![purple coneflower. purple coneflower.](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/39/e4/95/39e495ee90b42675ca5982e237162222.jpg)
These include alkamides, rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid ( 18). Research has discovered that echinacea plants contain compounds that may reduce feelings of anxiety. In recent years, echinacea plants have emerged as a potential aid for anxiety. May reduce feelings of anxietyĪnxiety is a common problem that affects close to one in five American adults ( 17). Still, human-based research on the effects of echinacea on blood sugar is lacking. This makes it easier for cells to respond to insulin and sugar ( 16). This particular receptor works by removing excess fat in the blood, which is a risk factor for insulin resistance. Other test-tube studies found that echinacea extracts made cells more sensitive to insulin’s effects by activating the PPAR-y receptor, a common target of diabetes drugs ( 14, 15). This would reduce the amount of sugar entering your blood if consumed ( 13).
![purple coneflower. purple coneflower.](https://worldoffloweringplants.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Echinacea-purpurea-Eastern-Purple-Coneflower3.jpg)
In a test-tube study, an Echinacea purpurea extract was shown to suppress enzymes that digest carbohydrates. Test-tube studies have found that echinacea plants may help lower blood sugar levels. This includes type 2 diabetes, heart disease and several other chronic conditions. High blood sugar can raise your risk of serious health problems. In short, while echinacea may boost immunity, its effects on the common cold are unclear. This makes it hard to know if any benefits on colds are from taking echinacea or simply from chance ( 12). However, many studies on this topic are poorly designed and show no real benefit. In fact, a review of 14 studies found that taking echinacea may lower the risk of developing colds by more than 50% and shorten the duration of colds by one and a half days ( 11). That’s one reason why echinacea is often used to prevent or treat the common cold. Numerous studies have found that this plant may help your immune system combat infections and viruses, which could help you recover faster from illness ( 8, 9, 10). Positive effect on the immune SystemĮchinacea is best known for its beneficial effects on the immune system. Research on echinacea suggests that it offers several impressive health benefits.