Echinacea citrus concentrate plus

Overview

Echinacea is an herb that is native to areas east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States. It is also grown in western States, as well as in Canada and Europe. Several species of the echinacea plant are used to make medicine from its leaves, flower, and root. Echinacea was used in traditional herbal remedies by the Great Plains Indian tribes. Later, settlers followed the Indians' example and began using echinacea for medicinal purposes as well. For a time, echinacea enjoyed official status as a result of being listed in the US National Formulary from 1916-1950. However, use of echinacea fell out of favor in the United States with the discovery of antibiotics. But now, people are becoming interested in echinacea again because some antibiotics don't work as well as they used to against certain bacteria.

Echinacea is most commonly used for the common cold and other infections.

Commercially available echinacea products come in many forms including tablets, juice, and tea.

There are concerns about the quality of some echinacea products on the market. Echinacea products are frequently mislabeled, and some may not even contain echinacea, despite label claims. Don't be fooled by the term "standardized." It doesn't necessarily indicate accurate labeling. Also, some echinacea products have been contaminated with selenium, arsenic, and lead.

* How does it work?
Echinacea seems to activate chemicals in the body that decrease inflammation, which might reduce cold and flu symptoms.

Laboratory research suggests that echinacea can stimulate the body's immune system, but there is no evidence that this occurs in people.

Echinacea also seems to contain some chemicals that can attack yeast and other kinds of fungi directly.

Uses & Effectiveness?

Possibly Effective for
Common cold. Taking echinacea by mouth while still healthy may help prevent colds. But the benefit is probably small. Taking echinacea after catching a cold doesn't seem to have much benefit.
Insufficient Evidence for
Anxiety. Early research shows that taking 40 mg of a specific echinacea extract (ExtractumPharma ZRT) per day for 7 days reduces anxiety. But taking less than 40 mg per day does not seem to be effective.
Eczema (atopic dermatitis). Early research shows that applying an echinacea cream (Linola Plus Cream) for 12 weeks can help reduce symptoms of mild eczema such as redness, swelling, itchiness, and dryness compared to using a cream with birch bark. It might take up to 12 weeks for the echinacea cream to show benefit. It's not clear if the echinacea cream works as well as steroid or anti-inflammatory eczema creams.

Athletic performance. Early research shows that taking echinacea (Puritan' s Pride) four times daily for 28 days increases oxygen intake during exercise tests in healthy men. However, high doses of echinacea 8,000 mg and 16,000 mg taken daily along with other ingredients in female and male endurance athletes did not improve oxygen intake or blood measures of oxygen intake.
A mild form of gum disease (gingivitis). Early research shows that using a mouth rinse containing echinacea, gotu kola, and elderberry (HM-302, Izum Pharmaceuticals) three times daily for 14 days might prevent gum disease from worsening. Using a specific mouth patch containing the same ingredients (PerioPatch, Izun Pharmaceuticals) also seems to reduce some symptoms of gum disease, but it is not always effective.
Genital herpes. Evidence on the effect of echinacea for the treatment of herpes is unclear. Some research shows that taking a specific echinacea extract (Echinaforce, A Vogel Bioforce AG) 800 mg twice daily for 6 months does not seem to prevent or reduce the frequency or duration of recurrent genital herpes.
A sexually transmitted infection that can lead to genital warts or cancer (human papillomavirus or HPV). Early research shows that taking a combination product containing echinacea, andrographis, grapefruit, papaya, pau d' arco, and cat' s claw (Immune Act, Erba Vita SpA) daily for one month reduces the recurrence of anal warts in people who had surgical removal of anal warts. But this study was not high quality, so results are questionable.
Flu (influenza). Early research shows that taking an echinacea product daily for 15 days might improve the response to the flu vaccine in people with breathing problems such as bronchitis or asthma. It is unknown if echinacea has any benefit in people who are not vaccinated. Some research shows that drinking a product containing echinacea and elderberry five times a day for 3 days then three times a day for 7 days might help improve flu symptoms similar to the prescription medication, oseltamivir (Tamiflu).
Low white blood cell count (leukopenia). Early research shows that using 50 drops of a combination product containing echinacea root extracts, thuja leaf extract, and wild indigo (Esberitox N, Schaper & Brummer) in between chemoradiotherapy can improve red and white blood cell counts in some women with advanced breast cancer. But this effect is not seen in all patients, and doses lower than 50 drops don' t seem to work. Also, this product does not seem to reduce the risk of infection.
Ear infection (otitis media). Early research shows that taking a specific liquid echinacea extract three times daily for 3 days at the first sign of a common cold does not prevent an ear infection in children 1-5 years-old with a history of ear infections. Ear infections actually seemed to increase.
Swelling (inflammation) of the tonsils (tonsillitis). Early research shows that spraying a specific product containing sage and echinacea into the mouth every two hours up to 10 times per day for up to 5 days improves sore throat symptoms similar to commonly used drug sprays in people with tonsillitis. Other early research shows that taking 50 drops of a product containing echinacea (Esberitox, Schaper & Brummer) three times daily for 2 weeks, along with an antibiotic, reduces sore throat and increases overall well-being in people with tonsillitis.
Swelling (inflammation) of the eye (uveitis). Early research shows that taking 150 mg of an echinacea product (Iridium, SOOFT Italia SpA) twice daily, in addition to eye drops and a steroid used to treat inflammation for 4 weeks, does not improve vision any more than eye drops and steroids alone in people with eye inflammation.
Warts. Early research shows that taking echinacea by mouth daily for up to 3 months does not clear warts on the skin. But taking a supplement containing echinacea, methionine, zinc, probiotics, antioxidants, and ingredients that stimulate the immune system for 6 months, in addition to using conventional treatments, seems to work better than conventional treatments alone.
Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Bee stings.
Bloodstream infections.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Cold sores (herpes labialis).
Cough.
Diphtheria.
Dizziness.
Eczema.
Hay fever or other allergies.
HIV/AIDS.
Indigestion.
Malaria.
Migraine headaches.
Pain.
Rattlesnake bites.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Strep infections.
Swine flu.
Syphilis.
Typhoid.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Yeast infections.
Other conditions.

