Sometimes a person has to take drugs to maintain the immune system. Such a need arises as a result of a long inflammatory disease, frequent colds, as well as a decrease in protective forces during antibiotic therapy. There are many means that can help the patient cope with a breakdown and restore the body's natural defense. One such drug is echinacea in capsules.
What is Echinacea
This plant belongs to the aster family. Echinacea purpurea came to Europe from North America. Echinacea has a very interesting flower basket. It stands out noticeably, has the shape of a ball at the very top of the plant. Petals are usually bright and colored in purple, violet, orange, coral, white, bright yellow and pink. This perennial plant has a short erect stem with a fairly large, variegatedly colored inflorescence. Her leaves are slightly rough and arranged alternately.
Chemical composition
It contains a lot of useful components that perform various functions:
- Thanks to phenolic acid, this plant has an antiseptic effect.
- Thanks to B vitamins, the organs of the gastrointestinal tract are healed.
- It contains a lot of minerals. Among them, the largest amount belongs to iron, potassium, selenium and calcium. And also there is a composition of Echinacea purpurea zinc, which is responsible for the health of the genitourinary system, and magnesium, which strengthens the nerves and promotes muscle health.
- The polyenes contained in some parts of this plant fight the fungus.
For immunity, echinacea in capsules is simply irreplaceable. This plant has an immunostimulating property due to elements such as phenol, carboxylic acids, glycosides, saponins, phytosterols and alkaloids. Their number is so great that the actions of this plant become noticeable the very next day. In people taking capsules, tinctures or tablets based on echinacea, metabolic processes improve, blood and skin are cleansed, and a depressive state also passes.
There are several forms of release of echinacea drugs. In pharmacies you can find pills that are used for colds, as well as alcohol tinctures from this plant. In addition, medicinal tea can be prepared from dry, ground raw materials.
Do not use preparations from Echinacea with an autoimmune disease such as lupus erythematosus. And also it is highly not recommended to use any remedies from this plant for diabetes and tuberculosis. As a rule, all reviews about Echinacea in capsules are only positive.
The drug is in capsules
They do not apply to drugs, but is a dietary supplement. Thirty capsules are sold. They are located on convenient blisters packaged in cardboard bundles. As indicated in the instructions for use, Echinacea Premium capsules contain the active substance - plant extract, as well as preservatives E470, E551. The drug is produced by Vneshtorg Pharma LLC.
Beneficial features
Due to the thin food sheath, the capsules do not irritate the walls of the stomach and begin to act, as a rule, immediately after use. They are quickly and easily digested. This tool helps to get rid of herpes, fungal diseases and SARS. However, most often it is used as a prophylaxis instead of multivitamin complexes.
How to use
Adult patients take one capsule daily after meals. The course of treatment should not exceed twenty days. Echinacea in capsules perfectly helps at the very beginning of a cold and at the first sign of flu. It is often prescribed for infections of the genitourinary system.
Doctors recommend using this tool not only during the period of illness, but also for prevention. For example, capsules of the drug can begin to be taken with the onset of cold weather, without waiting for an influenza epidemic. People who often have cold sores should definitely use this remedy. There is a category of patients who suffer from colds more than six times a year. As a rule, their healing process is very slow and accompanied by high fever. Often, a common SARS develops into inflammation of the middle ear, upper respiratory tract disease, stomatitis, and so on.
Such symptoms indicate a weakened immune system that is not able to cope with infections. People with bad habits or patients who use antibiotics very often have such problems.
Treating children
This drug has a lot of useful properties. It restores the protective functions of the body, regulates the gastrointestinal tract, improves the condition of the skin and hair. Children can take Echinacea capsules during a runny nose, sore throat, with herpes, or difficult to heal wounds. Usually, doctors do not recommend this drug to children, but if necessary, they can prescribe it. Sometimes circumstances develop in such a way that even a one-year-old child has to take drugs with echinacea.
According to the instructions of Echinacea in capsules, this drug is part of complex therapy as an immunostimulating agent and often replaces vitamin complexes. Most often, instead of capsules, syrup or a decoction of herbs is used. Tablets, as a rule, can only be consumed from the age of six and not more than one capsule per day.
Drug compatibility
The instruction for the use of echinacea in capsules does not recommend using it simultaneously with androgens and anabolic steroids. These drugs are designed to stimulate the production of testosterone in the body. In addition, antitumor drugs are also undesirable to combine with echinacea. Despite the immunostimulating effect, this plant is contraindicated in AIDS and some autoimmune diseases.
