Evidence supporting the use of: Echinacea angustifolia
For the health condition: Congestion

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Echinacea angustifolia has a long history of traditional use among Native American tribes and in Western herbalism, primarily for the treatment of respiratory tract infections, including symptoms such as congestion. Traditional healers used echinacea preparations—often root extracts or teas—for colds, coughs, and other upper respiratory complaints, which commonly involve nasal or chest congestion. The rationale was based on perceived immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties.

Scientific research on Echinacea angustifolia’s efficacy for treating congestion specifically is quite limited. Most modern clinical studies focus on Echinacea purpurea and its general effects on the duration or severity of upper respiratory infections, rather than directly measuring its impact on congestion. The available evidence for Echinacea angustifolia is sparse and inconsistent, with systematic reviews and meta-analyses generally concluding that echinacea preparations may offer a modest reduction in cold symptom duration, but with considerable variability in results and quality of evidence.

In summary, the use of Echinacea angustifolia for congestion is primarily justified by traditional use. There is insufficient direct scientific evidence to strongly support its effectiveness for this specific purpose, and most claims are extrapolated from its broader traditional application for respiratory ailments.

More about Echinacea angustifolia
More about Congestion

Products containing Echinacea angustifolia

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