Preparations with plant extracts have few contraindications and can effectively treat ailments, restore good health, strengthen immunity. Such a remedy is tincture of echinacea. According to reviews, it is a powerful immunostimulant. The medicine includes many valuable components that have a positive effect on organs and systems. The rules for its use are described in the article.
Characteristic
Echinacea is a perennial plant belonging to the family Asteraceae. It is grown from the northern territories to the south of the temperate zone. In the treatment and prevention, flowers and rhizomes are used.
Even the Spanish conquistadors, who learned about the plant from the American Indians, used decoctions and tinctures for the prevention of scurvy and other ailments during long trips across the seas and oceans. Now the drug is appreciated due to the property of strengthening immunity.
Structure
The plant is considered useful. It consists of:
- phytosugar;
- essential oils;
- vitamin A, E, C;
- beneficial organic acids;
- flavonoids;
- tannins;
- minerals and metals;
- probiotic inulin.
These components include tincture of echinacea. Reviews of patients indicate a positive effect of this drug on the general condition of a person.
Effect for the body
The use of the plant is that it has an immunostimulating, immunomodulating effect. Immunostimulation is the function of disease resistance. With the disease, an intensification of the immune response is observed, as a result, the disease does not lead to complications, but disappears in just a few days.
Immunomodeling - the function of certain components in the body to produce the correct responses to various intrusions from the outside. The body's resistance will be stable. Thanks to the agent, the dispersion of infection through the body is created and limited by specific cells. Localization of the pathogenic component leads to recovery. According to reviews, tincture of echinacea for immunity has a positive effect, a person becomes resistant to diseases.
When is it used?
Medicines with echinacea are used for:
- acute respiratory infections;
- seasonal epidemic prevention;
- treatment of inflammatory processes;
- long non-healing skin lesions and dental ailments;
- the need to increase the tone of the body with anemia, depression;
- postoperative recovery and after radiation, chemotherapy;
- prevention and treatment of viral infections, including herpes;
- transient states as an adaptogen.
According to reviews, tincture of echinacea from the listed ailments should be taken on the basis of the dosages indicated in the instructions. Subject to these recommendations, positive results will appear very soon.
Release Forms
Medicines with echinacea are produced in the form of:
- dry mixture of grass, roots;
- pills
- tinctures.
The latter option is the most common form of release. It provides optimal effects, plant safety compared to tablets and dried parts of the grass. The positive effect of such a tool is confirmed by numerous reviews.
Tincture of Echinacea purpurea is presented as an extract of the roots and rhizomes of a plant in alcohol. Alcohol is considered a natural preservative that preserves and enhances the effect of biologically active substances. This is a brown liquid, which is sold in 40 and 100 ml vials of darkened. The drug is prescribed for adults. According to doctors, the tincture of echinacea for immunity in children can be prescribed only from 12 years old.
Inside use
On the use of the drug in traditional medicine, you can find many reviews. According to the instructions for use, tincture of echinacea must be shaken before use. Inside, the drug is taken in drops, which are dissolved in water. This is a convenient way to receive, as evidenced by the reviews.
According to the instructions for use, adults should take echinacea tincture 5-15 drops 2-3 times a day. At the very beginning of an acute illness, the frequency of administration is increased to 5-6 times. As a prophylaxis, tincture is taken 1 time per day for 5-10 drops. According to doctors' reviews, it is still better to consult a specialist before taking it.
Outwardly
According to reviews, instructions, tincture of echinacea can be used externally. To accelerate the healing of wounds, irrigation and lotions that are created with saline are used. You can buy it in a pharmacy or make it yourself: table salt (1 tsp) and boiled water (1 liter). It is advisable to choose distilled water, but disinfecting the solution by boiling can be used.
In 1 tbsp. l basics tincture is added (5-10 drops). The tool is applied to the wound or irrigated. When the required amount of the drug is measured, it is good to close the bottle and put the medicine in the place where it is constantly stored. The tool is used in courses, each lasting no more than 2 months. Courses are given for diseases and seasonal epidemics.
For children
According to doctors, echinacea tincture for children cannot be used until 12 years of age. But what if the child is 3, 4, 5 years old? In this case, funds with echinacea in another form are prescribed to strengthen immunity. For example, syrup and capsules are effective.
There are situations when you need to restore the immune system to a child 1-2 years old. Then the pediatrician prescribes a suitable form that will be ideal at his age. From 3 years, you can use the decoction externally for ailments of the respiratory system. But in any case, only a doctor should prescribe treatment.
