A lot of health and wellness blogs write about the health benefits of echinacea, but how reliable are these claims?
Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower, is very well known globally. For ages, native Americans have used it to treat various diseases, and it is also currently used as a nonprescription herbal medication for the common cold or flu. Echinacea is also used to relieve pain, irritation, migraines, and other health problems.
It turns out that some of the claims about echinacea are either legitimate or highly possible, while some claims do not have enough evidence to support them. This blog post will walk you through the health benefits of echinacea, and examine how reliable these claims actually are.
Health Benefits of Echinacea
Echinacea has a variety of health advantages, and it is most typically used to cure colds. Some preliminary studies suggest that Echinacea supplements may provide additional health benefits, although some of these are in question. Below are some of the health benefits of Echinacea.
It keeps the common cold at bay
Echinacea may boost your immune system, allowing you to fight pathogens and germs that cause the common cold and flu. According to certain studies, the Echinacea plant includes compounds that aid in producing white blood cells. Therefore, when you get an infection in the upper respiratory tract (throat, mouth, and nose), the blood cells combat infection as part of your innate immunity. Echinacea may not work against all types of colds and certain viruses, but it certainly does play a role in boosting your immune system.
Treating Infections
Echinacea may aid in the battle against a wide range of infections. According to some research, Echinacea helps treat urinary tract infections, ear infections, hay fever, and slow-healing cuts or wounds. While Echinacea can occasionally help minor infections go away, you should consult your physician if the problem persists.
Could Help with Diabetes
Many types of nutraceutical products, including turmeric supplements, have the potential to help people manage diabetes symptoms. High blood sugar levels might put you at risk for significant health issues. These health issues include type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and a variety of other chronic diseases. Echinacea herbs have been shown in animal experiments to manage insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. However, further studies are needed to verify how effective echinacea actually is in managing diabetes symptoms.
Reducing Anxiety Symptoms
Anxiety is a widespread issue that affects nearly one in every five American people. Echinacea plants have surfaced as a promising anxiety treatment in recent years. According to some studies, Echinacea herbs contain chemicals that may reduce symptoms of anxiety. Rosmarinic acid, Alkamides, and caffeic acid are examples of these. 3 out of 5 Echinacea specimens helped lower anxiety in one research during animal testing.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Echinacea is one of many nutraceutical products that can help to reduce inflammation. Inflammation is your body’s natural way of mending and protecting itself. Inflammation can sometimes become out of control and linger longer than is required or planned. This may increase your risk of developing chronic illness and other health issues. Various studies have demonstrated that Echinacea can aid in the reduction of excessive inflammation. In a rat study, Echinacea chemicals helped lower critical inflammatory indicators as well as inflammation-induced memory loss. In another 30-day research, persons with osteoarthritis discovered that using an Echinacea extracts supplement dramatically reduced inflammation and pain. Surprisingly, these individuals didn’t reply well to traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines but reported that the Echinacea extract supplement was beneficial.
Some Evidence that Cancer Prevention may be Possible
Echinacea is sometimes used as an alternative treatment for cancer, although there is currently not enough evidence to validate its effectiveness at treating cancer or alleviating symptoms. While the immune-boosting characteristics of echinacea are highly desirable, it is not clear if they can help stop or slow tumor growth. While some test-tube study results have demonstrated echinacea’s ability to slow cancer cell growth, there is currently not enough evidence that echinacea can prevent or cure cancer.
Final Thoughts
Take control of your health by discussing any complementary medical treatments you utilize with healthcare professionals. While there are numerous health benefits of echinacea, this nutraceutical product has not been extensively studied. One of the clearest health benefits of echinacea includes its immune-boosting properties. However, other claimed health benefits are primarily based on limited studies and animal testing. It is also particularly important to talk to your doctor if you are planning to use it as a part of cancer treatment, as it could interfere with other cancer drugs.
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