Evidence supporting the use of: Echinacea purpurea
For the health condition: Conjunctivitis

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Synopsis

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

Echinacea purpurea, commonly known as purple coneflower, has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, especially among Native American tribes and European herbalists. It has been employed for its purported immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties. In the context of conjunctivitis (pink eye), echinacea has been traditionally used as a wash or compress for the eyes, or taken orally to help the body fight infections. However, most of this use is based on anecdotal or ethnobotanical reports rather than systematic clinical research. There are no well-designed clinical trials specifically evaluating echinacea for conjunctivitis, and its use for this condition does not appear in major evidence-based clinical guidelines. Some in vitro and animal studies suggest echinacea extracts may have general antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, which could theoretically be beneficial for conjunctivitis, but this has not been directly established in human studies. Therefore, its use for conjunctivitis is best categorized as "traditional," with only weak evidence supporting efficacy for this particular indication. People interested in using echinacea for conjunctivitis should consult healthcare providers, especially since direct application of herbal preparations to the eye can pose risks of irritation or infection.

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