There is currently no official dosage recommendation for echinacea. Use of echinacea for the treatment of anxiety and cancer has been investigated. During the early 20th century, extracts of the plant were used as anti-infectives; however, use of these products fell out of favor after the discovery of modern antibiotics. 3 It has upright rough stems that are branched. One reason being that findings from echinacea research are highly variable. Adverse reactions with echinacea are rare. Numerous studies have found that this plant may help your immune system combat infections and viruses, which could help you recover faster from illness (8, 9, 10). If you have any underlying medical conditions or allergies, you should talk to your doctor or a qualified herbalist first. Available for Android and iOS devices. Encapsulated powders are the most common form, however, make sure the powder is a powder extract and not just dried herb. There are different types of echinacea, and therefore some formulations are blends of the different forms. For this tincture, 1 drop of tincture can be given for every 30 pounds of body weight, 3-4x daily. Echinacea has been shown to improve immunity, blood sugar, anxiety, inflammation and skin health. It is one of the most popular supplements in the U.S. Echinacea has not been associated with acute or chronic toxic effects. High-dose oral and IV administration (ie, several times the standard human therapeutic dose) of the expressed juice of E. purpurea to rodents for 4 weeks produced no short-term, genotoxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, or other toxic reactions.80 However, an association between use of IV E. purpurea extract and the deaths of 2 patients with advanced gastric cancer could not be eliminated.21. There was some concern that echinacea could interact with conventional cancer treatments, such as doxorubicin, but newer studies have found no interaction (28, 29). In a test-tube study, scientists found that echinacea’s anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties suppressed the growth of Propionibacterium, a common cause of acne (22). More research is needed before echinacea products can be recommended as a possible treatment. Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, How Chrysanthemum Tea Benefits Your Health, 5 Ways Chamomile Tea Benefits Your Health, 13 Foods That Could Lower Your Risk of Cancer. This includes type 2 diabetes, heart disease and several other chronic conditions. In one test-tube study, an extract of Echinacea purpurea and chicoric acid (naturally found in echinacea plants) was shown to trigger cancer cell death (25). Echinacea dosage for dogs Echinacea has been tested on dogs in powder form at a dosage of 45 mg/lb body weight given once a day. Echinacea, also called purple coneflower, is one of the most popular herbs worldwide. Keep in mind that you will be taking your tincture mixed with a small amount of water. When sick or experiencing acute symptoms, the full dosage can be administered every 1 to 2 hours. It may even have anti-cancer properties. 5-6 cups orally on day 1, then decrease by 1 cup/day over 5 days ; No more than 8 weeks of continuous use; Topical. However, human-based research is often limited. The study did not include a placebo group, and participants were randomized to 1 or 2 capsules (each capsule containing 20 mg of extract) daily for 1 week. dark amber bottle with a dropper top and label clearly as “Echinacea Tincture: Root & Herb”, the made on date, and the dosing. Cough, Cold & Flu. Vitamin C for Colds — Does It Actually Work? Chamomile is an herb that has long been consumed as a natural health remedy. Antioxidants are molecules that help defend your cells against oxidative stress, a state that has been linked to chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and many others. This makes it hard to know if any benefits on colds are from taking echinacea or simply from chance (12). However, people who swear by it recommend using it at the first sign of a cold. 3 The plant has pinkish-purple showy petals with a large, spiky seed cone. They’re linked to many health benefits, such as reduced inflammation, improved immunity and lower blood sugar levels. You should talk with your health care provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this product. Recommended dosing includes the following: 300 mg of dry powdered extract (standardized to echinacoside 3.5%), 0.25 to 1.25 mL of liquid extract (1:1 in alcohol 45%), 1 to 2 mL of tincture (1:5 in alcohol 45%), 2 to 3 mL of expressed juice of E. purpurea, and 0.5 to 1 g of dried root or tea (all administered 3 times daily). Echinacea Purpurea is available in a number of different forms: capsules, infusions, decoctions, mother tinctures. Long-term use of echinacea or use for longer than 10 days in acute infections in otherwise healthy individuals is not recommended. As echinacea appears to stimulate the immune system, people with autoimmune disorders or people taking immunosuppressive drugs should avoid it or consult their doctors first (3). Two dropperfuls for those weighing 50 … Specific case reports of interactions are limited, although one report describes an interaction with etoposide. In addition, echinacea products often may not contain what is written on the label. Echinacea is a perennial herb that grows up to 3 ft (1 m) in height. Echinacea plants contain an impressive variety of active compounds, such as caffeic acid, alkamides, phenolic acids, rosmarinic acid, polyacetylenes and many more (2). Most herbalists recommend taking a dropper full, which is 25 to 30 drops of a tincture, three times per day. diphenhydramine, Benadryl, turmeric, chlorpheniramine, saw palmetto, milk thistle, Ginkgo Biloba, garlic, Banophen. