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Echinacea: Eclectic Research Its effect on the normal individual; with special reference to changes produced in the blood picture by Paul Bergner Medical Herbalism 07-31-94 6(2): 4-5 Reprinted from the Electric Medical Journal 1935, p.34-36. Thanks to Christopher Hobbs and Dr. Ed Alstat for providing this article. A group of medical students were asked to volunteer to take therapeutic doses of echinacea for a period of four days. The drug was so prepared that each man received a definite dose to be taken before meals and at bedtime. The doses ranged from 2 to 15 grains as represented by equivalent amounts of the specific medicine. Water was used as the vehicle. The subjects were not told how much medicine each one was taking, but were asked to describe any changes effected by the drug. Blood was drawn by a lancet puncture before the treatment was begun and at the end of each twenty-four-hour interval. The sample of blood was taken on the same hour each day in order to avoid the normal fluctuation produced by meals, etc, on the white count. The blood was used for an erythrocyte, leukocyte, and a differential blood cell count. The general effects produced by the administration of echinacea may be briefly summarized as follows: Taste and smell The general opinion was that the aqueous mixture of the drug had an acrid and slightly nauseating taste and a musty characteristic odor. Nausea was more pronounced with the larger doses (10-12 grains). In these sized doses there were eructations, following administration, for a period of ten to fifteen minutes. The eructated gas smelled of the echinacea taken. Gastro-intestinal symptoms In the
small doses (2-4 grains) there
was an absence of any marked effects. The
appetite was little affected;
it was increased if affected at all. The larger
doses (10-15 grains)
besides the eructations mentioned above, caused
active movements of the
stomach and distention. This was soon followed
by a noticeable
secretion of saliva. The taking of food relieved
these symptoms. The
larger doses at bedtime produced some distress
which lasted about an
hour. Echinacea has a slight effect on the
bowels. In an unusually
constipated subject a dose of 8 grains produced
normal bowel movements
and the dose of 15 grains produced three small,
fluid stools after
carminative action produced by the drug. After
forty-eight hours, even
the larger doses produced little activity in the
gastrointestinal tract. Genito-urinary symptoms All the subjects agreed on a slight diuresis affected by the drug. This was manifested as frequent desire to micturate and a resulting small amount in each attempt. The effect persisted throughout the four days medication, but was more marked during the first two days. The effect on the blood picture The daily blood counts showed normal individual variations within the group. In every case there was a marked leukocyte increase during the first two days. In two-thirds of the cases the highest count reached was at the end of twenty-four hours’ medication. In the remaining third, the peak was reached after forty-eight hours’ administration. From the highest point, the counts of the white cells (total) gradually dropped and approximated the normal count during the third and fourth days. The red-blood cell count was little altered. The average of the counts for the entire group are listed below. Blood cell count changes over time after echinacea White BC: neutrophils Eosinophils Basophils Lymphocytes Monocytes Baseline 8990 5,560 185 83 2400 451 24 hours 12060 9010 209 105 2810 592 48 hours 10,250 5910 125 111 4360 591 72 hours 8,880 5190 217 88 2950 376 96 hours 7,720 5160 252 74 2650 399 The above figures show a significant change in the total leukocytes, neutrophilic leukocytes, and lymphocytes. Apparently the erythrocyte (red blood cells) and eosinophilic count showed no important changes. The average of the counts show a peak for the total white count after twenty-four hours. The peak for the neutrophils is also at this period, and the lymphocyte peak is reached twenty-four hours later. Because of the figures in the above table, representing the averages obtained from a group, we may safely prophesize that echinacea will normally produce corresponding changes in the white blood cell counts. Significance of observations - The
septic indications, “bad blood”
and “ tendency to sepsis” as followed by the
Eclectic medication is
well substantiated by the findings in these
observations. The increase
in the neutrophilic granulocyte count points to
an active response of
the organism against infection. Following the
primary increase in
polymorpho-nuclears the increase in lymphocytes
point to a reaction in
which the body tends to build up resistance.
From these facts, we can
readily see that the septic conditions of boils,
carbuncles, sloughing
ulcers, and abscesses, etc, well indicate the
use of echinacea. - The value of echinacea over a long period of time is not herein argued but it is quite evident front the figures and graph that optimum results are to be looked forward to in the first forty-eight hours of administration. - Echinacea acts as a mild laxative, carminative, and diuretic. In large doses, gastric disturbances may be produced. The best results with the least distress are brought about by doses averaging up to five grains of the drug. If larger doses be given, they will be best borne before meals. - The variability in the effects of echinacea on individuals is a factor which can not be definitely stated in figures nor pictured in graphs. The personal equation is one which the practicing physician must solve for himself. - It must be remembered that the data furnished for this paper are from normal individuals. It is not the purpose of the writer to make any definite statements as to the exact reactions produced by echinacea in disease. For this information he can do no better than to refer the reader to the works of Scudder, Felter, and Ellingwood. Dose and side effects One grain = about 65 mg, so the dose in this study varied from 130 mg to 975 mg taken four times a day. In a typical echiancea tincture (about 375 mg dry echinacea per ml) this would correspond to a dose range from about 15 drops to about 60 drops, four times a day, with side effects evident at the higher dose Editors Erythrocytes are red blood cells. Leukocytes are white blood cells. These include neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes. It is mainly the neutrophils and monocytes that attack and destroy invading bacteria, viruses, and other toxins through general non-specific immunity. Eosinophils are not active in normal infections, but are produced in large numbers in response to parasitic infections. The lymphocytes are active in acquired “cell mediated” immunity, and some form antibodies to specific antigens. This study shows that the body responds to echinacea with a response typical in general infection — the cells indicating general immunity peak first, followed by a peak in specific immunity. Commentary This
study only measures one parameter
of overall immunity. It also only measures
short-term effects- it is
possible that the blood counts would rise again
with continued
administration of echinacea. Another study
(Jurcic et al) showed a
steady increase in phagocytosis — the activity
of the cells rather than
their number — for five days of administration
of oral echinacea. This
indicates that it is possible that although
numbers of white blood
cells peak after 1-3 days, their overall immune
activity could continue
to increase. Another study (Coeuginet and
Kühnhast) suggested a
rise in general immunity with oral echinacea for
eight weeks. The accompanying study, however, does support the idea that echinacea is a stimulant and not a tonic, and therefore should not be used for extended periods i.e. the stimulating properties could overstimulate the system or induce a rebound deficiency. It was used for short-term acute conditions by the Native Americans and by the Eclectic physicians. The optimal duration of treatment is not clear, but many practitioners note that echinacea seems to lose effectiveness after ten to thirty days. (See the letter from Christopher Hobbs on page three.) The official German monograph recommends not taking echinacea for more than eight weeks. References Coeuginet E, Kühnhast R. 1986. Therapiewoche 36(33):3352-58 Juric,
K. et al. 1989. Zeitschrift
für Phytotherapie 10: 67-70.
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