Health/Natural: Echinacea & Pregnancy

Q. Is there any reason why I cannont take Echanacia while pregnant?

A. Echinacea is one of my favorite herbs, one which I respect highly. Its versatility in a variety of situations makes it an essential in your home medicine cabinet, and I always have some echinacea tincture with me during the day and when I travel for first aid needs, too. It is useful topically and internally, and has a long history of usage. The early European settlers first learned about echinacea from the American Indian people who had lived for so long on this land before them and held a vast understanding of indigenous plants. The traditional uses of echinacea as an antiseptic make it effective for skin problems such as boils and acne. The Indian people also used it for skin infections, sores, wounds that would not heal and snakebites. It has become well known for its immune-enhancing properties as it activates leucocytes (white blood cells) and is very powerful against many kinds of bacteria, viruses and infections. Colds, flu, blood poisoning, pharyngitis, tonsilitis and lessening the side effects of vaccinations are a few more uses. It combines well with other immune regulating herbs such as astragalus root, a Chinese herb which is useful for people of lowered resistance that "catch" any infection that's going around.

Known as Echinacea purpurea or Echinacea angustifolia, depending upon which type of plant you obtain, this herb is native to central and southwestern United States. It is considered a wildflower, also, and can be found in many floral gardens. Tall, slender and majestic, the blooms are long-lasting and usually a lavendar to pink color. The entire plant is used medicinally, everything from the ground up, stem, leaves and flowering top, along with the roots. Herbalists usually agree that the most active chemical constituents are found in the roots, although the entire plant is useful. The most commonly acknowledged constituent is its echinacoside, along with polysaccharides, mineral salts and fatty acids. Its taste is cool, spicy and bitter. If you have ever experienced a good quality echinacea tea or extract, for example, it will make your mouth tingle like crazy, like little electric ants running all over your tongue!

If you grow your own echinacea in your herb garden, remember to let the plants mature to 3 years old before taking any roots. Of course, when we take roots of any plant, we kill the plant. Echinacea sends out new roots each year, and they will become more powerful medicinally by maturing to 3 years, along with propagating new plants during that time.

During pregnancy and breast-feeding, herbalists recommend stopping most herbs. There is a small number of herbs that we know to be fine during pregnancy, and echinacea seems to be one of those. A general rule of dosage which I learned many years ago from one of my teachers is useful for echinacea, especially if you are using it preventatively: 3 days on and 3 days off. This would be one dropperful of the tincture, (20-30 drops in water), or 2 capsules, each day. You can do this for a few weeks, then take a week off. Since echinacea prompts the immune system, it is generally recommended to rest from taking it so your body can resume its own cycle. Of course, when you have an infection of some sort, you can take a increased dosage for a shorter period of time, up to one dropperful every hour in water, lessening frequency as symptoms improve.

Reading List:
Herbs and Herbalism, Malcolm Stuart
The Herbs of Life, Health & Healing Using Western & Chinese Techniques, Lesley Tierra, L.Ac., Herbalist
Handbook of Northeastern Indian Medicinal Plants, James A. Duke
Natural Healing for the Pregnant Woman, Elizabeth Burch, N.D.
Echinacea, Christopher Hobbs

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Susie Cooper, ND earned her Doctor of Naturopathy degree at the Southern College of Naturopathic Medicine, and is Board Licensed and Certified. She has continued most of her study in Classical Homeopathy with the New England School of Homeopathy. Dr. Susie has taught workshops in homeopathy, herbal medicine and nutrition in North Carolina for many years. She now teaches all her workshops in her shop, Blue Mountain Herbs & Supplements, in beautiful Pilot Mountain, NC, where she also takes private appointments for herbal, nutritional and homeopathic assessments. (336) 368-5955.

Important note: The information contained in this column is not meant to diagnose or prescribe for specific ailments, but is intended for educational support only. Please seek the advise of a licensed health practitioner for specific illnesses and emergency situations.