Echinacea products available

Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) Uses immune system stimulant prevention/Rx of colds, flu as supportive th apy for colds chronic infxns of the resp tract lower urinary tract Action Stimulates phagocytosis cytokine production T resp cellular activity topically exerts anesthetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory effects Efficacy Not established may X severity duration of URI Available forms Caps w/ powdered herb equivalent to 300-500 mg, PO, tid pressed juice 6-9 mL, PO, once/d tine 2-4 mL, PO, tid (1 5 dilution) tea 2 tsp (4 g) of powdered herb in 1 cup of boiling water Noles/SE Fever, taste p -version, urticaria, angioedema Contra w/ autoimmune Dz, collagen Dz, progressive systemic Dz (TB, MS, collagen-vascular disorders), HIV, leukemia, may interfere w/ immunosuppressive therapy Interactions t Risk of disulfiram-like reaction W/ disulfiram, metronidazole T risk of exacerbation of HIV or AIDS W/ chinacea amprenavir, other protease inhibitors X effects OF azathioprine, basiliximab, corticosteroids, cyclosporine, daclizumab, econazole vag cream, muromonab-CD3, mycophenolate, prednisone, tacrolimus EMS Possible immunosuppression... 

Echinacea was originally utilized by Native Americans as a blood purifier and was used in the treatment of snake bites, infections, and malignancy. Today, echinacea is promoted primarily in oral dosage forms as an immune stimulant that helps increase resistance to colds, influenza, and other infections, although topical products for wounds and inflammatory skin conditions are also available. 

Fresh herb, freeze-dried or dried herb, and alcoholic extracts are available in the United States in the form of tablets, capsules, lozenges, liquid, tea, and salves. Many products combine echinacea with ginseng, goldenseal, or garlic. 

The use of botanical or herbal medications has increased markedly in the past decade. Popular botanical products in the USA include echinacea, garlic, ginseng, gingko, Ma-huang, psyllium, St. John s wort, and saw palmetto. These natural medicinals are available without prescription and, unlike over-the-counter medications, are considered to be nutritional supplements rather than drugs. As such, these substances are marketed without FDA review of efficacy or safety and there are no mandated require-... 

Erhst E The risk-benefit profile of commonly used herbal therapies ginkgo, St. John s Wort, ginseng, echinacea, saw palmetto, and kava. Ann Intern Med 2002 136 42-53. [PMID 11777363] (A detailed analysis of the available scientific evidence on six popular herbal products, including information on efficacy, dosage, and safety.)... 

Ointment, oral liquid, intravenous and intramuscular ampoules from expressed juice of fresh flowering E. purpurea-, tinctures, extracts, capsules, tablets, and so on of E. angustifolia, E. pallida, and E. purpurea. More than 280 echinacea pharmaceutical products are available in Europe. Echinacea extracts standardized to echinacoside persist in the marketplace, despite the fact that the compound has insignificant biological... 

---