* Side Effects & Safety
When taken by mouth: Echinacea is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth in the short-term. Various liquid and solid forms of Echinacea have been used safely for up to 10 days. There are also some products, such as Echinaforce (A. Vogel Bioforce AG) that have been used safely for up to 6 months.

Some side effects have been reported such as fever, nausea, vomiting, bad taste, stomach pain, diarrhea, sore throat, dry mouth, headache, numbness of the tongue, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, a disoriented feeling, and joint and muscle aches. In rare cases, echinacea has been reported to cause inflammation of the liver.

When applied to the skin: Echinacea is POSSIBLY SAFE when applied to the skin, short-term. A cream (Linola Plus Cream) containing echinacea has been used safely for up to 12 weeks. In some people, applying echinacea to the skin may cause redness, itchiness, or a rash.

Echinacea is most likely to cause allergic reactions in children and adults who are allergic to ragweed, mums, marigolds, or daisies. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking echinacea.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Children: Echinacea is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in the short-term. It seems to be safe in most children ages 2-11 years. However, about 7% of these children may experience a rash that could be due to an allergic reaction. There is some concern that allergic reactions to echinacea could be more severe in some children. For this reason, some regulatory organizations have recommended against giving echinacea to children under 12 years of age.

Pregnancy: Echinacea is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in the short-term. There is some evidence that echinacea might be safe when taken during the first trimester of pregnancy without harming the fetus. But until this is confirmed by additional research, it is best to stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Breast feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking echinacea if you are breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

An inherited tendency toward allergies (atopy): People with this condition are more likely to develop an allergic reaction to echinacea. It's best to avoid exposure to echinacea if you have this condition.

"Auto-immune disorders" such as such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a skin disorder called pemphigus vulgaris, or others: Echinacea might have an effect on the immune system that could make these conditions worse. Don't take echinacea if you have an auto-immune disorder.

* Dosing
BY MOUTH:
12 years old and aabove
For the common cold: For PREVENTING the common cold, a specific echinacea extract (Echinaforce, A. Vogel Bioforce AG) 0.9 mL three times daily (total dose: 2400 mg daily) for 4 months, with an increase to 0.9 mL five times daily (total dose: 4000 mg daily) at the first sign of a cold, has been used.