What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Echinacea Tea

Echinaceaalso known as purple coneflower, is a flowering plant with thorny petals related to daisies and ragweed. It has a long history in herbal medicine and is rich in nutrients that can support your immune system, reduce inflammationAnd protect your cells. Many people drink echinacea tea to boost their immune systems or relieve cold symptoms.

Echinacea contains antioxidants, substances that protect your cells from damage related to early aging, inflammation or disease. This damage, called oxidative stress, occurs when your body has more free radicals (harmful chemicals) than antioxidants that protect it.

Some of the most powerful antioxidants in echinacea include:

• Kaftaric, chicoric and chlorogenic acid
• Cynarin
• Echinacoside

Echinacea also contains flavonoids, which are the antioxidants that give the plant its color. They not only help reduce oxidative stress, but also relieve swelling, fight viruses, and promote healthy blood vessels.

Echinacea roots and flowers generally contain the highest levels of antioxidants, the flowers contain twice as many antioxidants as the leaves or stems.

Inflammation is how your body responds to injury or illness.. This often causes redness, swelling or pain and helps with short-term healing. However, inflammation that doesn’t go away increases the risk of long-term health problems.

Echinacea may help reduce inflammation by change the way your immune system responds. Most of the available research comes from laboratory studies using extracts, not clinical trials of people drinking echinacea tea.

Echinacea may support your immune system with its antioxidants, which support cellular health and may protect against bacteria and viruses.

Some studies show benefit, some do not, when it comes to echinacea’s ability to fight colds and viruses. Experts believe these mixed results stem from the difference in plant parts, quantities, or extraction methods used by researchers in their studies.

A 2019 review of 29 studies found that people who took echinacea were 22% less likely to catch a cold, but it did not reduce periods of illness or the severity of symptoms. In another 2021 study, children who took 400 mg of echinacea extract daily for two months had fewer sick days and complications.

Echinacea can help soothe irritated skin, making it useful for acne, eczema, or dry skin. It can also help promote skin repair and heal wounds more quickly, which can reduce irritation and early signs of aging.

Research suggests that certain types of echinacea extracts can help skin cells close wounds 55% faster than untreated cells. Supplements containing echinacea may also help acne sufferers have fewer breakouts.

Maintaining healthy glucose (blood sugar) levels helps prevent type 2 diabetes. Research suggests that echinacea can improve the way your body handles glucose and responds to insulin. Insulin is the hormone that moves sugar from your blood to your cells.

The antioxidants in echinacea may also help protect your pancreas, the organ that controls blood sugar. Early animal research shows that echinacea may also help protect the kidneys when your blood sugar remains high, especially when combined with ginger. More research is needed to see if echinacea works the same way in humans.

Research in animals suggests that the antioxidants in echinacea may help slow the growth of cancer cells and trigger damaged cells to self-destruct. However, further research is needed. Human studies have not confirmed whether echinacea has any beneficial effects against cancer in humans.

Research shows that certain types of echinacea may help relieve anxiety by interact with the part of the brain that influences mood.

Some studies suggest that taking 40 milligrams of echinacea extract twice a day for a week may result in feeling less worry and stress. However, it will not reduce symptoms of anxiety, such as racing heart.

These results are based either on animal studies or smaller human clinical trials. Larger, longer-term human studies are needed to confirm the effects of echinacea on anxiety.

Echinacea may protect your liver by reducing inflammation, fighting harmful substances, and supporting healthy cells. Laboratory studies show it may also help fight hepatitis B and alcohol-related liver damage. Since most studies involve animals, more research in humans is needed.

You can make echinacea tea at home using commercial blends or dried flowers, leaves, or roots.

Echinacea tea has an earthy, slightly bitter herbaceous flavor. For added flavor or benefits, you can add:

If you’re buying tea, most store-bought blends are made from leaves, stems, and flowers. If you want more antioxidants in your tea, choose blends with flowers or roots and let them steep a little longer.

However, whether store-bought or homemade, consider options that use only flowers and leaves. The roots contain plenty of antioxidants, but using them in large quantities can stress your liver. It’s safer to use small amounts or skip the roots.

Echinacea tea is naturally low in calories and caffeine-free. It does not provide significant amounts of protein, fats or carbohydrates, which are the body’s main source of energy. Its main benefits come from its antioxidants, which can support your immune system and reduce inflammation.

Echinacea tea is generally safe if you use it short term. The most common side effect is stomach upset. Some precautions to consider include:

• Limit or cancel it if you are allergic to chrysanthemums, daisies, marigolds, or ragweed, as they may increase your risk of an allergic reaction.
• Use caution with long-term use, especially over six months, as it may negatively affect the immune system or liver.
• Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an autoimmune disease, or are taking medications that affect your liver or immune system before trying it.