Evidence supporting the use of: Echinacea
For the health condition: Bites and Stings

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Echinacea has a long history of traditional use among Native American tribes and early settlers in North America, where it was applied topically and taken internally for a variety of ailments, including bites and stings from insects and snakes. Historical records indicate that several tribes, such as the Plains Indians, used Echinacea root poultices and teas to alleviate pain, reduce swelling, and prevent infection following bites and stings. This traditional application was adopted by 19th and early 20th-century eclectic physicians in the United States before the advent of antibiotics and modern antivenoms.

However, scientific evidence specifically supporting the use of Echinacea for bites and stings is minimal. While laboratory studies have demonstrated that Echinacea possesses anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, clinical studies have focused primarily on its effects on respiratory tract infections and general immune support. There are no robust clinical trials directly evaluating its efficacy or safety for treating insect or animal bites and stings in humans. Consequently, while its use for this purpose is rooted in tradition, it is not strongly supported by modern scientific evidence. The evidence rating is therefore low.

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Products containing Echinacea

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