What is the most important information I should know about echinacea?
Echinacea is not recommended for use by people with
multiple sclerosis, white blood
cell disorders, collagen disorders, HIV/AIDS,
autoimmune disorders, or
tuberculosis.
Echinacea has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All
potential risks and/or advantages of echinacea may not be known. Additionally, there are no
regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances
where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or
other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize
the risk of contamination.
What is echinacea?
The use of echinacea in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts
accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements,
consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with
a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and
coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.
Echinacea is also known as the American cone flower, black Susan, black Sampson,
comb flower, hedgehog, Indian head, Kansas snakeroot, narrow-leaved purple coneflower,
scurvy root, and snakeroot.
Echinacea has been used orally to stimulate the immune system of the body. Echinacea is
most commonly used in the treatment of the common cold. Echinacea is also used topically in
the treatment of wounds and burns.
Echinacea has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All
potential risks and/or advantages of echinacea may not be known. Additionally, there are no
regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances
where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or
other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize
the risk of contamination.
Echinacea may also have uses other than those listed in this medication guide.
Who should not take echinacea?
Echinacea is not recommended for use by people with multiple sclerosis, white blood
cell disorders, collagen disorders, HIV/AIDS, autoimmune disorders, or tuberculosis.
Before taking echinacea, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you
have allergies (especially to plants), have any medical condition, or if you take other medicines
or other herbal/health supplements. Echinacea may not be recommended in some situations.
Do not take echinacea without first talking to your doctor if you are
pregnant or could become pregnant. It is not known whether echinacea will harm an unborn
baby.
Do not take echinacea without first talking to your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby. It is also not known whether echinacea will harm a nursing infant.
There is no information available regarding the use of echinacea by children. Do not
give any herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child's doctor.
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