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Tradition

WARNING: DISCLAIMER: The below uses are based on tradition, scientific theories, or limited research. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. There may be other proposed uses that are not listed below.

Dosing

Adults (18 years and older)

Capsules (of powdered herb): For treatment of upper respiratory tract infections, 500 to 1,000 milligrams by mouth three times daily for five to seven days has been used.

Expressed juice: 6 to 9 milliliters by mouth daily, divided into two or three doses, for five to seven days has been used.

Extract: 300 milligrams of E. purpurea extract by mouth three times daily, 300 milligrams of E. angustifolia root extract three times daily, or E. purpurea above-ground plant parts three times daily (176 milligrams EchinaGuard® [Echinacin®] Madaus GmbH) has been found effective in the prevention and/or treatment of colds although more research is needed to confirm these results.

Tincture (1:5): 0.75 to 1.5 milliliters, gargled then swallowed, two to five times daily for five to seven days has been used (daily dose equivalent to 900 milligrams dried echinacea root). Some herbalists prefer tinctures due to theoretical immune stimulation in the tonsils when tinctures are gargled before swallowing.

Tea: Two teaspoons of coarsely powdered herb (4 grams of echinacea) in one cup of boiling water for 10 minutes, drink daily for five to seven days, is a dose that has been used. There is early evidence that echinacea tea (equivalent of 1.275 milligrams of dried herb and root per tea bag) may reduce the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection when 5 to 6 cups are taken on the first day and decreased by 1 cup each day for the next five days.

Applied to skin (semisolid preparation): 15% pressed herb (non-root) juice semisolid preparation has been applied daily for wounds and skin ulcers.

Injected/through the veins: Injected echinacea is not available commercially. Severe reactions to injected echinacea have been reported, and echinacea injections are not recommended.

Children (younger than 18 years)

The dosing and safety of echinacea have not been studied thoroughly in children. Reductions of recommended adult doses by 50-67% have been used in research without significant effects in the treatment of common cold symptoms, and an association with rash development. Parents considering echinacea for their children should discuss this decision with the child's health care provider before starting therapy. Some natural medicine practitioners recommend basing children's doses based on weight. To calculate the child's dose, they take the child's weight in pounds, divide by 150, and then multiply that number by the recommended adult dose.