Echinacea has long been used for colds and flu. Double-blind trials in Germany have shown that infections associated with flu-like symptoms clear more rapidly when people take echinacea.¹⁴ Echinacea appears to work by stimulating the immune system. The usual recommended amount of echinacea is 3–5 ml of the expressed juice of the herb or tincture of the herb or root, or 300 mg of dried root powder three times per day.

Wild indigo contains polysaccharides and proteins that have been reported in test tube studies to stimulate the immune system. The immune-enhancing effect of wild indigo is consistent with its use in traditional herbal medicine to fight the flu.¹⁵ However, wild indigo is generally used in combination with other herbs such as echinacea, goldenseal, or thuja.

In general, human studies have found that echinacea taken orally stimulates the function of a variety of immune cells, particularly natural killer cells.¹⁶

Double-blind trials have shown that various echinacea extracts shorten the duration of the common cold.^17,18 Fresh pressed juice of echinacea(E. purpurea) flowers preserved with alcohol, and tinctures of echinacea (E. pallida) root are the forms most commonly studied and proven effective. In addition, several double-blind trials have found that echinacea (E. angustifolia) root tinctures in combination with wild indigo, boneset, and homeopathic arnica reduce symptoms of the common cold.¹⁹ In one double-blind trial, a proprietary formulation of echinacea, white cedar, and wild indigo, known as Esberitox, reduced the length and severity of cold symptoms significantly more than did placebo.²⁰ One double-blind trial found that echinacea was inffective for treating colds that were induced in research subjects by instilling a cold virus (rhinovirus) directly into their noses.²¹ However, the relevance of this study to the treatment of naturally occurring colds is not clear. Another double-blind study found that echinacea was not an effective for upper respiratory tract infections in children aged 2 to 11 years.²²

Echinacea is believed to work primarily through immune stimulation. The minimum effective amount of echinacea tincture or juice appears to be 3 ml three times per day. Higher amounts, such as 3 to 5 ml every two hours, is generally better and is safe, even for children.²³ Encapsulated products may also be effective, according to a double-blind trial using the root of E. pallida.²⁴ Generally, capsules containing 300 to 600 mg are used three times per day. According to one double-blind trial, employees of a nursing home who consumed echinacea tea at the onset of a cold or flu reduced the duration of their symptoms by about two days when compared with people consuming a placebo tea.²⁵ The participants drank five to six cups of tea on the first day of their symptoms and decreased this by one cup each day over the next five days.

Most double-blind trials indicate that regular use of echinacea to prevent colds does not work.^26,27,28 However, one double-blind trial showed that regular use of echinacea for four months over the winter decreased the number of colds by 21% compared with a placebo, a statistically significant difference. For the treatment of a cold, it is currently recommended to use echinacea for a total of seven to ten days.

In traditional herbal medicine, tinctures of various herbs, including chaparral, St. John’s wort, goldenseal, myrrh, and echinacea, have been applied topically to herpes outbreaks in order to promote healing.

Antimicrobial and immune stimulating herbs may also potentially benefit people with bronchitis. Echinacea is widely used by herbalists for people with acute respiratory infections. This herb stimulates the immune system in several different ways, including enhancing macrophage function and increasing T-cell response.²⁹ Therefore, echinacea may be useful for preventing a cold, flu, or viral bronchitis from progressing to a secondary bacterial infection.

A controversy has surrounded the use of echinacea in people infected with HIV. Test tube studies initially showed that echinacea’s polysaccharides could increase levels of a substance that might stimulate HIV to spread.³⁰ However, these results have not been shown to occur when echinacea is taken orally by humans.³¹ In fact, one double-blind trial found that Echinacea angustifolia root (1 gram three times per day by mouth) greatly increased immune activity against HIV, while placebo had no effect.³² Further studies are needed to determine the safety of using echinacea in HIV-positive people.

A mouthwash combination that includes sage oil, peppermint oil, menthol, chamomile tincture, expressed juice from echinacea, myrrh tincture, clove oil, and caraway oil has been used successfully to treat gingivitis.³³ In cases of acute gum inflammation, 0.5 ml of the herbal mixture in half a glass of water three times daily is recommended by some herbalists. This herbal preparation should be swished slowly in the mouth before spitting out. To prevent recurrences, slightly less of the mixture can be used less frequently.

A toothpaste containing sage oil, peppermint oil, chamomile tincture, expressed juice from Echinacea purpurea, myrrh tincture, and rhatany tincture has been used to accompany this mouthwash in managing gingivitis.³⁴

Of the many herbs listed above, chamomile, echinacea, and myrrh should be priorities. These three herbs can provide anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial actions critical to successfully treating gingivitis.

