Overview: Echinacea Herb (Murdock Madaus Schwabe MMS Pro) Each bottle, 100 capsules. Each capsule, 400 mg of the stem, leaf and flower of Echinacea purpurea. Suggested use is three capsules taken three times daily with water at mealtime. Recent data suggesting that the botanical has no benefit for flu may be accurate, however the dose may not be adequate. There may also be a benefit in HIV disease, given one small study that saw a small increase in CD4 count. More data are desperately needed.

Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) Echinacea has a long history of use for helping to modify immune function. Mouse studies suggest a benefit for enhancing natural killer cell and monocyte numbers and function. However, it may do this in ways that may be problematic for people with HIV--or possibly helpful. Some data in humans suggest some benefit for PWHIV (see below). By contrast, one study suggested an increase in TNF which would not be so great; this, however, is based pretty much on one dog study. Whether this happens in humans in any clinically meaningful way in the doses people use is unknown.
However, it does NOT make sense to use this on a routine basis or to prevent disease! In general, it’s best use is for a couple of weeks at most (generally at the onset of a cold). There are some data that suggest that symptoms of a cold are attenuated (lessened) in severity but not the duration or how long the cold/flu lasts. Part of the problem is evaluating which part of the plant (roots, flowers) are most effective and which species. Also, then there are issues of overharvesting limiting global supplies! Other data suggest little benefit for colds, unless you catch it early on.
There are some encouraging data, however. In a small and uncontrolled study of people with HIV using echinacea, a small decrease in viral load was noted. However, this was only 0.32 log. This was in 14 of 15 patients who were taking 1,000 mg of E. angustifolia extract three times a day for 12 weeks. No effect was seen on CD4 count (see JANA 1998;1(1):14-17), suggesting that the herb at least is safe. Another study of cancer patients saw no impact on cytokine levels (including no increase in TNF). So at the least, it probably isn’t harmful, it may help a wee bit, it is probably safe to use AT THE ONSET of a cold and otherwise limit use to a couple of weeks.