Echinacea~Purple Coneflower

[Shari]

  I bought a new book about medicinal plants of North America by a biologist named Jim Meuninck who for more than 30 years has studied the use of wild plants as food and medicine in North America, Europe, Central America, Japan, and China.

  I read the warnings about Echinacea which is commonly used by people to boost their immune system for fighting respiratory infections and it warns that pregnant women and those with active autoimmune disease should avoid this plant.

  I have tried it a few times in the past..bought in a drug store....and my symptoms and feeling of ill health increased so I never used it again.

Just thought I would throw this info out.   ~~Shari~~

[Linda196]

Shari, I've noticed in the last few years that Echinacea packaging in Canada has started to include a warning such as the one you read. I've never even considered trying it, because I've noticed for years that even something as simple as too much Vitamin C sets me off. I love oranges but have to limit myself, and I avoid any combined supplements that contain C.

[Pooh]

Linda,
Thanks for verifing that Vit. C can sometimes not be good for you.  I can't make my rheumy believe it makes me sick to my stomach.  I just cannot take it. 

I too have tried the Echinacea a long time ago and felt worse for it.  Needless to say it was one more thing for the trash bin. 

Take care all,

Pooh

[Shari]

I forgot to add that a study of 412 pregnant Canadian women (206 took echinacea) showed that spontaneous abortions were twice as frequent.

Echinacea should also be avoidd by those allergic to plants in the aster/daisy family.

~~Shari~~

[aussie mum]

Hi Shari,

I'm far from an expert on these things but from what I have read Echinacea boosts the immune system and anyone with an overactive immune system (SJS, Lupus etc) should not take it.

Aussie Mum

[Shari]

Yes, as in my first post I state that those with active immune disorders should avoid this.

[Skylar]

Thanks for sharing - sometimes we need to be reminded that just because a product is called natural or herbal, that is can still be dangerous and have side effects like prescribed medicine.

Skylar

[irish]

I have also read that for those who can take this drug the time limit is about 7-10 days or so instead of the many weeks that people used to take it. Just goes to show you that there is not a thing that doesn't need investigation before we put it in our mouths---except chocolate, of course. Irish

[Rania]

I have the same experience as you Shari. I'll never touch that stuff again.

I've been sick for more than 20 years. I have tried so many things to ease symptoms and improve my health, but sometimes the things I tried just made me worse. If I knew what it was called in English all the things I've tried, I would gladely write them down in a thread in case anyone would be interrested in my experiences. But I don't know the names in English, and I find it hard to explain what the remedies really are too so that will be a though one. Usually the names are quite similar, because when I read this thread, I immediately knew what this was, because the name is written almost the same way in my language.

Oh I so wish I had a neighbour or a friend with American roots or good knowledge of those names to help me out every now and then!! 

Rania