What Does Echinacea Do for the Body? Immune System Effects, Uses, and Safety Tips

Echinacea is a magenta-colored flower with a dark orange center that you might have seen in local gardens. Echinacea helps with the common cold, inflammation and pain, mood issues, and skin conditions.

There’s a good chance that if you have a cold or the flu, a well-meaning friend or family member will tell you to take echinacea. Some people swear by this remedy, a purported way to keep themselves healthy through the winter, while others see the buzz surrounding this herb as hype. Does this herb indeed fight off viruses, or is it a folk remedy with little science to back it up? 

Echinacea is a centuries-old herbal remedy that has been used to boost the immune system and ward off several types of contagious illnesses. Learn more about how it affects your immune system and gain an understanding of when to use this herb for your health problems.

Echinacea is a magenta-colored flower with a dark orange center that you might have seen in local gardens. It’s also called the “coneflower” or “purple coneflower,” and it’s common to see echinacea both in the wild and in gardens in North America. 

This plant is related to daisies, chrysanthemums, and marigolds. Most people don’t realize that it’s also the same plant family as ragweed — so you may need to be cautious when taking this herb if you’re allergic to ragweed, as it could cause allergic reactions. 

Echinacea is popular because it’s thought to help the immune system ward off common infections such as the cold and the flu. Some studies show that echinacea might be helpful when used this way. Echinacea has been used for centuries as traditional medicine by Native American communities for a long time, and most of this herb’s popularity might come from the fact that people want to take a time-tested natural remedy for their ailments. 

Traditional communities used echinacea topically for skin issues such as burns and internal ailments like arthritis. While not all herbs and vitamins can be used to treat health conditions in the way that medicine can, there are a few that provide benefits. Though there are many traditional uses of echinacea, most of these uses haven’t been studied or tested within a large sample. 

Echinacea has been most frequently studied in modern times for its use in treating viral illnesses.

It might surprise you to know that echinacea isn’t just used as a common cold remedy. Consider whether or not you can safely try echinacea for one of the following uses.

Common colds

The cold and flu might be the most well-known conditions that echinacea is used for. While there is some benefit to taking echinacea for a viral illness, and though some people swear by this remedy, many studies don’t show an overall benefit when it comes to preventing colds altogether. 

Other studies show that if you take high-quality echinacea, you may be able to reduce the risk of catching a cold by 10 to 20%. You should know, though, that most supplements do not have to be regulated for potency and effectiveness, so if you do choose echinacea, make sure to buy it from a reputable source.

Inflammation and pain

If you’ve heard of cannabidiol or CBD oil, you might have come across the term “endocannabinoid system”. This system in your brain is activated to provide pain relief to your body, and it’s commonly associated with CBD and marijuana products. Researchers think that echinacea might work the same way to decrease the way your brain responds to pain. This use of echinacea hasn’t been studied very much, though, and more research will have to take place before this can be considered a legitimate treatment. 

Mood issues

You might not think of echinacea when you consider herbal anti-anxiety treatments, but many researchers are doing just that. In a recent study, scientists investigated whether a form of echinacea was more effective than a placebo when dealing with generalized anxiety disorder. While they didn’t find much of an improvement for anxiety, results showed that echinacea (at least at a daily dose of 40 to 80 milligrams) might be helpful for those who deal with depression.

Skin conditions

Echinacea is sometimes used topically to help with skin conditions like eczema and acne. Because both of these skin issues have an inflammatory component, it makes sense to assume that echinacea might help reduce these symptoms. In addition to reducing inflammation, researchers think that echinacea might be able to kill off some of the bacteria responsible for certain types of acne.

Even though echinacea is an herb, this doesn’t mean it’s safe for everyone. Some people may be allergic to the echinacea plant, while others may have a bad reaction due to a medical condition they have. It’s important to fully research this herb. 

Unlike other, milder herbs and vitamins you might take without drawbacks, echinacea has the potential to cause major side effects. This supplement can also interact with several medications. 

If you deal with any of the following, don’t use echinacea before speaking to your doctor to determine whether or not it’s safe for you.

Autoimmune diseases

If you have an autoimmune condition like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or multiple sclerosis, you’ve probably noticed that certain foods, medications, and even sunlight (in the case of lupus) can cause your symptoms to flare. While there’s no exhaustive list of herbs that you should avoid if you have an autoimmune disease, many doctors will caution you to think twice before taking an immune-boosting supplement like echinacea. 

The reasoning behind this is that echinacea increases your immune system’s activity to fight off a cold, so it may cause an autoimmune flare — making your immune system attack your own body — at the same time. If you have an autoimmune condition, stay on the safe side and choose a different supplement, or at least ask your doctor if echinacea is OK for you to use.

Liver problems

If you have liver disease or if you’re taking medication that affects your liver, it’s probably not a good idea to take echinacea at the same time. If you take echinacea for more than eight weeks, you may experience liver problems as well. Echinacea may also block your liver’s ability to fully process medications out of your body, which can cause severe symptoms and can be extremely dangerous to your health.

Multiple medications

It’s not a good idea to add a new medication or supplement to a schedule of pills, herbs, or infusions without first getting the advice of your medical team. If you have a chronic condition that you’re hoping echinacea will help, or if you’re managing a condition like cancer and you want to take echinacea to fight off the cold you’re getting, pause for a moment and do your research before buying a bottle of echinacea capsules.

Migraines

There might be some benefit to taking echinacea to ward off your migraine headaches, but if you’re also taking triptans or tricyclic antidepressants — two common treatments for migraine headaches — combining these with echinacea can put your health in danger. 

Your liver filters toxins, including medications, out of your body, and if it’s not able to do this adequately, you can get very sick or even die. If you’re concerned about taking herbs or supplements with your migraine medication, make sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist whether or not they’re safe before you combine them on your own.

Pregnancy

Pregnant women are advised to avoid many medications and supplements for the safety of their developing babies. Echinacea is a bit of a grey area, because many pregnant women use remedies like this and elderberry, another popular herbal antiviral remedy, to fight off the cold and flu while pregnant. Talk to your doctor before using echinacea during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Common side effects include nausea, stomachaches, and other digestive issues. Some people get rashes or other allergic symptoms — especially if they are allergic to plants in the same family (like ragweed and daisies). Liver problems might be a concern if you are taking other medications or you take echinacea for a longer period of time than your doctor advised. 

In general, echinacea is a safe herbal remedy when taken in short periods of time for issues like the common cold. If you’re healthy overall, have no chronic conditions, aren’t allergic to the daisy family of plants, and don’t take medications that could interact with echinacea and you wish to use the herb for a few days to a week to see if you can suffer less from a viral illness, you’ll probably have no problem when taking it. Use caution when taking echinacea for other health concerns, though, and if you have a medical condition, make sure to speak to your doctor about using any herbs or supplements.