A survey of 59 Echinacea-only products purchased in the Denver, Colorado area in 2000 found that 6 (10%) contained no measurable amount of Echinacea phytochemicals. (1) The Echinacea species (E. angustifolia, E. pallida or E. purpurea) found in each product was consistent with the label claim in only 31 (52%) of the samples. Of the 21 products that were labeled as being standardized, only 9 (43%) met the quality standard designated on the label. In addition, the products labeled as standardized were not significantly more likely to contain the correct (labeled) species than those that were not.
Commentary
About 15 years ago in my practice, when I told patients that I was recommending they take Echinacea, they would look at me blankly and say: "What's that?" Now they say: "I am already taking Echinacea!" Many are surprised by my answer which is typically: "No, you are not!" This survey underlines that anyone self-prescribing Echinacea is playing Russian roulette with their health and often wasting their money. The situation is even more problematical than the above study suggests because in my view many Echinacea products contain the wrong plant part, inadequate doses or are standardized to the wrong marker phytochemicals.
(1.) Gilroy CM. Steiner JF. Byers T, Shapiro H, Georgian w. Echinacea and truth in labeling. Arch Intern Med 2003; 163(6): 699-704
COPYRIGHT 2003 The Townsend Letter Group
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