Post by Contributing Writer, Stacy
As we head into the fall and winter months, many of us will find ourselves fighting one illness or another.
Nobody likes a cold and we all want to do what we can to prevent getting sick in the first place or speed up the healing process if we do happen to come down with something.
That’s where Echinacea comes in.
Echinacea has been clinically proven to reduce the duration of the common cold and to lessen the intensity of symptoms.
Isn’t it wonderful that a humble plant can do so much? This is why I love herbs!
When to Take Echinacea
It is best to take Echinacea at the sign of infection. If taken at this early stage it can prevent the infection from growing into a full blown illness. Continuing to take Echinacea through a cold will reduce the severity of symptoms and speed recovery.
Echinacea is useful for most viral and respiratory infections such as colds, influenza, fevers, sore throats, and coughs.
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How to Take Echinacea
Echinacea may be taken in tincture form, as a tea, or in a capsule (in powdered form).
I prefer to take Echinacea as a tincture. There are many excellent brands such as: Herb Pharm, Tri-Light, and Gaia. Echinacea tincture is available in an alcohol or glycerin base. Both are effective. Be sure to chose a glycerin-based product for children. (Michele’s note: We use the Oregon’s Wild Harvest Echinacea raspberry glycerite tincture for our family.)
Making your own tincture is very simple, although it does require some forethought since it needs to sit for a few weeks.
Echinacea should to be administered in small, but frequent doses.
If taking as a tea, 2 to 5 cups a day will be needed.
If taking as a capsule or tincture, follow the suggested dosage on the product packaging. If making your own, the general rule is to take ½ to ¾ of a teaspoon 3 to 4 times a day.
It is important to take a break from using Echinacea in order to sustain its effectiveness. Mary Gladstar recommends taking for 5 days and then having 2 days off. It has also been suggested by other noted herbalists that one could take for a number of weeks and then take a few weeks off.
I personally would take it for the duration of a cold and then stop. Echinacea is not the kind of herb that should be taken continuously. It is best used at the first sign of a cold and for the duration of a cold; such as feeling achy, excessively tired, congested, or generally a “little off.”
Who should Not take Echinacea
Echinacea is not suitable for those with tuberculosis, or HIV infection or other auto-immune disorders such as lupus and multiple-sclerosis.
Do you take Echinacea during illness? I’d love to know how it has worked for you.
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Stacy is wife to a preacher and mom to three busy children. She strives to live a healthy, happy life with God at the helm. Stacy writes about finding peace and joy at home, on her blog: Delighting in the Days.
My toddler son and I just finished our first cold of the season. Unfortunately I didn’t catch his until his nose was filled with snot. Ick!!! However, I started giving him the echinacea immediately and it really helped to shorten the duration of his (and eventually my) cold.
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Stacy Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
@Charise, it’s great to hear that Echinacea worked for you. It’s amazing stuff!
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What is the best way to store this?
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Michele @ Frugal Granola Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
@Jody “Book Mama”, You can store echinacea just like any other dried herb, in a cool, dry place. (I usually store my herbs in glass jars or food storage bags.) Make the tea as you’re ready to use it.
Blessings,
Michele
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Stacy Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
@Jody “Book Mama”, I second what Michele said: a cool, dry place. If you decide to purchase or make tincture, keep that in a cool, dry place too.
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[...] Today I’m giving a few more details about how and when to take Echinacea (as a tincture, tea or capsule) to give your immune system a boost during a cold. [...]
Excellent post. I really like Herb Pharm’s Super Echinacea tincture. 3x a day at the 1st symptoms, plus 3 drops of Oreganal 3x a day. Knocks is right out.
Blessings from Ohio…Kim<
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Stacy Reply:
September 28th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
@Kim W, Thanks for sharing that.
It’s wonderful to hear herbal success stories!
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We like to use the tincture with echinacea and goldenseal. I put it into the kids’ juice or for an extra boost, into their green smoothies. We also add in some vitamin D drops.
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Stacy Reply:
September 28th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
@Becci, That sounds like a great combination.
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What are your thoughts on using this fabulous herb occasionally during pregnancy (i.e. to boost immunity while flying, after being exposed to a cold, or the onset on a cold)?
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Stacy Reply:
September 28th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
@Cori, As far as I know it is safe to take Echinacea during pregnancy. But it may not be the best time to take it if you have never had it before (just to be safe if there was an allergic reaction of some sort).
Echinacea is best taken at the first sign of a cold.
Astragalus is good to take when flying or going to places where you will have contact with lots of people. I have read contradictory information about its safety during pregnancy though(some say it is safe, others say it isn’t).
Sorry if that wasn’t very helpful!
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Michele Reply:
September 28th, 2011 at 9:28 pm
I had a brief head cold this past week, and my midwife said it was fine for me to take the Echinacea glycerite tincture (at 15 wks pregnant); but check with yours to make sure for your own health needs.
The cold cleared up quickly with it, in addition to a much-needed chiropractic adjustment.
Blessings,
Michele
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You can make as a tea..Its help to shorten the duration of cold..Thank you for sharing..
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Excellent post! Don’t you just love herbs that are BOTH beautiful AND serve such a useful purpose. What a great example.
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I recently purchased (after reading this post) an Echinacea tinture that is alcohol free from my local Sprouts. The dosage on the back says 30 to 60 drops. Obviously I wouldn’t give 60 drops to my 3 and 4 1/2 year old (and it says that 30 drops is one dose) how many drops WOULD be recommended for children that age? I’m very new to this and want to get it right
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Stacy Reply:
October 9th, 2011 at 9:17 am
@Tara Burton, It’s always hard when there are not clear instructions for age!
In the book: An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants, Mary Bove suggests 1/2 to 1 teaspoon,3 times a day for children and 20 to 40 drops,3 times a day for infants. This is the recommended dosage for when a child is sick.
Another book suggests 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of tincture for a 50 pound child. These things are never overly clear!
If you are unsure, you can always call the manufacturer of the tincture you purchased and see if they have any recommendations.
It is always good to approach herbal dosages with caution (as you are doing).
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Thank you so much Stacy! I appreciate the feedback … didn’t even think to call the manufacturer of the tincture … think I may do that tomorrow before they get sick & I need to use it!
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[...] contrast to enchinacea, which is best taken at the first sign of a cold, astragalus is an excellent preventative herb and [...]
I have been using echinacea for the past 5 years and I firmly believe in it’s effectiveness! Whenever I feel like I’m coming down with a sore throat (or strep throat!) or a cold, I take a couple tablets of echinacea. It has cut down over 95% of having to go to the doctor for a prescription! I have told everyone I run into it about this.
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