Unwanted effects
Among the side effects that Echinacea capsules have, the following symptoms are distinguished:
- With an overdose, dizziness is possible.
- Sometimes there is swelling of the lower eyelids.
- If used too long, breathing difficulties may occur.
- Patients sometimes have itchy skin and slight redness.
The most common symptom is low blood pressure. And there is also a category of people who are allergic to echinacea. Most often, they also do not tolerate a chamomile.
Analogues of the drug include alcohol tincture of echinacea, as well as funds in the form of tablets, granules or lozenges.
Tincture of Echinacea
It is taken daily in an amount not exceeding twenty drops. Tincture can be added to tea, juice or clean water. It has no annoying smell or taste. Doctors recommend starting with small doses, increasing the amount gradually. For example, in the first week you can add no more than five drops to the water, in the next ten, and during the third week you can take twenty drops per day. Thanks to this schedule, the effect of the drug will be softer and more reliable. All alcohol tinctures, as a rule, are not used by children and pregnant women. And also doctors do not recommend any alcohol funds for liver diseases.
Pills, lozenges and granules
In addition to the active component, they contain starch, calcium and lactose. Thanks to a special supplement, pastille has a caramel flavor. It also contains magnesium stearate and sorbitol. In addition, you can sometimes find echinacea granules on sale. In addition to the main component, they contain sugar.
All drugs are taken exclusively by mouth and no more than three times a day. Tablets are not recommended for more than one week, while granules can be used for 14 days.
Storage rules
Echinacea in granules is stored for two years at a temperature not exceeding twenty-five degrees. Despite the herbal composition and complete safety, it is recommended to keep it away from pets and small children. The tablets are also stored for no more than twenty-four months, while the shelf life of the pastilles is three years. Among foreign-made drugs, Echinacea Premium's analogues are Estifan, a tincture of echinacea from Doctor Thays and the Echinacea Compositum made in Germany.
User reviews
You can find many good reviews about dietary supplements with echinacea in capsules. According to users, within a few days there is a surge of strength, energy and efficiency. All minor ailments that were previously pestering, as a rule, no longer appear. Take the product in the morning, during breakfast. Some customers prefer to take Echinacea capsules only when they feel mildly unwell or tired. According to them, the tool works better than any power engineer. Echinacea instantly gives strength, improves well-being and tones the body.
A lot of users rated Echinacea Premium capsules. Sometimes doctors advise to purchase this remedy for allergic rhinitis to enhance the protective properties of the body. Allergy sufferers use this drug two to three times a year at the first sign of an allergy. Very often, rhinitis in them appears in the fall, in winter frosts and in the spring. According to the instructions for the use of echinacea in capsules, it can not be used more than three times a year. Too many patients like the rules for taking this remedy. It can be consumed at any convenient time and even with food. Thanks to the smooth surface, the capsules are easily swallowed with a minimum amount of water.
Sometimes users complain about some getting used to. According to them, if you often undergo a course of treatment, then subsequently the capsules cease to act and the person begins to hurt. In a word, the condition that was prior to the start of using the product is returned. Because of this, many refuse echinacea, considering it useless.
Buyers also note a number of advantages of the drug in capsules over alcohol tincture. First of all, in capsules, the raw material is in a more concentrated state. It does not contain alcohol, there is a safe shell consisting of food additives. Capsules are extremely convenient to use. They do not need to be dripped into a glass, but two sips of water are enough to drink the drug. If desired, you can buy echinacea with vitamin C in the pharmacy and provide even more effective strengthening of the immune system.
The use of capsules does not cause side effects and is very well tolerated. That is why the reviews about Echinacea Premium capsules are only positive. If you purchase the drug in a bottle, and not on blisters, you can feel a rather strong herbal smell. Sometimes three capsules are enough for the cold to completely go away. And this despite the fact that patients, as a rule, use only one capsule per day.
It is extremely important to store the product correctly. Most users use a refrigerator for this purpose. In fact, according to the instructions for Echinacea Premium capsules, it is enough to store the product at room temperature. Moreover, it should not exceed twenty-five degrees. Herbal composition deteriorates in direct sunlight and bright light. Therefore, capsules should always be in the package.
In short, the use of echinacea-based drugs brings undeniable benefits. Capsules are the most convenient form, although some patients prefer tincture or even granules.