|
Herbs & Supplements
American Coneflower
Scientific Name: Echinacea
Other Names: Black Sampson, Comb Flower, Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, Echinacea purpurea, Hedgehog, Indian Head, Purple Coneflower, Rudbeckia, Sampson Head, Scurvy Root, Snakeroot
What side effects should I watch for?
Study participants who took oral echinacea reported only occasional, mild gastrointestinal side effects including diarrhea and nausea. In some studies, rashes were also more often associated with taking echinacea than with taking placebo (inactive sugar pills).
Oral Echinacea angustifolia (narrow-leaved coneflower) may cause a bitter taste or tingling feeling in the mouth.
In some studies, rashes were also more often associated with taking echinacea than with taking placebo (inactive sugar pills). In a recent study of children between the ages of 2 years and 11 years, children taking oral echinacea developed rashes about 2.5 times more often than children taking placebo (inactive sugar pills).
Topical application of echinacea may result in itching, especially in individuals who are allergic to ragweed or other members of the daisy family of plants.
Injectable forms of echinacea, which are not available in the U.S., have been associated with:
- Chills
- Muscle weakness
- Pain or itching at the site of injection
|
Note: The above information is not intended to replace the advice of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not meant to indicate that the use of the product is safe, appropriate, or effective for you.
In general, herbal products are not subject to review or approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not required to be standardized, meaning that the amounts of active ingredients or contaminants they contain may vary between brands or between different batches of the same brand. Not all of the risks, side effects, or interactions associated with the use of herbal products are known because few reliable studies of their use in humans have been done.
This information is provided for your education only. Please share this information with your healthcare provider and be sure that you talk to your doctor and pharmacist about all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you take before you begin to use any herbal product.
|
|
What side effects should I watch for? 
