Echinacea: Does It Work For Everyone?

Echinacea: Does It Work For Everyone?

Many of us today are looking to natural remedies for our illnesses and problems. We are under a belief that natural is always better. Echinacea is one such natural remedy that has been known to have a wide array of healing powers. Echinacea is a wildflower that grows naturally in the western United States. The root of the flower is where all of the healing elements are contained.

Echinacea has been known to help with colds and flues. It helps to speed the recovery process by getting our own immune systems to work faster and more efficiently. Echinacea has also been used as a healer of wounds, blood diseases and skin disorders such as psoriasis.

There is some debate over who should be using Echinacea. There are certain types of conditions which doctors believe can be made worse with the use of Echinacea. In this article we will look at who should be cautious in their use of this plant extract and who should avoid it completely.

Echinacea can be dangerous to those who have plant allergies. Particularly those plant allergies in the daisy family. Some allergy sufferers when they tried Echinacea experienced a wide range of symptoms. These were as mild as rashes and as serious as anaphylaxis, or difficulty breathing. Anyone with a plant allergy should consult their doctor before using Echinacea. They may have to take a skin allergy test before use is approved.

Those with HIV/AIDS should avoid using Echinacea. The root extract does promote t-cell growth and cell activity. However, Doctors worry that this cell activity could stimulate the growth of the virus. This could make the condition worse and lead to all kind of negative effects.

Those with Multiple Sclerosis or any auto immune disease should avoid using Echinacea. These diseases already face an overactive immune system. The taking of Echinacea can create even more activity. This could make the condition worse for sufferers of these conditions.

Echinacea definitely has lots to offer the world in terms of healing power. However, it isn’t perfect and definitely isn’t for everyone. For those with plant allergies or auto immune diseases, Echinacea might be best avoided. Negative reactions and even a worsening of the condition are the potential risks involved. These are definitely not worth being treated naturally.