The antiviral, immune-enhancing, and wound-healing properties of echinacea may make this herb a reasonable choice for canker sores. Liquid echinacea in the amount of 4 ml can be swished in the mouth for two to three minutes, then swallowed. This procedure may be repeated three times per day. However, no research has investigated the possible effects of this treatment.

In traditional herbal medicine, tinctures of various herbs, including chaparral, St. John’s wort, goldenseal, myrrh, and echinacea, have been applied topically to herpes outbreaks in order to promote healing.

A mouthwash combination that includes sage oil, peppermint oil, menthol, chamomile tincture, expressed juice from echinacea, myrrh tincture, clove oil, and caraway oil has been used successfully to treat gingivitis.³⁵ In cases of acute gum inflammation, 0.5 ml of the herbal mixture in half a glass of water three times daily is recommended by some herbalists. This herbal preparation should be swished slowly in the mouth before spitting out. To prevent recurrences, slightly less of the mixture can be used less frequently.

A toothpaste containing sage oil, peppermint oil, chamomile tincture, expressed juice from Echinacea purpurea, myrrh tincture, and rhatany tincture has been used to accompany this mouthwash in managing gingivitis.³⁶

Of the many herbs listed above, chamomile, echinacea, and myrrh should be priorities. These three herbs can provide anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial actions critical to successfully treating gingivitis.

The fresh-pressed juice of Echinacea purpurea has been shown to be helpful in preventing recurrence of vaginal yeast infections in a double-blind trial; it may have similar benefit in Yeast Syndrome.³⁷ The typical recommendation for this effect is 2 to 4 ml of fluid extract daily.

Teas of goldenseal, barberry, and echinacea are also sometimes used to treat infectious vaginitis. Although all three plants are known to be antibacterial in the test tube, the effectiveness of these herbs against vaginal infections has not been tested in humans. The usual approach is to douche with one of these teas twice each day, using 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 grams) of herb per pint of water. One to two pints (500–1,000 ml) are usually enough for each douching session. Echinacea is also known to improve immune function in humans.³⁸ In order to increase resistance against infection, many doctors recommend oral use of the tincture or alcohol-preserved fresh juice of echinacea (1 teaspoon (5 ml) three or more times per day)—during all types of infection—to improve resistance.

Several other herbs have been used as part of an approach for women with mild cervical dysplasia, including myrrh, echinacea, usnea, goldenseal, marshmallow, and yarrow.³⁹ These herbs are used for their antiviral actions as well as to stimulate tissue healing; they are generally administered in a suppository preparation. No clinical trials have proven their effectiveness in treating cervical dysplasia. A doctor should be consulted to discuss the use and availability of these herbs.

Many doctors recommend that people with recurrent yeast infections take measures to support their immune system. Echinacea, which has the capacity to enhance immune function, is often used by people who suffer from recurrent infections. In one study, women who took echinacea experienced a 43% decline in the recurrence rate of yeast infections.⁴⁰

Echinacea has been reported to support healthy short-term immune response. As a result, it has been suggested that some children with recurrent ear infections may benefit from ⁴¹ 1–2 ml (depending on age) of echinacea tincture taken three times per day or more.⁴² Doctors who use echinacea suggest that supplementation be started as soon as symptoms start to appear and continued until a few days after they are gone. Nonetheless, research has not been done to determine whether echinacea supplementation either reduces symptoms or prevents recurrence of ear infections.

Echinacea has been reported to support healthy short-term immune response. As a result, it has been suggested that some children with recurrent ear infections may benefit from ⁴³ 1–2 ml (depending on age) of echinacea tincture taken three times per day or more.⁴⁴ Doctors who use echinacea suggest that supplementation be started as soon as symptoms start to appear and continued until a few days after they are gone. Nonetheless, research has not been done to determine whether echinacea supplementation either reduces symptoms or prevents recurrence of ear infections.

Echinacea is used among European practitioners of herbal medicine to promote wound healing⁴⁵ and is approved by the German government for this use.⁴⁶ Creams or ointments are applied several times a day to minor wounds.

Echinacea is used among European practitioners of herbal medicine to promote wound healing⁴⁷ and is approved by the German government for this use.⁴⁸ Creams or ointments are applied several times a day to minor wounds.

The fresh-pressed juice of Echinacea purpurea has been shown to be helpful in preventing recurrence of vaginal yeast infections in a double-blind trial; it may have similar benefit in Yeast Syndrome.⁴⁹ The typical recommendation for this effect is 2 to 4 ml of fluid extract daily.