Echinacea and Traditional Uses, Drug Interactions, More

Echinacea is traditionally used for fevers, infections and snakebites. The native american indians used it extensively.

Herbalists traditionally think of echinacea as a blood purifier. In ayurveda, blood purifiers help maintain good health and protect the body from skin problems.

And echinacea has specific uses with regards skin problems, especially boils.

Echincaea and traditional preparations

Traditional preparations usually are herbal teas. A decocotion can be used as a mouthwash for pyorrhoea and gingivitis.

To make a decoction, place 1 to 2 teaspoons of the root in a cup of water and slowly bring it to the boil. It will simmer for 15 minutes. This recipe can also be used for a tea, and can be drunk three times a day.

Echinacea and traditional drugs

For people taking immunosuppressants, there is a theoretical risk echinacea could increase blood levesl and adverse affects of drugs like alprazolam, calcium-channel blockers, and protease inhibitors. It is best to consult your doctor if you are in this group.

If you are taking any of the following drugs with echinacea, you may need to have special monitoring during treatment, or a dosage adjustment, so please discuss this with your doctor.

These drugs include: "steroid drugs such as betamethasone (Celestone), dexamethasone (Hexadrol, Decadron, others), cortisone (Cortone), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone, others), methylprednisolone (Medrol, Solu-Medrol, others), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone, others), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred, others), triamcinolone (Aristocort, others), and others"; "cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), tacrolimus (Prograf), azathioprine (Imuran), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), or other immune system suppressants". (reference: www.drugs.com)

If you have multiple sclerosis, any white blood cell illnesses, collagen related illnesses, HIV/AIDS, autoimuune illnesses, or tuberculosis, it is recommended that you do not take echinacea.

For information on echinacea and pregnancy, please refer to this article.

www.merck.com also state that when taking drugs that can damage the liver, such as anabolic steroids, amiodarone, methotrexate, and ketoconazole, the risk of damaging the liver can be greater. They also say that taking echinacea for longer than 8 weeks can damage the liver.

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