Herbal Health Benefits of Echinacea

Echinacea is best known as an immune system booster. However, lab, animal, and human clinical studies suggest that echinacea may offer preventive and therapeutic benefits for a number of different health conditions.⁽⁵⁸⁾

These include:

• Alzheimer's disease⁽⁵⁹⁾
• Bad breath⁽⁶⁰⁾
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)⁽⁶¹⁾
• Cancer⁽⁶²⁾
• Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)⁽⁶³⁾
• Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)⁽⁶⁴⁾
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)⁽⁶⁵⁾
• Diabetes⁽⁶⁶⁾
• Ear infections^(26, 28)
• Gingivitis⁽⁶⁷⁾
• Heart attacks⁽⁹⁴⁾
• Herpes simplex I⁽⁶⁸⁾
• HIV/AIDS⁽⁶⁹⁾
• Increased endurance during exercise⁽⁷⁰⁾
• Osteoarthritis (when combined with ginger or other herbs)^(140, 141)
• Parkinson's disease⁽⁵⁹⁾
• Respiratory infections (e.g., cold and flu)⁽⁷¹⁾
• Uveitis⁽⁷²⁾
• Yeast infections⁽⁶⁸⁾