Have you ever had problems with persistent coughing? The odds are that the answer is yes, and you know how unpleasant those coughs can be. Although the reasons behind your cough might vary, the most common cause is a simple cold.
Cough is only one symptom of the cold, and the other ones might include a drippy nose, sore throat, fever, etc. Many people believe that herbal remedies are the best way to deal with these symptoms. In this article, we are focusing on whether echinacea can help to deal with cough and other health problems caused by the common cold. Here is what you should know about this plant and its effectiveness.
What Should You Know About Echinacea?
Echinacea is a flowering plant. Although it is native to North America, you will find it on other continents, too. You will also find that people call this herb a black-eyed Susan or coneflower.
The name echinacea covers nine different species, and they all belong to the family of daisies. You will notice that their petals are purple, although they can also be pink in some species. The flowers surround the cone, which is actually a seed head. The cone is usually red or dark brown, and it varies from one type to another.
Here are the three most common types of echinacea:
- purpurea – you will recognize it for its purple petals.
- pallida – the petals are pale.
- Angustifolia – you will find that petals are narrow.
What Are the Potential Health Benefits of Echinacea?
The important thing to note is that echinacea contains phenols, which are characteristic of herbs. Thanks to these ingredients that interact with cell receptors and enzymes, this plant can have various health benefits.
Phenols are significant for the herb itself. Their task is to protect echinacea from UV radiation, as well as different infections. The experts suggest that the protective role is the reason why humans should consume this herb, too.
Echinacea has strong antioxidant characteristics, which means it can help to protect cells throughout the body from oxidative damage. Thanks to that, it also has a beneficial effect on the overall immune system. This herb can play a role in boosting your immunity and protect you from various health problems, such as inflammation.
Here is why you might consider using echinacea:
- Inflammatory conditions
- Yeast infections
- Upper respiratory infections
As you can see, cough can be among the symptoms of many conditions mentioned above. That indicates that echinacea can be beneficial in reducing cough severity and duration.
There is no exact recommendation on how much echinacea you should consume daily. However, you should aim for products that have at least 200 milligrams of this extract per serving. The optimal dose would be approximately 400 milligrams. You can also consume echinacea in different forms. It is often a part of tablets, gummies, and other formulas. Users have the luxury of deciding the preferred way of taking echinacea. Gummies are very convenient because you can consume them on the go regardless of your location.
What Does Science Say About Echinacea for Coughs?
You will find numerous trials discussing echinacea and its effectiveness when it comes to the common cold. If that is what caused your cough, you will appreciate knowing that the scientists believe this flower can help to fight it.
A study conducted in 2007 in the United States had encouraging results.  The authors indicate that those who consumed echinacea decrease the risk of a cold even appearing by over 50%. Additionally, the duration of the cold can be lowered by 1.4 days, which indicates that this flower can help to deal with the symptoms faster.
According to a randomized controlled trial whose results were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, echinacea has limited effects on treating the common cold.  This study involved 713 patients of different ages, and the authors measured specific parameters at the moment of receiving the patient and two days later.
Another study concluded that echinacea products show positive trends in treating colds.  However, they noticed that the benefit might not be significant, which is why echinacea should be only one of the ingredients you use to fight the cold. The entire evaluation included more than 4,6000 participants across 24 different trials.
At the University of Wisconsin, another trial focused on echinacea dates back to 2002.  During that trial, 148 students who had cold symptoms received echinacea for no more than ten days. According to the results, users should combine echinacea with other ingredients for better effectiveness.
Another important thing to mention is that echinacea is safe, and users shouldn't experience any side effects when consuming it. The evaluation from 2012 confirms the safety of this herbal ingredients. 
You might experience a mild side effect like an upset stomach, but even that rarely happens. Other side effects that happen very rarely include developing a rash or having an allergic reaction. If you have allergies to other flowers from the daisy family, you might want to avoid using echinacea. But if you don't have any allergies, it is highly likely that echinacea will be perfectly safe to use.
What Ingredients Should You Mix Echinacea with for Better Effectiveness?
Echinacea is a single compound that plays a role in dealing with a cough and other symptoms of the common cold. If you want to improve your immunity and prevent potential colds, consider finding a dietary supplement focused on boosting the immune system. That is the first line of defense – preventing the cold from happening, and echinacea can help with that.
EssentlWellness designed a unique formula delivered in the form of elderberry gummies. The key ingredient is elderberry extract, but you will also find echinacea, propolis, and vitamin C. The idea was to deliver an all-around formula that will help users by boosting their immunity in the long run.
All ingredients were picked carefully, and their effectiveness lies in polyphenols and other antioxidants. You receive a generous dose of echinacea and other compounds included in the formula. Using a supplement with echinacea will help you in dealing with your cough and prevent it from appearing in the future.