Lozenges
The problem of lowering immunity and frequent morbidity often concerns preschool children and primary school students. Often, doctors prescribe pills to resolve it, which must be resolved. This is a convenient form that children like:
- The plant strengthens the immune system, can be used as a prophylaxis of childhood viral ailments. Regular use of tablets has a restorative and healing effect.
- If a viral infection has already appeared, then echinacea facilitates the course of the disease, quickly eliminates unpleasant symptoms and complications.
Tablets can be given from 4 years. As a preventative measure, up to 12 years of age, they are given one tablet every two days, and with this age, every three days. In the treatment of infectious ailments, the following dosages apply:
- 4-12 years - 1 tablet up to 4-5 times a day;
- older than 12 years - 2 tablets 3-4 times.
Pills are allowed for up to five consecutive days, and then a break of 2-3 days is required. After this, resumption of treatment is possible. The entire course is no more than 6-8 weeks.
Syrup
Since tincture is not prescribed for children under 12 years old, syrup can be used for them. This is a convenient tool for prevention. Taking syrup strengthens the immune system, which reduces the risk of contracting viral infections. In this case, you will not need to take antibacterial drugs.
Syrup can be given up to 3 years - 2-3 drops in the morning and evening 30 minutes before eating. From 3 years old, give 1 tsp. Before reception it is necessary to consult with the pharmacist and the pediatrician. Contraindications include intolerance and the risk of atopic dermatitis due to the presence of sugar in the composition.
Tea
Herbal tea is effective for adults and children with flu and colds. Moreover, it is taken to prevent and strengthen the body. In pharmacies, the product is sold in filter bags for brewing and sachets to create a decoction.
You can make tea yourself. To do this, you need crushed dry roots and leaves of Echinacea (1 tbsp each). The raw material is poured with boiling water (1 cup). After insisting for an hour, you can take a decoction of 0.5 cups with the addition of honey (1 tsp) 30 minutes before eating. The norm per day for tea and decoction is not more than 300 ml. Children 1-3 years old give tea or broth 30-50 ml 3 times a day. They are added to regular tea or compote.
When can not be used?
The use of tincture of Echinacea, according to reviews, is effective only if there is evidence. But it is important to consider that the remedy should not be taken:
- in children under 7 years of age - the alcohol base is leveled by the liquid in large quantities, but the composition of the plant is not shown;
- during pregnancy and feeding due to an unknown effect on the new body and maternal health;
- with autoimmune diseases, since it is likely to worsen;
- in chronic alcoholism - a remedy for alcohol leads to an exacerbation of the condition.
In these cases, it is better not to put your health at risk. It is necessary to consult a doctor who will select the appropriate drug, assessing the state of health.
Side effects
According to doctors, tincture of echinacea sometimes causes side effects. They are expressed in the form of urticaria and other allergy symptoms. It can be an asthma attack or swelling of the larynx. Sometimes dyspeptic disorders occur in the form of:
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- nausea
- loss of appetite.
With an overdose, insomnia, anxiety, increase or decrease in pressure, tachy and bradycardia, general agitation or apathy are likely.
Features of drugs
According to reviews, tincture of echinacea for immunity is useful. But drugs based on this plant in Russia are not 1st class drugs. They are prescribed as adjuvants, in addition to synthetic drugs. And in Germany, tincture is an independent serious medication.
Echinacea grows in gardens and home gardens. For a long time, herbalists used it as a remedy. To date, there are few true connoisseurs, and recipes for funds have been lost. If you independently make decoctions, infusions and tinctures with this plant, then this will not always be safe. At home it is difficult to observe the necessary proportions, it will not work to create the conditions for the remedy to mature.
Storage and sale
Tincture can be stored in pharmacy packaging - in a dark bottle and far from the light, at a temperature of no more than 25 degrees. First aid kit should be kept as far away from children as possible. A prescription from a doctor is not required to purchase the product.
Echinacea tincture is considered an effective tool that enhances health. If you restore the regime of work and rest, eliminate bad habits, then this drug will make the body sturdy.
Cooking tincture
Although this remedy can be bought at a pharmacy, it can also be made independently. The roots and leaves of the plant are needed, and they can be dried and fresh. They must be washed and dried. Then they should be crushed and placed in a glass container where vodka is added. The ratio should be 1:10.
Then the container is closed by a lid so that air does not penetrate into it. The product is cleaned in the refrigerator for two weeks. After this, the tincture is filtered to eliminate the crushed roots and leaves. The tool is added 25 drops to water or tea. Perhaps the addition of honey or sugar.
Echinacea tincture is effective for strengthening immunity. It is used as a prophylaxis of various ailments. This simple tool will make the human body durable.