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Safety
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.
Allergies
People with allergies to plants in the Asteraceae or Compositae family (ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies) are theoretically more likely to have allergic reactions to echinacea. Multiple cases of anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reactions) and allergic rash have been reported with echinacea taken by mouth. Allergic reactions including itching, rash, wheezing, facial swelling, and anaphylaxis may occur more commonly in people with asthma or other allergies. Echinacea injections have caused severe reactions and are not recommended.
Echinacea has been associated with an increased incidence of rash in children. Therefore, the risks may outweigh potential benefits, and use in children is not recommended.
Side Effects and Warnings
Few side effects from echinacea are reported when it is used at the recommended doses. Reported complaints include stomach discomfort, nausea, sore throat, rash (allergic, hives, or painful lumps called "erythema nodosum"), drowsiness, headache, dizziness, and muscle aches. Rare cases of hepatitis (liver inflammation), kidney failure, or irregular heart rate (atrial fibrillation) have been reported in people taking echinacea, although it is not clear that these were due to echinacea itself. Injected echinacea may alter blood sugar levels and cause severe reactions and should be avoided. Echinacea has been associated with an increased incidence of rash in children, and therefore the risks of use may outweigh potential benefits. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) has also been reported.
Some natural medicine experts discourage the use of echinacea by people with conditions affecting the immune system, such as HIV/AIDS, some types of cancer, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, and rheumatologic diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus). However, there is a lack of specific studies or reports in this area, and the risks of echinacea use with these conditions are not clear. Long-term use of this herb may cause low white blood cell counts (leukopenia).
Liver transplant patients who consume large amounts of echinacea may have increased liver enzyme activity, which often indicates liver damage. Although the relevance of this is not clear, liver transplant patients should use echinacea cautiously due to its potential hazards.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
At this time, echinacea cannot be recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Although early studies show no effect of echinacea on pregnancy, there is not enough research in this area. Pregnant women should avoid tinctures because of the potentially high alcohol content.
NS_patient-echinacea
Portions of this document last updated:Sept. 1, 2009
THE NATURAL STANDARD RESEARCH COLLABORATION
(www.naturalstandard.com)