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this product. One study found that 10% of echinacea products samples did not contain any echinacea (32). It makes it easier to get the right dose that way as well. A dropperful (which looks like half a dropperful) is about 25 drops of tincture. These include alkamides, rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid (18). This would reduce the amount of sugar entering your blood if consumed (13). References J.A. Although it’s commonly used to treat the common cold, results in this area are mixed. For adults and older children, she suggests an echinacea tincture dosage as follows: 50 to 100 pounds: 2 droppers full 100 to 150 pounds: 3 droppers full 150 to 200 pounds: 4 droppers full 200 to 250 pounds: 5 droppers full. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. Britton, Echinacea purpurea (L.) MoenchCommon Name(s): American coneflower, Black Sampson, Black Susan, Comb flower, Echinacea, Echinaceawurzel, Hedgehog, Igelkopfwurzel, Indian head, Kansas snakeroot, Narrow-leaved purple coneflower, Purple coneflower, Purpursonnenhutkraut, Racine d'echininacea, Radix Echinaceae, Rock-up-hat, Roter sonnenhut, Scurvy root, Snakeroot, Sonnenhutwurzel. In a mouse study, echinacea compounds helped reduce important inflammatory markers and memory-loss caused by inflammation (20). Scientific Name(s): Echinacea angustifolia DC, Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Test-tube studies have found that echinacea plants may help lower blood sugar levels. Other test-tube studies found that echinacea extracts made cells more sensitive to insulin’s effects by activating the PPAR-y receptor, a common target of diabetes drugs (14, 15). When sick or experiencing acute symptoms, the full dosage can be administered every 1 to 2 hours. Echinacea dosage for gums and internal problems: Here also of course mother tincture … Always start with a very tiny dose first and see how your body responds. A major limitation of available dosing information is the lack of standardization of echinacea preparations. Dealing with a cold or the flu? It’s considered safe and well tolerated for short-term use. Share: Dosage instructions. It can be found naturally in a wide range of plants. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You might know chrysanthemums, or mums, as a many-petalled flower found all over the world in garden beds and flower pots. This is why you should purchase echinacea products from trusted brands. That said, research has found the following doses to be effective in aiding immunity (11): However, it’s best to follow the instructions that come with your specific supplement. In a test-tube study, an Echinacea purpurea extract was shown to suppress enzymes that digest carbohydrates. Echinacea pallida root tincture. In recent years, echinacea plants have emerged as a potential aid for anxiety. However, for optimal results, consult with an … Dosage depends on the needs and size of the dog, but a conservative rule is to give 12-25 drops of the tincture 3 times a day. Echinacea tincture may also be taken in doses of 15 to 40 drops four times a day. *17 Substantially lower dosages of Echinacea appear to be effectiv… With the exception of certain products that are generally recognized as safe in normal quantities, including use of folic acid and prenatal vitamins during pregnancy, this product has not been sufficiently studied to determine whether it is safe to use during pregnancy or nursing or by persons younger than 2 years of age. * One successful clinical trial administered an alcohol tincture at a “typical” dose of 0.9 mL three times per day for ongoing support and increased the dosage frequency to five times per day for acute support. Monitor therapy.102, 103, In reviews and meta-analyses of clinical trials of echinacea in the treatment and prevention of the common cold, allergic reactions, facial edema, and mild transient GI complaints were reportedly the most relevant.7, 46, 81 In trials evaluating echinacea for treatment of the common cold, equal dropout rates due to adverse events were reported for control and treatment arms, whereas in prevention studies, there was a trend toward higher dropout rates due to adverse effects in the treatment arm.7, Echinacea should be used with caution in individuals with hypersensitivity to ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, daisies, or related allergens.4, 73, 74, A case report of leukopenia, possibly caused by long-term use of echinacea, has been published.75, Debate exists regarding echinacea use in patients with autoimmune disorders. No clinical data exist regarding the use of echinacea in the management of inflammatory conditions. This may raise your risk of chronic diseases and other health problems. Select one or more newsletters to continue. Monitor therapy.83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, Etoposide: Echinacea may increase the serum concentration of etoposide. Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Echinacea Tincture Dosage. Repeat dose often if you are coming down with a heavy cold or flu, at half or hourly intervals. Pour the tincture into a 4 oz. Root extracts from 3 echinacea species (E. purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida) produced concentration- and time-dependent induction of apoptosis in human pancreatic and colon cancer cell lines.15 In mice, the mean survival age was prolonged and thymic lymphoma enlargement suppressed with 8 weeks of echinacea therapy; other experiments demonstrated elevated natural killer cell levels and prolonged survival times in leukemic mice.16, 17 In a study in rats, coadministration of cadmium and echinacea led to significantly increased concentrations of cadmium in certain organs and in blood.18 In an in vitro study, typical constituents of echinacea species applied topically were effective in the prevention and/or treatment of skin damage caused by ultraviolet/ultraviolet B radiation. Although there is no official recommended dosage for echinacea … Many products lacked active echinacea chemical compounds or were contaminated with other chemical entities.4, 7, Recommended dosing includes the following: 300 mg of dry powdered extract (standardized to echinacoside 3.5%), 0.25 to 1.25 mL of liquid extract (1:1 in alcohol 45%), 1 to 2 mL of tincture (1:5 in alcohol 45%), 2 to 3 mL of expressed juice of E. purpurea, and 0.5 to 1 g of dried root or tea (all administered 3 times daily).36 Safety and tolerability have been studied in children with equivocal results.45, 54, 55, Parenteral use is not recommended due to a lack of evidence of safety or effectiveness.7, 21, Long-term use or use for longer than 10 days in acute infections in otherwise healthy individuals is not recommended.56. Patients with hepatic impairment should use echinacea with caution, as case reports of hepatotoxicity exist. Data regarding echinacea effects on the cytochrome P450 (CYP-450) enzyme system are conflicting. Echinacea plants are loaded with plant compounds that function as antioxidants. (You’ll need a dropper to consume the tincture.) Echinacea tincture dosage. © 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. It may not be safe for people with certain health conditions or who are taking certain medications. Several studies have shown that echinacea can help reduce excess inflammation. Echinacea is the purple coneflower, a popular and beautiful garden flower. Echinacea products appear to be safe and well-tolerated for short-term use. Interestingly, these adults did not respond well to conventional non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) but found the supplement containing echinacea extract helpful (21). It is available as drops (tincture in 50ml & 100ml bottles) and as tablets (120 tablets).. In fact, a review of 14 studies found that taking echinacea may lower the risk of developing colds by more than 50% and shorten the duration of colds by one and a half days (11). These antioxidants appear to be higher in extracts from the fruit and flowers of the plants, compared to other parts, such as the leaves and root (4, 5, 6). This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this product. Although evidence of efficacy in the treatment of infections is limited, use of echinacea as prophylaxis for upper respiratory tract infections has been reported. Anxiety is a common problem that affects close to one in five American adults (17). Echinacea is a member of the Compositae family (also called the Asteraceae family), which is native to eastern and central North America. Apply to affected area; Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: None A case report of leukopenia, possibly caused by long-term echinacea use, has been published. Ok let’s make some echinacea tincture! This product has not been reviewed by the FDA to determine whether it is safe or effective and is not subject to the quality standards and safety information collection standards that are applicable to most prescription drugs. As with all herbal remedy projects, use your common sense. Still, human-based research on the effects of echinacea on blood sugar is lacking. Echinacea should be used with caution during lactation. For adults and older children, herbalists tend to suggest an echinacea tincture dosage as follows: 50 to 100 pounds: 2 droppers full Dosage of Echinaforce ® drops: Adults, elderly and children over 12 years: 15 drops (0.6ml) of tincture in a small amount of water, 2 to 3 times daily. Echinacea products are highly variable, which makes it hard to set a standard recommended dosage. The plant has narrow leaves and stout stems that blossom into large, solitary flower heads with lavender or purple florets and central rigid bracts. 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