Purple coneflower – is it worth using for health problems?

Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower, is one of the most interesting medicinal herbs found in nature. Native Americans have used it for centuries to treat various ailments. Today, the widely known versatility of echinacea in combating health problems such as colds and flu means that the plant is becoming an increasingly popular health supplement in Poland. What should you know about it and how should you use it?

Purple coneflower – what is it?

Purple coneflower, or Echinacea purpurea, is a plant native to North America. Coneflower belongs to the Asteraceae family, which includes several diverse species rich in unique properties.

Native Americans who inhabited the Great Plains east of the Rocky Mountains used echinacea to treat many health problems, including respiratory tract infections and snake bites, which were common in those areas. Currently, purple coneflower is experiencing a resurgence of interest, not only in America, but also in Europe and Poland, mainly due to its wide range of medicinal and health-promoting uses. Purple coneflower – what does it look like?

Purple coneflower is a perennial herbaceous plant with colourful pink and purple flowers. Its Latin name Echinacea is derived from the ancient Greek word ‘ekhinos’, which literally means ‘hedgehog’. This is a reference to the spiky appearance of the central part of the plant's flowers, reminiscent of a curled-up hedgehog. Echinacea can reach a height of 120 cm and consists of upright stems, hard and rough, ending in a single head.

Echinacea purpurea – plant composition

The health benefits of Echinacea purpurea are due to a number of active ingredients found inside the plant. These include:

• Caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid – known for their disinfectant and antiseptic properties
• Echinacein – a substance found exclusively in the Echinacea family. It is a natural shield against bacteria and fungi, has anti-inflammatory properties and stimulates the body's immune response.
• Polysaccharides – protect cells from attacks by viruses and bacteria.

In addition to the above, various fatty acids, alkamides and the essential oil extracted from it are also responsible for the health properties of echinacea.

Purple coneflower – what properties are worth knowing about?

Regular intake of purple coneflower, whether in the form of tinctures, tablets or powdered herbs, is associated with a number of positive, health-promoting properties that directly affect the human body. These include:

• Protection against oxidative stress – echinacea is rich in natural antioxidants that help protect cells from excessive oxidative stress in chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.
• It affects the immune system – numerous studies show that the plant helps the immune system fight infections and viruses, thus promoting faster recovery.
• Improves skin appearance – the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of echinacea inhibit the growth of bacteria that promote the development of acne or eczema. It also helps to repair the thin, protective layer of the outer skin.
• Lowers blood sugar levels – high blood sugar levels can increase the risk of serious health problems. Echinacea appears to lower excessively high blood sugar levels while increasing the sensitivity of cells to insulin. What's more, Echinacea also helps remove excess fat from the blood, which is a factor that negatively affects the body's proper response to insulin and sugar.
• Helps reduce feelings of anxiety – in addition to its physical effects, echinacea also affects the human psyche. Some studies show that echinacea does indeed contain compounds that can reduce excessive feelings of anxiety. These include alkamides and caffeic acid.
• It has rich anti-inflammatory properties – sometimes inflammation can get out of control and last longer than is necessary for the body to regenerate properly. Echinacea can help reduce excessive inflammation, often more effectively than conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Purple coneflower – how to use it?

Echinacea is a plant with many attributed benefits. In therapeutic and herbal medicine, echinacea is used to:

• Improving the immune system by strengthening the body's defences
• Treating respiratory tract infections
• Helping to treat conditions such as colds, flu or sore throats
• Preventing urinary tract infections.

Echinacea can be used in various ways. It is available in the form of infusions, decoctions, fresh plant extracts, as well as tablets and capsules.

Purple coneflower for children – is it suitable?

Echinacea is an effective aid for children. Supplemented in the form of syrup, infusion or soluble tablets, it can be used successfully from the age of 3. Echinacea helps to boost a child's immune defences and supports the treatment of infections.

To help your child recover as quickly as possible, it is recommended to use liquid purple coneflower together with products rich in vitamin C, which will enhance its anti-inflammatory and immunostimulatory effects.

Purple coneflower tablets – are they effective?

One of the most commonly used forms of purple coneflower are capsules and tablets prepared on the basis of the plant's active ingredients. Tablet preparations are made from the above-ground parts of Echinacea purpurea, and their effectiveness is similar to that of liquid extracts from purple coneflower.

When using tablets, it is worth choosing products that dissolve easily in the mouth or in water. This allows them to act directly and immediately on the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat, increasing the effectiveness of the treatment of colds and respiratory tract infections.

Purple coneflower – appropriate dosage

Depending on the form used, the appropriate dosage of purple coneflower most often is as follows (of course, it also depends on the doctor's recommendations):

• Liquid extract – 25 drops dissolved in water up to 3 times a day
• Echinacea syrup – 3 full tablespoons per day
• Tablets and capsules – 400 or 500 mg, 1-4 times a day
• Dry powder extract – 300 to 500 mg, 1-3 times a day

Purple coneflower – contraindications

The main contraindications for the use of purple coneflower include:

• Allergies to plants of the Asteraceae family
• Autoimmune diseases
• Use of immunosuppressive drugs or blood disorders (e.g. leukaemia)
• Breastfeeding and pregnancy.

Furthermore, the alkaloids found in echinacea are dangerous for children under three years of age. The plant and supplements based on it are also not recommended for diabetics who do not control their sugar levels, as well as patients with low immunity.

Bibliography

‘The effect of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench extract on experimental prostate hyperplasia’ – D. Skaudickas, A. J. Kondrotas, E. Kevelaitis, P. R. Venskutonis, Phytotherapy Research scientific journal, Wiley, 2009.

‘Caffeic acid derivatives in dried Lamiaceae and Echinacea purpurea products’ – L. Jungmin, Journal of Functional Foods, Elsevier, 2010.

‘A proprietary extract from the echinacea plant (Echinacea purpurea) enhances systemic immune response during a common cold’ – V. Goel et al., Phytotherapy Research scientific journal, Wiley, 2005.

‘Polysaccharides isolated from Echinacea purpurea herba cell cultures to counteract undesired effects of chemotherapy—a pilot study’ – D. Melchart et al., scientific journal Phytotherapy Research, Wiley, 2002.

‘Effects of phenytoin and Echinacea purpurea extract on proliferation and apoptosis of mouse embryonic palatal mesenchymal cells’ – X. Hu, Z. Chen, X. Mao, S. Tang, Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, Wiley, 2011.

‘Immunologically active polysaccharides of Echinacea purpurea cell cultures’ – H. Wagner, H. Stuppner, W. Schäfer, M. Zenk, Phytochemistry scientific journal, Elsevier, 1988. ‘Application of purified polysaccharides from cell cultures of the plant Echinacea purpurea to mice mediates protection against systemic infections with Listeria monocytogenes and Candida albicans’ – J. Roesler et al., International Journal of Immunopharmacology, Elsevier, 1991.

‘Polysaccharides isolated from plant cell cultures of Echinacea purpurea enhance the resistance of immunosuppressed mice against systemic infections with Candida albicans and Listeria monocytogenes’ – Ch. Steinmüller et al., International Journal of Immunopharmacology, Elsevier, 1993.

‘Antioxidant activity of cichoric acid and alkamides from Echinacea purpurea, alone and in combination’ – L. Thygesen, J. Thulin, A. Mortensen, L. H. Skibsted, P. Molgaard, scientific journal Food Chemistry, Elsevier, 2007.

‘The effect of echinacea (Echinacea purpurea root) on cytochrome P450 activity in vivo’ – J. Gorski, Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics scientific journal, Nature Publishing Group, 2004.