Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

feverfew 67
with NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS
(NSAIDS), causing stomach upset, irritation, and
bleeding. Because dong quai affects blood flow, it
may also alter the intended effects of anticoagulant
medications. And because of its actions to
relax smooth muscle including the UTERUS, women
should not take dong quai when they are pregnant.
DONG QUAI (Angelica sinensis)
Uses Risks/Side Effects Interactions
menstrual cramps excessive bleeding anticoagulants
menopausal stomach irritation NSAIDS
discomforts
ENDOMETRIOSIS
See also BLACK
COHOSH; DYSMENORRHEA; MENO-
PAUSE; MENSTRUATION; PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME; SOY.
echinacea An herb with immune-supportive
properties. Echinacea remedies incorporate stems,
leaves, and seeds or their extracts from three of
the nine species of echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia,
E. pallida, E. purpurea). Though herbalists typically
use certain of the species according to the
desired immune effect, commercially produced
echinacea products typically contain a mix. The
most common use of echinacea is to lessen the
severity of COLDS, INFLUENZA, and other upper respiratory
infections. Echinacea seems most effective
when taken at the first indication of symptoms
and can shorten the length of illness by 20 to 60
percent.
Echinacea seems less effective in protecting
against upper respiratory infections when taken as
a general prophylactic measure, though regular
use may prevent canker sores. Health experts caution
people to take echinacea for no longer than
three weeks to give their immune systems a break
from the echinacea’s stimulation and to wait one
week before taking another course of echinacea.
Some herbalists recommend using echinacea in
rotation with other immune-boosting herbs. There
is no clinical evidence to support a role for echinacea
in preventing infections such as HIV/AIDS or
HEPATITIS. Though echinacea may additionally support
the IMMUNE SYSTEM when taken in conjunction
with ANTIBIOTIC MEDICATIONS to treat bacterial infections,
it cannot replace antibiotics.
Some studies have shown echinacea to have
adverse effects in people who are IMMUNOCOMPRO-
MISED, although this finding has been inconsistent.
Doctors generally recommend against echinacea
for people who have chronic immune system disorders
such as RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, MULTIPLE SCLE-
ROSIS, and SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE),
because echinacea can overstimulate the immune
system and make symptoms worse. Some people
who have CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME have experienced
improvement with echinacea and other
immune-enhancing herbs, however. People who
have immune system disorders should discuss
echinacea with their regular doctors before taking
echinacea. Echinacea is available as a dietary supplement
in the United States. People who are
allergic to plants in the daisy (Aster) family may
also be allergic to echinacea.
ECHINACEA (E. angustifolia, E. pallida, E. purpurea)
Uses Risks/Side Effects Interactions
prevent COLDS and none known none known
INFLUENZAnone
reduce cold/flu duration
general IMMUNE SYSTEM
support
See also CANKER SORE; GOLDENSEAL; INFECTION.
feverfew An herb once popular for, as its name
implies, lowering FEVER. However, current use
focuses on its ability to prevent migraine
headaches from developing and to minimize the
symptoms of migraines when they do occur. The
primary active ingredients researchers have isolated
in feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) are
parthenolides, a group of mild prostaglandin suppressants.
PROSTAGLANDINS are chemicals the body
releases that are associated with PAIN. Aspirin and
other NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS
(NSAIDS)
achieve much of their pain-relieving
effects through prostaglandin suppression.
Prostaglandins also are factors in the inflammatory
processes associated with fever.
The form of feverfew that appears most effective
in preventing migraine headaches is the
freeze-dried herb. However, the level of parthenolides
in feverfew plants varies widely. Capsules
and tablets appear to have little or no effect for