Supplement Week: Echinacea: An Immune System Threat?

[Guest guest]

Supplement Week: Echinacea: An Immune System Threat?

 

My doctor told me that long-term use of echinacea over-stimulates

the immune system. What is your opinion? What does it mean to over-

stimulate the immune system?

-- Lynne Goodman

 

Answer

 

Echinacea, from the dried root and leaves of the purple coneflower,

Echinacea purpurea and related species found in many North American

gardens, stimulates the immune system. Many people take it to

prevent and treat common colds and other minor infections. The

recommended adult dose is two capsules of freeze-dried extract four

times a day or one teaspoon of the tincture in a little warm water

at the same frequency. People also take echinacea to enhance

immunity in the absence of infection – for this purpose, half the

usual dose is sufficient.

 

I'm not aware of any research showing that long-term use of

echinacea over-stimulates the immune system. Indeed, I've found no

evidence to support the opposing widespread belief that, taken long-

term, echinacea loses its advertisement

 

effectiveness. (For that matter, I've seen no evidence to support

using it to protect against colds.) Its active components are quite

similar to those of other immune-boosting plants (like the Chinese

herb Astragalus membranaceous) that people take on a long-term

basis.

 

While I don't recommend its long-term use, I don't think taking

echinacea regularly is likely to pose a problem for most people.

 

In theory, an " over-stimulated " immune system could cause allergies

or autoimmunity.

 

To be prudent, I advise people with diseases like rheumatoid

arthritis or lupus to avoid long-term use of any of the immune-

enhancing botanicals.

 

But I think it's perfectly fine for them to take echinacea or

astragalus short-term (up to 10 days or so) to treat colds and other

minor infections.

 

Dr. Andrew Weil

www.drweil.com