Starting to feel the flu coming on? Many herbalists are big fans of taking echinacea for the flu when its symptoms start to pop up. The roots and the blossoms of echinacea make a crucial medication used extensively to take care of colds, flu, bronchitis, and a wide variety of other illnesses.
Uses of Echinacea
Members of the medical community in early United States history relied greatly on echinacea, but it fell from favor with the arrival of pharmaceutical medication and antibiotics, as did many herbal based remedies.
Many doctors are rediscovering the advantages of echinacea today. There are many different things you can find echinacea in; Germany has registered over 40 distinct echinacea based products to date.
Long employed for helping to support those with inadequate immune function, echinacea additionally is used nowadays to aid in dealing with the flu, colds, persistent fatigue syndrome, and more. Studies have shown echinacea stimulates the entire body’s natural immune system.
It does this by elevating the amount of interferon, augmenting the action of white blood cells, and sparking blood cells to engulf invading germs.
Echinacea also raises the formation of materials the body produces normally to combat disorder and cancers.
Dosage and How to Take Echinacea
Echinacea doesn’t taste all that good in a tea. That is why echinacea is usually taken as a tincture
Most herbalists advocate big and regular doses at the beginning of a cold, flu, sinus disease, bladder infection, or alternative sickness.
For acute cold or flu: Take 1 teaspoon of tincture every one to three hrs for the very first day or 2; subsequently decrease the dosage to 2 teaspoons tincture every day.
If taking pills the dosage varies based on the quality of your herbs. Most will come with directions and dosages to follow.
Potential Side Effects to Be Aware Of
Even though most negative effects aren’t much of an issue, when used for a prolonged period of time, or when too much is employed there are some possible side effects that, while uncommon, might be serious.
Stressed Immune System
Many herbalists hold the belief that long-term utilization of echinacea could place a strain on the body’s immune system.
This is why you’ll find that most suggest utilizing echinacea for helping to remedy a flu that is already present rather than using it long term to keep yourself from ever coming down with it.
Liver Damage
Echinacea that’s taken longer than 2 months might have the potential to damage the liver, in accordance with Columbia University’s Health Q&A.
Increased liver enzyme process, a symptom of liver harm, is noted in liver graft patients who take big doses of echinacea, says MedlinePlus. That is why liver transplant individuals should pay careful attention when using echinacea.
Potential Drug Interactions
Echinacea could possess an adverse interaction with different drugs states the UMMC. You have to discuss the use of echinacea with your primary health care provider prior to taking it in the event that you are getting treatment for cancer or are on immunosuppressants.
Additional Ways of Dealing with the Flu
If you are interested in learning about more ways of dealing with the flu in a natural way, check out this article. It covers many all natural, home-based remedies that you’ll find useful.
From elderberry to ginger, to liquid chlorophyll and more, you’ll learn about all the best ways people knock the flu out of their systems in as fast and as natural a way as possible.