicoric acid. This acts via activation of body’s defense cells. However, it does not interfere with chemotherapy.