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Echinacea Alters Erythropoietin Levels?

Echinacea Alters Erythropoietin Levels?

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Echinacea, renowned for its immune-boosting properties, is not only a pillar of herbal medicine but also a plant with distinctive sensory attributes. From its striking appearance to its unique taste and smell, echinacea is a standout in the world of natural remedies. Let’s delve into the sensory aspects of echinacea and its role in wellness.

Sensory Profile: Taste and Smell

Echinacea has a very distinct taste and smell, which varies slightly depending on the species and the part of the plant used. Generally, echinacea has a taste that can be described as:

  • Earthy and Bitter: The roots, which are often used in tinctures and teas, have a noticeably earthy and bitter flavor. This bitterness is a common characteristic of many medicinal herbs, attributed to their active compounds.
  • Tingling Sensation: Some echinacea preparations, particularly those made from fresh plant material, can create a slight numbing or tingling sensation in the mouth. This is due to the presence of alkamides, compounds believed to contribute to echinacea’s immune-stimulating properties.

The smell of echinacea is less pronounced than its taste but can be described as mildly earthy and floral, particularly in the leaves and flowers. This subtle aroma becomes more noticeable when the plant parts are brewed in tea or processed into extracts.

Historical and Modern Use

Echinacea’s use in traditional medicine by Native American tribes was based on an extensive understanding of the local flora. Initially used for a variety of ailments, its application for immune-related conditions has persisted into modern times. Today, echinacea is primarily used to support the immune system, especially for cold and flu symptoms.

Forms and Preparations

Echinacea can be found in various forms, including:

  • Teas: Brewing the dried leaves or flowers results in a mildly bitter beverage, often sweetened with honey or mixed with other herbs to improve the taste.
  • Tinctures and Extracts: These concentrated forms retain the earthy, slightly pungent flavor of echinacea.
  • Capsules and Tablets: For those who prefer to avoid the taste, echinacea is also available in pill form.

Safety and Considerations

While echinacea is generally considered safe for most people, it’s important to consider potential allergies, especially if you’re sensitive to other plants in the daisy family. It’s always advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating echinacea or any new supplement into your regimen.

Echinacea and Erythropoietin?

This is the second post in my series of articles on dietary supplements that may improve athletic performance. Though Echinacea is commonly used in the hopes of preventing the common cold, this article discusses its role as an ergogenic aid for endurance athletes.

Blood doping, the process of artificially increasing the number of red blood cells in the body, has been used by athletes in an attempt to improve athletic performance.

Performance improvement in endurance sports is enabled because of the extra oxygen-carrying capacity provided by the increase in red cell mass. In the past, athletes accomplished this by blood transfusion. The practice of blood doping has been outlawed not only because it confers an unfair advantage, but also because of the dangers involved.

What is Erythropoietin / EPO?

Erythropoietin (EPO), a glycoprotein hormone that is produced by the liver and kidneys, has put a whole new spin on blood doping. It plays a role in the regulation of red blood cell production. When exogenous EPO is used, it is a performance-enhancing drug that can now be detected.

How Dangerous is Erythropoietin Used by Athletes?

To the many athletes who have tried EPO as a performance-enhancing drug, the results have often been deadly. Numerous athletes including many cyclists have died from heart attacks which have been speculated to be related to EPO use. In short, EPO use as a performance-enhancing drug is extremely dangerous as its use thickens user’s blood which increases their risk of developing a heart attack or stroke. In the past, the only way to test for EPO use was to detect elevated hematocrit levels, i.e. above 50%.

Normal hematocrit ranges are:

  • Adult males: 42-50%
  • Adult women: 36-44%

Fortunately, newer tests are now available that can distinguish between the recombinant human EPO and the natural form.

Do Echinacea Increase Erythropoietin Levels?

The results of a recent study, published in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, suggest that Echinacea may actually elevate levels of EPO. In fact, statistically significant increases of EPO were found at days 7, 14, and 21 reflecting 44%, 63%, and 36% increases, respectively (Whitehead et al, 2007).

However, despite these statistically significant increases in EPO levels, Echinacea use did not significantly alter hemoglobin or hematocrit levels. The dose of Echinacea that was used in this particular study was 8000 mg/day which was divided into four separate doses. Given that the Echinacea users did not experience an increase in hemoglobin or hematocrit, it is unlikely that Echinacea will be used as a blood doping alternative in these Olympics.

Echinacea / EPO – Conclusion:

Echinacea is commonly used by people in the hopes of preventing the common cold. Given that much of the latest research finds the data for Echinacea’s efficacy at preventing the common cold to be inconclusive (Woelkart et al, 2008), further studies are necessary to support this use.

Additionally, further studies are also necessary to determine if Echinacea use confers any benefit for endurance athletes.

References:

  1. Whitehead MT, Martin TD, Scheett TP, Webster MJ. The effect of 4 wk of oral echinacea supplementation on serum erythropoietin and indices of erythropoietic status. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2007 Aug;17(4):378-90.
  2. Woelkart K, Linde K, Bauer R. Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold. Planta Med. 2008 May;74(6):633-7. Epub 2008 Jan 10.
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