Echinacea angustifolia
(Purple cone flower)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Alterative
• Antibacteria
• Antifungal
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antiviral - both RNA and DNA viruses
• Constituent, arabinogalactan:
  
  Activates macrophages to cytotoxicity against tumor cells and micro-organisms, producing tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1, interleukin-6, interferon-2 and slight increase in T-lymphocyte proliferation
• Decreases inflammatory allergic reactions to mild food allergies
• Immune stimulating:
  
  Enhances antibody binding
  Enhances antibody dependent cytotoxicity
  Enhances phagocytosis
  Improves carbon clearance
  Interferon activation
• Inhibits hyaluronidase
• Root oil has inhibited leukemia cells in vitro and in vivo
• Slight stimulation of the adrenal cortex

Clinical Indications:

• AIDS
• Bronchitis
• Crohn's disease
• Cystitis
• Herpes simplex
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Mastitis
• Otitis media
• Peptic ulcer
• Rosacea
• Ulcerative colitis
• Infections - colds
• Insect stings
• Poisoning
• Recurrent boils, acne, skin problems
• Snake bites
• Tonsilitis

Contraindications:

• None known - can be used for pediatrics and geriatrics

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Reduces recurrence rate of vaginal candidiasis when used with econazole nitrate cream locally

Chemical Constituents:

• Echinoside - glycoside having weak antibiotic activity
• Essential oils:
  
  Caryohpylene
  Caryophylene epoxide
  Humulene
• Fructose
• Glucose
• Inulin
• Mucopolysaccarides - known as echinacin
• Polysaccharide, arabinogalactan
• Tannins
• Trihydroxyphenyl - proprionic acid
• Vitamin C

Toxicity:

• None known

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).